The estimated time between my checkride and my IOE (when I actually start flying the plane) is three weeks. By my best guess, I figure I won't start for another week or so. That being said, I've been out of the simulator for over a week and since I don't really have anything to do during the day other than bike, run, or hang out by the pool, I thought it would be a good idea to ride in the jumpseat and do some observing to stay fresh with all my procedures. Also, the water was scheduled to be shut off at my apartment between 10 and 3:00 today - coincidentally the exact same amount of time I intended to be gone.
I decided on a flight to San Diego because it was short and busy. The cockpit is quite small and I didn't want to be breathing on the Captain and FO for any longer than was necessary. It was a unique experience to look forward on a passenger jet. The view on the approach to San Diego is unreal. It is crazy how close the downtown high rises are to the final approach path.
I could have simply exited the plane, walked a few gates down and hopped another flight back to LA, but I felt that was not taking full advantage of flying down to San Diego. Instead, I hopped on a city bus to downtown and walked to a place called Donut Bar. One cannot go wrong with that name. This fine establishment prides itself on having unique flavors. I settled on nutella, oreo cake, honey bourbon, s'mores, butter beer, and a normal sprinkled cake donut to round out my half dozen. I needed a place to eat said donuts, so I went to the waterfront. Unfortunately I chose the muggiest day of the year to go on a 2.5 mile walk wearing a full uniform and holding a box of donuts. There was a light breeze coming off the bay which offered a slight reprieve from the heat while I enjoyed the normal sprinkled donut and part of the Nutella one.
As this was the first time I wore my uniform, I found that it has mysterious effects on people. One, and unknown to me, is that I am now an expert on everything. "Where's my gate?" "How do I get to terminal 7?" "Why is my flight delayed?" Contrary to popular belief, I do not have all gates memorized, and often one's best bet when locating terminal 7 is to follow the giant signs with the arrows pointing to "Terminal 7." While walking by the waterfront, people now thought I was some kind of sailor or ship captain, so I got a whole new set of nautical questions. Who knows what kinds of things are going to start happening once I actually wear the hat too.
Second, when you're in uniform and carrying a box of donuts, it's open season for being approached for casual conversation. The most memorable encounter, however, was from a salty looking man with a beard who appeared to be involved in selling tickets for harbor cruises...or was homeless and happened to be standing next to a place where tickets for harbor cruises are sold. In any event, he decided to tell me a joke... "Have you noticed the gulls in the bay?," he inquired. "They're not seagulls. They're bay gulls! BAY gulls! BAGELS!" . . .
For the flight back to LA, I was on one of Skywest's newer aircraft, the Embraer 170, so no benefit for me to jumpseat. Instead, I got offered a seat in first class. This was very unexpected, but it is after all, a twenty minute flight. Nevertheless, the gesture was appreciated, and it gave me more room under the seat for my box of donuts.
