Gear Up: Learning the Learjet

Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at 11:49 PM ET

Verified

** Paul Kanagie just happened to catch our
departure out of Philadelphia International
Airport (KPHL), flaps 8. It was my first flight
in the left seat.**

Key Takeaways:

The article chronicles the author's challenging transition to a Learjet 31A first officer, moving from simulator training to the realities of Part 135 jet operations.
He details a steep learning curve, grappling with new aircraft systems, two-pilot cockpit procedures, and the higher performance environment, often making basic mistakes despite prior experience.
Key experiences include managing an in-flight inverter failure with effective crew resource management and his first attempts at pilot flying in the left seat.
Through patient mentorship from his captain and diverse flight scenarios, the author gradually builds confidence and a sense of professionalism in his new role.

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It has been eight months now since the ink dried on my ATP and Learjet type rating, and I am just now getting my feet damp. Though I had some wonderful introductory flights in Elite Air’s Lear 31A this past summer, it hasn’t been until a recent spate of trips that I have really gotten a sense of the airplane and the life of a Part 135 first officer. What a ride it has been.

FlightSafety in Atlanta took this turboprop pilot of a certain age and introduced him to the wonders of the two-pilot cockpit and speeds and altitudes with which he possessed no actual familiarity. I spent most of those two weeks in awe and a flurry of memorization. I was dimly aware of the first officer to my right, but had no idea how hard he was working to make me look like I knew what I was doing. It wasn’t until last February that I got to make several trips and find out what this is really about.