August
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August 10, 2008
I can’t believe the internship is already over. It seems like yesterday I was writing my first journal entry and now its time to write my last. But even though its time to pack up my things and head back to reality, Continental did not disappoint me. The internship ended even stronger than it started. Last week, I began my full motion simulator training in the 737. The full motion simulator is an actual cockpit just like the FTD, however, it is mounted on top of hydraulic actuators. This allows it to move and simulate actually flying through the air. There is also a visual image of in front of the cockpit, simulating the flying environment. The first day of the simulator we learned how to take-off, land, and fly instrument approaches. This first and only day I would practice normal flying skills. The next 5 days consisted of the most intense flying I have ever experienced. We performed take-offs with engines catching on fire at 150 knots, all 6 tires blowing on takeoff, and learning how to successfully takeoff, fly an instrument approach, and land with one engine failed. Our instructor threw every emergency he could at us and we handled it with perfection. This is proof of just how much Embry-Riddle helps their pilots transition to the real world of flying. My simulator partner and I were able to learn flows, and perform with nothing less than perfection. Our simulator instructor said our flying skills mimicked pilots with over 3000 hrs. Without the demanding training Embry-Riddle provides their students, none of this would have been possible. By the end of the week I logged over 30 hrs of 737 simulator training in my logbook. This has definitely been the best flying experience of my life.
I cannot stress enough how beneficial a co-op/internship can be to your future career. The connections I have made this summer are priceless. Between traveling around the world, learning how to fly a multi-million dollar jet, and the overall experience working for an airline, my internship with Continental Airlines has further enhanced my passion to become a professional airline pilot.
July 27, 2008
Wow, as I sit here and write you this journal tonight, I can’t believe that I only have 2 weeks left of my internship with Continental. I have accomplished so much this summer, but the best is yet to come. Last week I began my 737 training. I spent the first three days of the week in the 737 FTD. Here I learned the basic procedures on how to fly the aircraft and how to perform the checklists properly from memory. We flew all over the United States, learning what it takes to get 150 passengers safely to their destination. What a blast! Flying a huge jet is super fun and relatively simple if you are prepared. After my exciting time in the FTD’s, we attended a Crew Resource Management class Thursday and Friday. Here we learned how to properly fly an aircraft with two pilots in the front. It was very interesting how different flying an airplane can be when you split the cockpit duties between two pilots. After the class on Friday I headed home for a good night’s sleep.
I wasn’t planning on going anywhere this weekend, but Friday night I just couldn’t stand staying in Houston. My simulator partner and I decided to catch a plane to San Francisco, CA Saturday morning for a nice day trip. Boy, I’m glad we did. California was amazing. We arrived in San Fran at 9:30 am and we were presented with a gorgeous California day; 60 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. What a relief from the 102 degree heat we left back in Houston. We started off the day with lunch at Boudin Sourdough. San Fran is known for their sourdough bread, and wow, what a surprise. They made it fresh there and I had an amazing sandwich. Then, we boarded a ferry boat for a tour of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island. It was so neat to see the history of San Fran up close. We concluded our adventure with an amazing Chinese dinner in China Town. He hopped on a plane that night at midnight and I was back in Houston at 6 am.
My weekend was finished off with a full day of studying. Tomorrow is when all of this hard work is going to pay off. I will get up early and head to the training center for one of the most amazing experiences of my life. This week I am going to get the opportunity to fly the full motion simulators for 6 days straight! I will log over 25 hrs in a simulator that flies exactly like the real airplane. I am so excited for this wonderful experience. I hope you guys are continuing to have a nice and relaxing summer. I’m going to catch up on my sleep once again before my big day tomorrow.
July 13, 2008
Hello again, I hope everyone had a wonderful Fourth of July!
Mine was absolutely amazing. T he other interns and I spent Fourth
of July weekend in Buenos Aires, Argentina! I know I know, so patriotic
of us right? But wow, Buenos Aires was a wonderful cultural experience.
We departed July 3rd at 9 pm and arrived in Buenos Aries the next
morning. Yes, Argentina is a 10 hr flight away! The crazy part about
this trip was that when we got off of the airplane, it was 50 degrees
outside. Since we were below the equator, it was winter down there.
It was so nice to get away from the 100 degree heat of Texas. After we
arrived at our hotel, we went and grabbled one of the best lunches I
have ever eaten. Argentina is known for their steaks, so of course we
had to try a steak restaurant. We went to a nice, extremely fancy place
down the street from our hotel and ate like kings! The best part about
Argentina is the price. Three pesos are worth one dollar, so everything
is really cheap. We all ate a $90 steak dinner for $30. What a deal.
