From the Flight Deck

By Shoreline Aviation Director of Operations P.J. Flanagan

Ryan Merriam and I recently had the pleasure of attending a two-week Citation XL type rating program in Carlsbad, CA, at the LOFT Flight Simulation Center complex. At the LOFT facility we were trained by retired airline captains and military fighter pilots.

The FAA requires any crew members flying passengers for hire in a jet go through a rigorous program designed for the particular type of jet you will be flying. The program involves a week of in-depth systems study and testing. The second week of training was in a full motion simulator. This training included everything from low visibility instrument takeoffs and landing to engine failures and fires.

This is the interior of the LOFT simulator with a generated view of a runway at JFK Airport.

The culmination of our training was a 2.5 hour pass-or-fail check ride administered by an official designee of the FAA. Both Ryan and I received our XL type certificates with flying colors. We will now have the Citation XL added to our pilot’s license.

Our time at the Loft facility involved extensive self-study after classroom hours, but the location at the Cape Rey Hotel afforded some much-needed areas for rest and exercise. These events can be very stressful on the pilot.

This is the full motion simulator at LOFT.

Spending time with Captain Merriam was a real pleasure for me. We had time to get to know each other, discuss the operation at Shoreline, and experience how each of us adapts to the rigors of a fast-paced training environment. I was particularly impressed with Ryan’s professionalism and command of the aircraft in all phases of flight. His quiet self-assuredness and willingness to work with others makes him an excellent mentor and check captain for our up-and-coming pilot group. Mentoring is at the core of what we are doing both in training and daily operations at Shoreline Aviation. We share knowledge, and every pilot is a captain in training.

Flying jets safely and efficiently requires skill and judgment gained through training, mentoring and continued exposure to more and more responsibility. We really do love to fly!

(In the cover photo, Shoreline Aviation pilot Ryan Merriam and Director of Operations P.J. Flanagan pose with a large turbine engine intake section during their visit to LOFT.)