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Flying For The Airlines vs. GA

First Officer Erica Koehler explains the differences between general aviation and flying an airliner.

Erica Koehler learned to fly through ATP Flight School’s fast-track Airline Career Pilot Program, and was hired at regional air carrier Republic Airways in October 2019. Koehler was an airline flight attendant until she realized what she really wanted was to be a pilot. ATP Flight School’s program, combined with airline Tuition Reimbursement and a lot of hard work, got her to her goal.

“Being in the Pilot Prep program with Republic, I was flown up to Indianapolis for a weekend to learn more about the company, see operations, the training center, maintenance hangar and aircraft,” she says. It was inspiring, but the Tuition Reimbursement made the deal. “The money I could put toward my student loans while I earned a flight instructor’s salary was very helpful,” she continues.

Her training at ATP Flight School and work as a flight instructor there prepared her well for life in an airline cockpit. “ATP is driven toward making career airline pilots. It is a fast-paced program that prepares you for the initial airline training,” she says.

Erica Koehler
Koehler’s training at ATP Flight School and work as a flight instructor there prepared her well for life in an airline cockpit. Courtesy Erica Koehler

So, what has Koehler found to be the biggest difference between her life as a general aviation commercial pilot and her work in an airline cockpit? “I would have to say it is the responsibility factor. Now it’s not just about a student and myself; it’s about an entire crew; it’s about a plane full of passengers expecting you to get them from point A to point B safely,” she says.

Another huge difference is that at Republic Airways she works with a huge team. “As an instructor, I learned to be part of a team, but now I am dealing with gate and ground agents, the flight attendants and the passengers,” she explains. “There’s dispatch and operations, and you all have common goals: safety and timeliness.”

Getting the aircraft off the ground is far more complex in the airline world. “For GA, it is simple: Get in the airplane and taxi on out once ATC clears you to the runway. Airline pilots have to deal with a ramp frequency; there is clearance metering on the ground, and every airport is different, with different frequencies. I’m still getting used to it,” she chuckles.

Finally, once you are in the air, airline pilots need to worry about what’s happening in the back of the airplane and how to mitigate flight conditions to keep the people behind the cockpit door comfortable and safe. “If there was a little bumpy air when I was instructing, it wasn’t a huge deal, but now I have to think about the fact that there are people in the cabin; the flight attendants are up, you know, doing their service and helping out with tasks, and there might be someone standing in line for the lavatory. I have to make sure that the rides are smooth,” she explains.

Erica Koehler
Coming up through general aviation gave Koehler an advantage: During her time at ATP Flight School, she acquired the skills she needed to deal with any complications of flight. Courtesy Erica Koehler

And her performance? It is not just the captain watching her. “We have FOQA equipment on-board gathering data about each flight, tracking trends to keep everyone safe, and basically increasing the safety of everyone in the sky,” she says. “When I was instructing, it was just me and my student reporting anomalies on the flight, an honor system; now you’ve got the airplane wired to report any anomalies, and you need to be ready to explain them.”

Coming up through general aviation gave Koehler an advantage: During her time at ATP Flight School, she acquired the skills she needed to deal with any complications of flight. “GA flying taught me that an airplane is an airplane, no matter what. I’ve had multiple times now where the autopilots have kicked off and we’ve had to rely on our basic flying abilities. You can’t just forget how to be a pilot!” she says. “I know not to be overly reliant on automation because it’s still a machine and those fail.”

As a newbie in the airline cockpit, Koehler has some great advice for those pilots in training whose goal is to work for an airline. “I was accustomed to being the more experienced one, giving tips and tricks to my students and other flight instructors. Now my captains are doing the same for me,” she says. “Just remember: The person sitting next to you is your biggest resource.”

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