Then, after a wonderful lunch, we decided to walk around the shopping
district in Buenos Aires. It was so awesome to see all of the cultural
goods they had for sale. We finished off the night with a wonderful
evening of Salsa dancing. The next day we all got up and took a
wonderful bus tour of the city. We saw all of the famous sights and I
got my picture taken with an Argentinean dancer! After experiencing all
of what Argentina had to offer, we headed back to the airport for our
long journey home. It was a short weekend trip packed with culture and
excitement! What more can I ask for?
After returning from Argentina, it was time to begin our first
round of training. Monday we went to our first class at the Continental
training center, FMS. This is where we learned how to program the
computer system and autopilot in the 737. The class was from 8-5 on
Monday and Tuesday and wow, we learned a lot! The teacher took us
through every aspect of the flight, and showed what to expect for the
simulators. It made me feel a lot more confident about flying one of
these big jets. It actually isn't as hard as you may think. After the
completion of the FMS class, I finished off the week with a few days of
good work.
I hope everyone continues to have a wonderful summer and I will
keep you posted on the progression of my training. The next few weeks
will be the most exciting and intense weeks of my life! Until then,
time to get ready for work tomorrow. Have a great week!
July 1, 2008
I would like to start this article off by wishing everyone a Happy Fourth of July! The past two weeks have been nothing but fireworks over here at Continental.
Remember how I told you this summer could not get any better? Well, I was wrong. Sit back, relax, and get ready to be blown away by one of the most amazing experiences of my life.
It all started last Thursday when we took a tour of Houston Center. Houston Center is an Air Traffic Control facility that provides guidance to aircraft flying between airports. Houston Center controls the area between west Texas and Louisiana. During our tour, we were given the opportunity to sit next to an Air Traffic Controller and watch how traffic is controlled. All I can say is wow! I have a new appreciation for how much work is involved in keeping aircraft separated.
On Friday, we all got up and proceeded to the airport once again for a tour of Continental’s ramp tower. This is like a mini Air Traffic Control Facility for Continental Airlines. In the ramp tower, two controllers guide aircraft pulling into and out of gates at the Terminal. It was so neat to get a bird’s eye view of what goes on every day when you depart from an airport.
When we arrived, all of the morning flights were preparing to depart. The room was filled with pilots calling in waiting for the ok to depart. Once they received the ok, about 12 airplanes began pushing back from the gate. It was insane to see so many aircraft moving in such a small area. This just shows us just how many people are needed to keep an airline operated at full capacity. It takes the two controllers and hundreds of ground personnel just to get the aircraft to the taxiway!
After the ramp tower tour, it was time to relax. It was Friday, and little did I know, this would end up being my favorite weekend so far of this internship!
We started off the weekend with a day trip to Galveston, TX. I haven’t been to the beach since April, so we all decided to have a nice relaxing day at the beach! It was nice to get away from the busy life of an intern and just relax. We spent the day walking on the beach, playing in the 85 degree water, and shopping at the wonderful beach shops. After a long day down south, we returned to Houston to get a good night's rest. Saturday was going to be a big day for all of us.
Saturday morning, we began our journey to Seattle, Washington. After a 4 ½ hr flight, we arrived at one of my favorite cities in the United States. It was such a beautiful day, 70 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. What a change from the 100 degree heat Texas throws at us every day. Saturday night was spent checking into the hotel and preparing ourselves for the days to come. Sunday started at 5:30 a.m. where we proceeded to downtown Seattle to see the wonderful view at Sunrise. I was shocked just how beautiful Puget Sound can be in the morning.
After the sunrise, we proceeded to the Public Market Center. This is one of the most famous markets to buy seafood in the United States. Everyone was so friendly and we tried such wonderful seafood. I tasted the best Alaskan Salmon I have ever eaten. Next we proceeded to walk around Seattle and see what the city had to offer.
After lunch, we proceeded to the most beautiful place I have ever seen in my life, Mt. Rainier National Park. It was a 3 hr drive south of Seattle, and it was well worth the trip. Upon reaching the visitor center, about one third the way up the mountain, there was 11 feet of snow on the ground and it was 75 degrees outside. We were in shorts and a t-shirt playing in snow, what an experience. After 3 hours of admiring wildlife, snowcaps, and an amazing sunset, we proceeded back to the hotel.
