A variety of training events
If you're prepared and embrace learning... training is actually fun!
Took me a little while to figure this out though.
Training has truly evolved from what can we do to screw with these guys, to what can we teach them today?
If you're prepared and embrace learning... training is actually fun!
Took me a little while to figure this out though.
Training has truly evolved from what can we do to screw with these guys, to what can we teach them today?
My airline career began in 1974 with Hyannis based Air New England as a Twin Otter co-pilot.
OK, I spent a couple of months at Commuter Airlines in Binghamton, NY flying night mail in a Beech 18.
OK, I spent a couple of months at Commuter Airlines in Binghamton, NY flying night mail in a Beech 18.
Several NWA training events
NATCO: Northwest Airlines Training Corp. MSP. If you're an NWA pilot, you'll recognize these photos.
North Central Airlines: B-727 training in the late 70's.
Thanks go to DAL/NWA/REP/NCA Captain Mike Peck for these photos. This is how training looked in 1979 during this North Central Airlines B-727 class in MSP. Ground school lasted nearly three weeks. Then you'd experience a week or so of procedures training before moving on the simulator and aircraft training. Initial training in the 727, DC-9 or Convair 580 lasted more than two months. Today they mail you a DVD, give you an on line exam and then you show up for simulator training! Although not hired at Republic Airlines until 1985, I know and flew with these guys regularly at REP, NWA and DAL.
Just one of many annual training events. We called them SVT. (single visit training.)
As soon as I arrive home from this Maui layover, it's off to MSP for my B-757 annual training event. Follow along as Ernie and I show up at NATCO, meet Don Sjoeblom our instructor, and dazzle him with our expertise.
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DC-9 Captain Upgrade Training: MSP, NATCO, Nov 95
DC-9 IOE with captain Ted Williams
727 captain upgrade training. MSP, NATCO, April 1998

My final 727 crew, lined up in first class. Doug, Farah, Laura, Rand, Kelly and Ted. I'm going to miss this airplane. After just 3 years and 4 months, I'll be back at NATCO in 757 school experiencing my first "glass" training. I was most fortunate to have flown all three seats in the iconic 727 as well as work as a sim and aircraft instructor and check airman.
More, Training From Our Past (1967)
Thanks to former Braniff Airways pilot Bill Schoknecht for this Braniff 727 ground school training class photo from 1967. We still used these large, roll around training boards when I went thru initial 727 training at Republic Airlines, utilizing the old Southern Airways facilities in Atlanta in 1985. When you moved a switch the appropriate lights would illuminate and the valve would move. Descriptive and enlightening. In this case they're discussing flight controls, specifically leading and trailing edge flaps and the upper and lower rudder on a 727. Bill also flew for Republic and Northwest Airlines and was one of my first 727 instructors when hired at Republic. Great training!
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Simulators... then & now.
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NWA 727 training, 1998.
Training Aids
I was asked recently if I have any 727 training panels that we'd hang on the wall in our room and use as a study aid. Here they are.
I was asked recently if I have any 727 training panels that we'd hang on the wall in our room and use as a study aid. Here they are.

This is an early, black/white Republic Airlines DC-9 pilot instrument panel, probably from the late 1970's, left over from North Central Airlines. It was issued to me by NWA when I checked out as a DC-9 FO in 1987. See what I mean about notes in the margins? What you see colored in orange are all that you have available when down to emergency power. That was a popular question. At the top of the panel, do you see those two little rectangular items? They're mirrors... but what function do they serve?
757 Captain Upgrade Training: MSP NATCO, Aug and Sep 2001.
I was on cloud nine, I couldn't believe I'd gotten the bid!
I was on cloud nine, I couldn't believe I'd gotten the bid!
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757 IOE with captain Paul Aust.
You may be wondering so I'll finish my story. As I mentioned I was on sick leave for 15 months and attended physical therapy three days a week for a year. The damage was severe and required a steel rod to be attached to the femur with nuts, bolts and screws. At 52 years old the femur was not regenerating, so they tried a last ditch third procedure that included a bone marrow transplant. I lucked out, it worked and I returned to the airline in January of 2003. One small problem though! The 727's were now gone and I still couldn't hold the 757, so off I went to A-320 school where I spent a year before being recalled to the 757. To conclude though, I owe much to my Doctors, nurses, physical therapists and my family. But mostly to my wife Linda who literally waited on me hand and foot for those 14 months, kept my spirits up and encouraged me to work hard to get back to work. The last thing that I mentioned to Linda as they wheeled me into my first surgery on that fateful night was... "Don't forget to call crew sched and tell them I probably won't make my next trip" "Probably" she said! With all of the morphine I'd been given to nullify the pain, I really thought I'd be up and around in a week or so. I had no idea what lay ahead. I've never shown pictures of my family on my sites, but I'd like to introduce you to my support system below.
Airbus A-320 Captain Upgrade Training, MSP, NATCO March 2003
Fifteen months after my accident I came back to work and as I'd mentioned earlier, I couldn't hold the 757, the 727's had been retired so off I went, kicking and screaming into the dreaded Airbus.
Fifteen months after my accident I came back to work and as I'd mentioned earlier, I couldn't hold the 757, the 727's had been retired so off I went, kicking and screaming into the dreaded Airbus.
A320 IOE with captain Steve Sullentrap.
B-767 Training. ATL, DAL Flight Training, November 2009
I was recalled to the 757 in April 2004 and we merged with DAL in 2008. DAL sent all NWA 757 crews to ATL for a single four hour sim session and blessed us in the B-767-300ER. It's the same type rating and this was our introduction to 767 flying. The 767-400, however, is a separate type rating.
I was recalled to the 757 in April 2004 and we merged with DAL in 2008. DAL sent all NWA 757 crews to ATL for a single four hour sim session and blessed us in the B-767-300ER. It's the same type rating and this was our introduction to 767 flying. The 767-400, however, is a separate type rating.

After much discussion the training department decided to give every NWA 757 pilot, two takeoffs and landings in the actual airplane. Staging out of DTW and MSP and using nearby airports, this operation took several months and required coordination and logistics. Each early morning flight was catered for breakfast and with 25 pilots or so off we went to receive real-world experience. It was a lot of fun.
Below are my first and last B-767 flights before starting 747-400 training
FIRST: 5/9/10 HNL to SLC LAST: 3/14/11 FRA to DTW.
FIRST: 5/9/10 HNL to SLC LAST: 3/14/11 FRA to DTW.
B-747-400 Captain Upgrade Training
MSP, March 2011 Ground School & Simulator
My last great airline adventure.
MSP, March 2011 Ground School & Simulator
My last great airline adventure.
747-400 IOE with captain Gene Petersen: May 2011
Gene is a great instructor and we had a wonderful time flying a couple of roundtrips from JFK to NRT with a quick turn to Manila from NRT.
Gene is a great instructor and we had a wonderful time flying a couple of roundtrips from JFK to NRT with a quick turn to Manila from NRT.
These three pics were taken during my last 747 trip in October 2012. It also happened to be my retirement flight.