A seasoned pilot experiences a challenging first day as a Learjet First Officer, finding himself overwhelmed by the aircraft's high speed, complex systems, and the rapid pace of operations.
Despite having extensive prior flight experience (4,600 hours PIC), the author struggles with basic tasks like FMS programming and radio calls, relying heavily on the patient guidance of his Captain, Mike Bronisz.
The article humorously details the steep learning curve and the unique demands of transitioning to a high-performance corporate jet, highlighting the gap between book knowledge and practical, fast-paced operational experience.
(December 2011) It is ungodly hot. Sweat cascades off of me; rivulets of perspiration form at the temple, and when I look down, they coalesce into drops that drip into my glasses. I am raining myself into a pair of bifocals. As an unhappy result, I can’t see, much less organize, the flight management system on the Lear 31.
This is a shame, as it is my first day at work.
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Dick Karl is a cancer surgeon who appreciates the beauty and science involved in both surgery and flying. Dick’s monthly Gear Up celebrates the human side of flying. He writes about his enthusiasm for both the machines and the people who fly and maintain them.