The next day was the main event, a personal tour of the Boeing Factory in Everett, Washington.
We got up bright and early once again and began our day with the famous space needle! We rode to the top and got a breathtaking view of Seattle from 600 feet in the air!
Next, it was finally time for what we had been waiting for, the Boeing tour. When we arrived at the Boeing facility, we were dwarfed by the largest building in the United States! The Boeing factory encompasses 98 acres under one roof. After we checked in, we were greeted by our tour guide and proceeded to the factory. As we entered, the air was filled with heavy machinery piecing together aircraft the size of foot ball fields.
The tour began with the Boeing 777. This aircraft is currently their most popular aircraft for traveling internationally. We were given the opportunity to see every step of the building process. Boeing employs over 80,000 people at this plant, and it takes brainpower from each and every one of them to produce one of these magnificent planes. You don’t realize just how big these airplanes are until you stand next to them! The wingtip is about 3 stories above the ground, and the engine has a diameter of 12 feet.
After the 777 tour, we saw the newest addition to the Boeing fleet, the 787. This aircraft encompasses the state of the art technology and efficiency. This aircraft can literally be snapped together in as little as 3 days! It is expected to have its first flight towards the end of 2008.
After the tour, we proceeded to the gift shop, and then headed back to Seattle for the last few hrs of the trip.
This amazing weekend came to a close with a 45 min ferry ride across Puget Sound and back. This was the first time we got to see all of Seattle as a whole, a truly beautiful city. We then proceeded to the airport to catch the midnight flight back to Houston. I slept in first class all the way home. The aircraft landed at 7 am and I was at work by 8.
What a wonderful weekend! But wait, this week isn’t done quite yet. We depart for Argentina on Thursday!!! I can’t wait.
Until then, have a great night, I need to catch up on some sleep.
June
June 17, 2008
Hi everyone, I can’t believe it is already the middle of June! Time flies when you’re having fun. The Continental Internship is much more than I expected. I can’t believe you can experience so much in so little time. The past two weeks at Continental were as good as the first. I performed my usual duties at work, and I still love every minute of it. Since I had a lot of free time, I decided to start studying for my simulator training. I’m going to have my work cut out for the rest of the summer.
During the last 2 weeks in July, I’m going to have the opportunity to attend 3 Continental classes, as well as fly the 737-500 full motion simulator. This is going to be the most rewarding experience of this internship! Continental is going to treat me as a new hire pilot, expecting me to know all of the procedures and checklists by memory. The training will begin with 6 hrs in the flight training device. An FTD is an actual cockpit of the 737, with no visual in front of it. The FTD also doesn’t move, it is hard mounted to the ground. This is used in order for pilots to perfect the checklists and procedures before they fly the full motion simulator. It will also perfect your instrument flying skills because there is no visual of what is outside the cockpit. The full motion simulator is an actual cockpit just like the FTD, however, it is mounted on top of hydraulic actuators. This allows it to move and simulate actually flying through the air. There is also a visual image of in front of the cockpit, simulating the flying environment. The full motion simulator is so realistic, the first time you fly the actual aircraft is with passengers in the back. It sounds like a lot of work, but learning how to fly an $80,000,000 jet is unbelievable. I’ll keep you posted on my progress during the next month and a half.
Finally, I can’t end this journal without the details of an exciting trip right? Well, we didn’t go out of the country this time, but we got to experience something few pilots have. Imagine, being at 25,000 ft and intentionally taking your oxygen mask off! Well, that is exactly what we did today. The other interns and I flew up to Oklahoma City last night for altitude training. We arrived at the FAA facility at 8:00 a.m. and met our professor for the day. He gave us a 3 hr ground school explaining the effects of altitude on the body. We ate lunch, and then the fun and excitement began, it was time for the altitude chamber. An altitude chamber is a big sealed box that simulates climbing in an airplane. The FAA uses this to allow pilots to experience hypoxia, or the lack of oxygen. It trains pilots on what their personal signs are of hypoxia, and how to counteract them before a problem occurs. At 1:00, we all entered the chamber and took our seats. The instructor told us how to use our oxygen masks and what we were going to be doing. The flight started with a gradual rise to 8,000 ft, the altitude of normal passenger aircraft cabin when you fly. Then, we experienced a rapid decompression to 18,000 ft. This simulates a hole being blown in the side of the aircraft. The altitude rose from 8,000 ft to 18,000 ft in 7 seconds. As soon as this happened, we put on our oxygen masks and the room immediately fogged up. Also, the temperature dropped 20 degrees due to the expanding air. Upon reaching 18,000, we continued a gradual climb to 25,000. At 25,000 ft, we all took off our masks to see what it feels like to be hypoxic. After 5 minutes, my head was tingling, my lips turned blue, and I was lightheaded. It was a very interesting feeling, something you don’t want to experience while you are at the controls of an aircraft. After experiencing hypoxia, we all put our oxygen masks on and immediately all of the symptoms were cured. It was amazing how fast you are back to your normal self. We then finished our flight with a gradual descent back to earth. What a fun day! We left the FAA facility at 4:30 and were home by 7. I was in Oklahoma City for less than 24 hrs, and wow, what an experience.
