Initial Familiarization Ride

This weekend I took our FNG shiny new 2nd Lieutenant up for what I call the Initial Familiarization Flight. (I-FAM)

The I-FAM is my own invention. As soon as one of my new officers gets through the indoctrination, completes the Level I, gets a uniform together, etc... I try to reward all the time and money invested with something fun. We suit up and go flying. No pressure, just a quick hop somewhere in the CAP aircraft. It often includes pancakes, or maybe a hamburger.

My theory here is getting spun up in CAP takes real effort. Having a chance to to strap on the airframe as soon as possible is important. It's good for retention.

I am not a CFI. There is no flight training involved in the I-FAM. But in the course of the flight, the new guy gets exposed to much of what makes CAP flying different from renting from a typical flight school or FBO.

So we talk about how we book the aircraft online, get a Flight Release from CAP FRO, and cover off on the local procedures, like where to get the aircraft keys.

Then it's a chance to show how the dreaded chastity belt (aircraft lock) works. Not that's it hard, but the first time fussing with it usually involves frustration, some curse words, and maybe a few drops of blood. Having the chance to learn it without an IP tapping his boot nearby takes some of the pressure off.

Once in the aircraft, I'll brief our egress, sterile cockpit, and positive transfer of aircraft control proceedures. Nice to do that without a mission clock ticking down.

In the air I have the chance to demo the intercom panel, and the CAP radio. If we're lucky, we've had the chance to cover these systems in the classroom first. Switchology on the ICS and the radio trips ups more aircrews than anything else.

It's a great way to get some currency flying in if there's a lull in the ops tempo.

Plus, I'll fly anywhere for pancakes.

Comments

[WIWAC]

This sounds like a great idea. I passed it along to my commander.

[JohnKachenmeister]

I used to do this when I commanded a squadron. I'd take my new officers up either in a CAP plane (when it was available) or a rental (which was the usual situation).

I would do one thing that you didn't that I thought was useful. I would have the new officer call home before we took off. I told him to tell his wife/mother/kids/whatever that we would be flying over his house in a few minutes and they might want to come out and wave.

I would fly over his house at 1000 feet, and circle his neighborhood. I would keep circling until he found his house and saw his family out there waving like fools. It would ALWAYS take several circles.

After we landed, I would ask him why he didn't see his clan on the first pass. He would usually mention that he didn't realize how little people looked at 1000 feet. I would then explain that 1000 feet agl is our standard search altitude, and ask him what if, instead of his family in his own neighborhood, he was looking for a lost flight crew or a troop of boy scouts.

They usually got the point. A search ain't just an airplane ride.