The One Where SPOT Training and Observation Flights Signal the Finish Line
For the past two weeks, this space was our second home. We spent nearly six hours here each day, learning from plenty of trial and error.
Wednesday brought us SPOT training, which turned out to be the most fun I’ve ever had in the sims. Going through FMT sessions one through six, each block was loaded with objectives, new maneuvers, or reviews of old ones—always under time pressure and culminating in the Maneuvers Validation. SPOT, on the other hand, was more relaxed. We only had a few items left to check off, like upset recovery and scenarios involving slat/flap failures and bounced landings. By now, we’re comfortable enough with the jet that these felt more like straightforward demos than strenuous lessons.
With some extra time left at the end, our instructor decided to indulge us in a “Washington Monument run,” launching out of KDCA’s Runway 1, buzzing the Monument, and coming back in on Runway 19. Because the bounced landing was so hard during one of our lesson that half the simulator screens went black—making it tough to spot the Monument—but we somehow managed to steer clear of the river and land in one piece. It was goofy, nostalgic fun—nice to wind down our sim time that way.
Yesterday, I logged another pair of observation flights, revisiting the same out-and-back to Chicago I’d done voluntarily a few weeks ago. This time it was with American Eagle, and I found I noticed so many more details. Now that I’m further along in training, I have a better grasp of the cockpit flows and callouts, so I’m picking up on nuances that went over my head the first time. Each jumpseat trip delivers new insights into how real crews operate, and it’s both reassuring and exciting to see how much I’ve progressed.
In the afternoon, I went back to the Korean barbecue place with a couple of friends for hot pot. It was a blast, and a perfect way to unwind after a morning of observation flights. Later that evening, I headed out again—this time to a little place called Cake Bake, which had a whimsical, girly vibe with cutesy decorations everywhere. Not really my thing, but it was nice. The cake was…fine, though I’m pretty sure my wife could give them a run for their money any day.
Looking forward, all that remains are three LOFT sessions (Line-Oriented Flight Training) and then the LOE, which is the final check ride that will grant me my type rating. It’s wild to think how, at the outset, I was nervous and uncertain, yet here I am—feeling confident and thankful for the unwavering support from the training department and my peers. The process has proven itself every step of the way, and it’s gone off without a hitch. Fingers crossed that the final LOE is just as smooth, and then it’s time for the best part of all: going home.