I hope everyone is having as much fun as I am this summer! I’m off to bed, back to work tomorrow.
June 2, 2008
Hello again, I hope everyone has had a good summer so far, I know I have! Well, my second week at Continental started off with a bang. Monday we had a Corporate Orientation for all of the interns at Continental Airlines. We went to a big conference room with the interns from the flight, marketing, and engineering departments. It was fun to finally meet all of the interns that will be working with us this summer. During the course of the day, we learned everything we ever wanted to know about Continental: the history, how they operate, the aircraft they fly, etc. Then we proceeded to the Presidential Office luncheon. It was amazing to see where the executive board of Continental works. We all had gourmet food for lunch while different Continental managers introduced themselves to us. The most shocking moment of the day was when the President of Continental came over and chatted with us. It was very impressive how friendly the second in command was to the interns. Finally, the CEO of Continental came out and introduced himself and thanked us for making Continental a part of our lives. After his speech he was kind enough to take a picture with all of the interns. This was a great jumpstart to the second week, but the best is yet to come.
After Corporate Orientation, the week continued as normal. My partner and I performed our normal duties as interns, continuously perfecting our skills and learning new strategies to improve efficiency and accuracy. After a productive week at work, it was time to figure our where we were going to go for the weekend. I didn’t think we could top Costa Rica, but boy, was I wrong. We all decided to hop on a late night flight to London on Friday. We flew on a Boeing 777, possible the greatest plane ever made, and arrived in London 10 hrs later. On Saturday we checked into our hotel, and walked around to get a feel for London. On Sunday, we saw all of the sights, including Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and Piccadilly Circus. It was awesome being half way across the world for a weekend. Everyone there was so friendly and we saw lots of history. After the sights, we went dancing Sunday night and grabbed the early flight out of there on Memorial Day. It was a weekend full of culture and adventure. I can’t wait to go back!
I returned to work on Tuesday, where Matt and I ran the show. My boss was out of town for a safety conference in San Diego. It was pretty neat running the safety department of the worlds 4th largest airline. We worked hard all week, and I decided to stay in the states for the weekend. I went to North Carolina and saw one of my really great friends. It was a great relaxing weekend full of fun. As I start my 4th week at Continental, I can’t believe the time has gone by so fast. I want to be stuck in slow motion so it will never end. The next few weeks are going to be full of excitement. Soon, we are going to start our tours of the control tower, maintenance facility, and the FAA facility in Oklahoma. There are plenty of adventures to come, but until then, it ' s time for bed.
May
May 19, 2008
Hello everyone, my name is Dodd Bailey Allen Jr. I was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. Currently, I am a senior at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in the Aeronautical Science program with a minor in Aviation Weather. I began flying at the age of 17, and obtained my Private Pilot Certificate during my senior year in High School. Since then, I have obtained my Commercial Pilot (Single/Multi), Instrument rating, Certificated Flight Instructor rating, and Certificated Flight Instructor Instrument rating. Last August, I was given the opportunity to work at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University as a part-time flight instructor. This is where my dream of flying has finally begun. Not only do I get to fly everyday, but I get the pleasure of enlightening students on the wonderful world of flying. I typically go to class from 9 am to 1 pm, then flight instruct from 5 pm to 9 pm. I could not be happier with how my flying career has jumpstarted, and it’s about to become even more exciting. This summer, I was granted the opportunity to participate in an internship with Continental Airlines. This journal will note my experiences this summer with this fantastic opportunity.
