So far I'm 37 "cycles" into my SOE, or, Supervised Operating Experience. A cycle is quite simply one leg from point A to point B. All but two of my cycles have included Charlotte (CLT) as one of those two points. I don't understand how the bean counters figure out when to schedule flights and how those flights are matched to connecting flights, but I find it fascinating. We all come in at the same time, and we all leave around the same time in waves. CLT has a flow control program in place for arriving flights, to help ensure that when you get there, you'll have a gate available. The New York airports attempt this by using "wheels-up" times to control the flow of airborne traffic during heavy times, but so I'm impressed by CLT's system. When we get here, our gate is always open, and we rarely have to wait on the ramp. During push times, when everyone is racing to leave, it can get pretty cramped, especially when trying to get from the express terminal, around the two massive Airbuses that always seem to be parked at the end of D terminal. On that note, talk about poor capacity planning; who thought it would be a good idea to put international flights, especially an A340-600, like, the longest airliner in existence, right where the majority of flights - regional aircraft - have to taxi in order to leave or arrive? It's a self imposed choke point, and causes all sorts of problems at the wrong times. Depending on the ramp controller, it can be better (Jimmy!) - or worse (not Jimmy).
After 40 hours in the airplane I'm starting to really get a feel for flying it. I still have a bit of trouble coming into the smaller airports after leaving CLT, specifically with my speed. After the CLT controllers have you keep your speed up for sequencing, you have free reign at other airports, which often ends up with me high and fast. Luckily, we fly an aircraft that can slow down and drop in on a dime, but I'm trying not to use its capabilities as a crutch and instead use better planning and judgement. Coming into Roanoke the other afternoon I was so high that I couldn't slow down, and ended up having to circle to another runway (embarrassing).
Last night's flight, the only one of the day, had us leaving the relaxed atmosphere of the south for the hectic, congested airspace that is NYC. I'm actually based in LGA, but this was my first time there. Aside from not understanding what the heck they were saying, it was a beautiful night and we were actually early to arrive and early to leave. The sunset on the way back to Roanoke was a nice treat:
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