Preparing for your first jet recurrent training and proficiency check can be as nerve-wracking as your initial type rating, especially if you leave your study and practice until the last minute.
While every pilot responds differently to testing and evaluation environments, one thing remains consistent: quality preparation and persistent practice will greatly improve your experience.
Recurrent training serves to uncover and address your blind spots. By embracing the opportunity to learn, grow, and confront challenges, pilots reduce their risk factor. When you arrive exceptionally prepared, not only will you enjoy the process more, but you’ll also efficiently accomplish the required tasks and truly put your skills to the test.
Here are some suggestions and timelines to help you prepare for your recurrent check ride. This timeline starts the day after you receive your initial rating and extends for a year, give or take a few days since your rating is valid through the end of the calendar month in which you received it.
Day Zero
Congratulations on passing your check ride! The first thing to do is rest. Whether you’re on cloud nine because your check ride went smoothly or you’re exhausted from late-night cram sessions to meet ACS standards, take a moment to relax. Remember that there is a world outside the simulator, and life goes on regardless of your performance. Connect with your loved ones, indulge in activities you’ve put off, enjoy life, and engage in exercise. The hard work is done, so allow yourself to unwind.
TAKE OFF: Week One
After resting and possibly enjoying some flying without engine failures or adverse weather conditions, take time to review your proficiency check debrief and assess your strengths and weaknesses from training.
Acknowledge the areas where you felt comfortable. Reflect on why they felt fluid and seamless. You’ll likely discover that these elements were more familiar to you because you practiced them. With your weaker areas, make an honest list — there’s no sense in pretending or sugarcoating things. Being truthful about your proficiency will help you avoid failure in the future. Embrace your minor mistakes now so that they don’t escalate and cause significant problems later.
As a newly (re)minted jet pilot, you’re officially in the pros, even without a commercial license. You’re operating high-performance aircraft in demanding environments alongside verified professionals whose careers and lives are at stake. Treat this responsibility with the respect and deference it deserves.
With your list of weak areas in hand, create an action plan for strengthening them. Determine when and how you will dedicate time and focus to practice those skills or memory items. Identify additional training you may need and understand why specific maneuvers were challenging for you. Remember that the quality of our lives is determined by the quality of the questions we ask ourselves, so ask yourself meaningful questions.
Once you draft your action plan, seek out a respected mentor or friend and ask for accountability support. Review your list and action plan with them, and get feedback and ideas for improving your plan. Establish a frequency for connecting with them and stick to it.
A great plan is only as effective as the structure supporting it. I recommend using the Reminders app on Apple devices. You can set recurring reminders and notifications or establish a routine where you review specific skills, systems/knowledge items, or procedures.
Some people respond well to rewards or consequences for meeting or missing goals. You could promise yourself a taildragger rating if you maintain a three-month study streak on Quizlet, or agree to give your mentor $100 every time you fail to meet your weekly goals.
CRUISE: Weeks Two Through Forty-Two
Enjoy the privileges of your rating and make the most of your flying opportunities. However, it’s important to remember that routine flights without challenging scenarios can create a false sense of security and proficiency. To ensure you stay sharp and prepared, consider the following training and preparation activities:
Review Memory Items
Set aside time once a week to review the memory items for the aircraft you are rated for. You can use flashcards, digital tools like Quizlet, review the emergency checklist, or even ask your co-pilot to quiz you if you fly as a crew. For an extra challenge, aim to memorize the Emergency Checklist tab for each memory item.
Practice Emergencies
While on the ground and in a safe environment, simulate emergency scenarios specific to your aircraft. Verbalize and mimic the required actions without creating an actual in-flight emergency. For instance, you can pick a CAS (Crew Alerting System) message or scenario, such as smoke in the cabin. Set a timer, execute any memory items, respond to it promptly, and follow up with the Emergency Quick Reference Handbook (QRH). Keep a log of your response times and identify areas where you struggle the most. Focus on strengthening your weak memory items through targeted practice.
If you fly with a co-pilot or a non-pilot partner, ask them to surprise you with emergency scenarios or randomly choose CAS lights. This helps replicate the startle factor associated with real emergencies and enhances your preparedness.
Emergency QRH
Pay particular attention to the Emergency Checklists provided in your aircraft’s QRH. Once you have completed the memory items, and the aircraft is stabilized, the checklist becomes the next step. Practice the proper flow, understand potential challenges or gotchas, and follow the checklist until you reach the “PROCEDURE COMPLETE” point.
Join a Pilot Owner’s Group
Even if owning the aircraft you are typed in is not feasible at the moment, it is highly beneficial to join a pilot owner’s group. Groups like Citation Jet Pilots (CJP) offer a wealth of knowledge and insights from experienced pilots who share their experiences, including both mistakes and successes. Engaging with such communities expands your knowledge base and allows you to learn from others.