I began my Journey to Houston, Texas on May 9th, where I moved in to the place I will be living in for the summer. A previous Continental intern, and Express Jet captain is providing me and two other interns housing for the summer. He provides us with a place to stay in a convenient location for an affordable price. After getting settled in to a wonderful townhouse in Downtown Houston, I prepared for orientation on Friday, May 9th.
Bright and early on Friday,the 7 other internsand I proceeded to the Continental building. We were all super excited about this opportunity and could not wait to get started. The day began with an orientationPowerpoint explaining the duties, benefits, and responsibilities of each intern. I will be working in the Safety Department with my partner Matthew Casile, who is also a student at Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach campus. As an intern with Continental we receive many benefits, including a tour of the Houston tower and approach control, the Continental Maintenance facility, and the fire protection department at Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport. One of the most beneficial aspects of the Continental internship is the privilege to sit in on several classes at the training center, and receive 20 hrs of 737 Level D simulator training. Finally, we are allowed to travel anywhere Continental flies as long as there is room on the flight. Continental wants the interns to receive the full airline experience. They also promote international travel so the interns can experience cultures from all over the world. After the orientation, we proceeded to the Bush Intercontinental Airport to receive our badges. The airport badges give us permission to pass through security without a boarding pass and allow us to perform preflight inspections with the pilots. The day ended with lunch at the airport. We proceeded home and relaxed for the weekend. Houston is a very friendly city with a lot of fun places to eat and hang out.
On Monday, May 12, it began. I woke up at 7am, got dressed, and began the first of many walks to the Continental Headquarters. My boss met me and Matt downstairs to explain to us the first task we will perform everyday. Continental has a very proactive stance on safety. Every airplane is equipped with a device that records the flight parameters of every flight. It records such inputs as taxi speed, airspeed, pitch attitude, bank angle, etc. Every morning, it is our responsibility to receive these disks and input the data into one of many supercomputers. Once imputed, the supercomputer organizes the data and points out any hazardous flight behavior. The analysts then proceed to investigate these situations, and if necessary, contact the flight crew to discuss ways to prevent unsafe situations. After we input the data, we proceed over to our desks. Here, we analyze and input Captain Safety reports into the Continental safety database. These reports can include anything from a passenger smoking in the lavatory, to a hydraulic malfunction. This provides future pilots ways to prevent safety issues in the future. After these entries are made, we proceed to lunch. When we come back, we are provided with a safety related task for the day. Each of these tasks represents a different part of the safety department. This allows us to get the full experience of what it is like to keep the flight operations safe everyday. The day concludes at 4 pm where we proceed home to relax.
This first week was a true learning experience to say the least. Matt and I perfected our skills at each task, and by Friday, we were able to run the show without incident. Now, that was a taste of our first work week. Every week, our tasks will become more complicated and I look forward to the challenge. But now it is time to explain to you just how fun and exiting an internship can be. Remember the flight benefits? Well, the interns and I decided to try them out this weekend and all I have to say is WOW. Friday at 5 pm, we proceeded to the Houston Airport to catch a plane to San Jose, Costa Rica. This was my first time traveling outside of the Country and I was super excited. We arrived at San Jose at 9 pm, where we proceeded to our hotel. We dropped our stuff off at the hotel and proceeded to dinner. We ate at a wonderful Costa Rica restaurant and experienced their friendly atmosphere. The food is amazing, and consists mostly of chicken, beef, and rice. It is similar to the typical Mexican food you eat here in the states, just more authentic. We then proceeded to experience the true art of salsa dancing. I have to say, that was the most fun I have ever had dancing. The cultural experience was truly priceless. After dancing, we proceeded back to the hotel for a good night's sleep. The next morning, we got up, ate breakfast, and took a taxi for our tour for the day. We drove through the mountains on the outskirts of San Jose, andto the rainforest. Yes, the actual rainforest in Central America!!!! We arrived and experienced something that I never thought would be possible. We rode on a railway above the treetops and saw the rainforest from above. I will have pictures of this amazing adventure up soon. It was an hour long ride that allowed us to experience just how fascinating Mother Nature can be. After the tour we proceeded back to San Jose for dinner. We relaxed and socialized with locals that night and flew home at 7 am the next morning. We were in Costa Rica for a total of 36 hours, and I have to say, those were the most exciting 36 hours of my life!
As I am writing this article to you tonight, I still can’t believe I was in the rainforest 24 hours ago! I am getting ready for bed and to start week number two. I wish all of you a wonderful week ahead. I look forward to sharing with you my experiences this summer. Time for bed.
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Name: Dodd Bailey Allen Jr.