The One Where GOS Day Four Gives Us a Glimpse of What’s Next

The past few days in GOS have been mostly PowerPoints, with topics covering everything from general operations and weather to CRM (Crew Resource Management) and TEM (Threat and Error Management). One highlight was a joint CRM session we had with captain upgrades and a flight attendant instructor; it was eye-opening to see how different members of the flight crew collaborate to tackle a shared scenario.

This morning, a captain came in to give us his take on CRM and TEM. He uses a more interactive style than our usual ground instructor, drawing heavily on his own experience as a long-time captain. It was refreshing to hear his personal wisdom, and he even offered future help once we return from systems training. It’s clear that some of my classmates have already taken the initiative to crack open systems materials, but I’m going to stick with the official training flow. I figure if I trust the process, I’ll cross the finish line with fewer hiccups.

Last night we got our partner assignments and the schedule for the rest of training. My partner and I lucked out with a timeline that doesn’t include any big gaps between modules or phases. In fact, we’ll likely be the first ones in the class to finish our LOE (Line-Oriented Evaluation), which means we can start IOE (Initial Operating Experience) sooner—and, if all goes well, go on reserve earlier too. I’m happy with the pairing; everyone in our group seems eager and supportive, so I’m confident we’ll help each other succeed.

Tomorrow is the GOS validation—another open-book exam that I’m not stressing over too much. Then, on Saturday, after three long weeks away, we finally get to head home for a break. I’m definitely looking forward to it!