Prep for Airline Training? What should I study?

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One of the most frequent questions I see on mentorship pages is future airline pilots asking what materials they should study in order to be better prepared for their upcoming class at their first [regional] airline.  My answer, NONE! Now, much more goes into that answer than simply doing absolutely nothing, so I will attempt to provide some guidance.

Airline training is very specific.  Many airlines fly multiple different aircraft and often you do not know which you will be assigned until the first day in your class.  However, others award your aircraft type prior to your class date.  Regardless, the guidance remains the same.

Airlines have spent hundreds of thousands, even millions of dollars, to create their training programs.  The programs are very structured (even more so than Part 141 training) and are proven to provide their trainees with the best possible opportunity for success.  After all, it takes $30,000+ to train a single pilot for their airline job- and one things the airlines will not do is waste money.

After your completion of flight training and/or degree program, there is often a gap between "hours complete" and your first day of class at the airlines.  Take this time to relax; you are going to need it.  Airline training is normally two-to-three months, and extremely time consuming.  The stress of learning your first jet and preparing for a double check ride (ATP/Type rating) is something that will make even the calmest person nervous.

When pilots attempt to "pre-study" information, they often do so with non-company approved material. This can lead to negative learning.  For example, a pilot from another company who flies the same aircraft type messaged me with a limitations question.  Our companies had the same limitation but another company, with the same type, had a different limitation.  So had a future pilot got ahold of our information to study for the aircraft but went to the other company, they would have committed the wrong limitation to memory.  In the laws of learning, primacy is key.  The first thing learned is the most remember, making "unlearning" and "relearning" a challenge that you would have otherwise avoided.

As pilots, we always feel the need to be the most prepared as possible.  Trust in your company to provide you with the tools to be successful.  Stay the course, study what they say to study- when they say to study it.  If you really have the need to prepare, ensure your instrument knowledge is up to date.  Many new pilots only have a handful of actual instrument time and limited IFR experience.  At the airlines, we basically only fly IFR.  You need to know the FAR's in reference to IFR, the AIM's in reference to IFR, AC's, etc.  You need to be able to read, brief, and fly an instrument approach in under 60 seconds, fly a STAR with just a quick glance, and be able to depart using a SID within moments of assignment.  Master these skills and your airline training will take care of itself.

The bottom line, do NOT do anything outside of reviewing your basic pilot skills in your preparation for your first airline job.  Let the process work for you as it has for thousands before you.  And take the time to relax, take a mini vacation, get your affairs in order- because the next few months are going to be grueling.



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