Chair Fly
If you are responsible for flying and managing the aircraft, take advantage of the time it takes to update databases. Utilize this opportunity to sit in the flight deck and mentally practice maneuvers, emergency procedures, and systems knowledge. If access to the aircraft is limited, you can still chair fly at home using a poster or visual aids that you should have received during your training.
Systems Review
Make it a habit to review one chapter of your training manual each week. In the case of the Flight Safety Citation CJ3 Training Manual, this means reading each chapter twice during this specified time frame. For variety and a more comprehensive understanding, consider reading sections of the Aircraft Operating Manual (AOM) as well. Textron’s Citation AOM is an excellent resource for familiarizing yourself with the aircraft’s systems.
To enhance your understanding, read these chapter sections while in cruise, allowing you to visualize the components in your actual aircraft and how they interconnect. Additionally, explore the emergencies related to each system. This knowledge will prove invaluable in the event of a system malfunction, enabling you to effectively communicate with your mechanic or maintenance team.
Tip: Search for “training manual [your aircraft type]” on Google to find additional resources and PDFs that you can add to your iPad for convenient access.
Go Missed & Fly the Maneuvers
It’s easy for pilots to fall into routines, especially when flying in favorable weather conditions. To avoid complacency, it’s important to schedule dedicated flight time with a crew member or instructor to practice real missed approaches and maneuvers. Even if you don’t own the aircraft, emphasize the benefits of maintaining and sharpening your skills to your flight department. Given the limited availability of simulator training, this becomes an even more compelling reason. Aim to spend an hour or two once a quarter engaging in this practice to keep your proficiency intact.
Teach Others
One of the most effective ways to solidify your own knowledge is by teaching others. Seek out flight training students, new Certified Flight Instructors (CFIs), or other aviation enthusiasts and offer to teach them about jets. Teaching requires verbalizing your book knowledge, which helps reinforce your understanding on a deeper level.
Additionally, providing early exposure to turbine aircraft, even if it’s through ground instruction, can have a significant impact on aspiring pilots, allowing them to visualize the potential of their future careers in aviation. By sharing your expertise, you not only contribute to the aviation community but also enhance your own understanding and mastery of the subject matter.
APPROACH: Weeks 43 Through 51
If you’ve followed the previous guidelines, the remaining two months leading up to your recurrent training should primarily be focused on review. However, if you tend to procrastinate, it’s crucial to start studying now. Waiting until the weekend before your training to cram all the knowledge back into your head will only lead to a stressful and ineffective experience. Avoid this by allocating sufficient time for preparation.
While you may only need to intensify your studying three or four weeks before recurrent, it’s wise to give yourself a realistic window of two months. Unexpected events and distractions can quickly consume your time and focus, so it’s essential to be prepared.
Evaluate your understanding of each chapter in the training manual on a scale of one to ten. This self-assessment will help you identify areas where you need to invest extra effort. Once you get to training, take advantage of non-classroom time to seek assistance from your training center instructors in reinforcing your knowledge.
It’s crucial to communicate with your family, friends, partners, and colleagues about the significance of this training. Make them aware that you’ll require dedicated focus time without distractions. This becomes increasingly important as the training dates approach, allowing you to maintain a drama-free environment as much as possible.
Recurrent training should be an opportunity to learn something new rather than relearning what you should have known from the start. It’s not a time to play catch-up but to showcase your sharp skills and professionalism.
LANDING: Week 52
Finally, the day has arrived to demonstrate your knowledge and skills to your instructors and examiners. Remember, most training centers for recurrent training want you to succeed. They aim for satisfied, repeat customers and are there to assist you in demonstrating your proficiency.
Arrive early, establish rapport with fellow participants, share insights, and stay organized. Prioritize some exercise at the hotel, ensure you get quality rest, and nourish your body with nutritious food, rather than relying on the donuts and processed snacks often provided by the training center.
Treat this experience with the same level of focus and attention as you would in the flight deck. Minimize distractions and prioritize your training. While life may present unexpected challenges, it’s important to avoid multitasking with work-related matters or handling personal situations during class instruction. Such behavior not only distracts the instructor and your classmates but also disrespects the investment you’ve made in the training and the time and effort invested by others. If necessary, address personal matters outside of the training environment and block out your training days to ensure you can fully immerse yourself in the learning experience.
And once you walk out of the simulator for the last time, complete your debriefing, and receive your stamp of approval for another year… it’s time to celebrate! You’ve earned it through your hard work and dedication.
