Your instrument skills are more important than your commercial or private pilot skills!

Know how to read your approach plates, STARS, and DP’s quickly:

• Consider using Jeppesen Charts; these are the airline standard worldwide.
• Practice briefing your approach charts.
• Practice flying procedures (especially approaches) on Microsoft Flight Simulator as much as you possibly can using a Jet or Turboprop Aircraft.

Know how to hold:

• Teardrop
• Parallel
• Direct Entry

Airline pilots utilize checklists every time, even if they have 20,000 hours in the aircraft!

Use the checklists when you fly the Cessna or Piper, make it a standard for every flight:

• Use memory flow then confirm using the checklist, don’t use the “read and do” technique unless its an emergency and you don’t have the checklist memorized.
• For critical emergencies (engine failure, fire etc.), memorize the checklists. Airline pilots must also do this for their “Immediate Action Items”.

CRM is crucial in airline operations!

• Practice saying your checklists out loud when flying at Dean International, this will help you develop a transferrable routine so that you are well prepared for your type rating training.

Flying a Level D simulator is expensive: $600 or more per hour not including instructor.

• Trainees utilize cockpit mockups to learn the procedures BEFORE they even enter the simulator for the first time. Airlines expect this from you.
• Go to Jet Pubs to purchase your cockpit posters.

Microsoft Flight Simulator is a powerful and relatively inexpensive tool to prepare you for a type rating.

Practice ALL of the maneuvers and checklists using a flight simulator:

• Go through the entire QRH (Quick Reference Handbook) and practice every procedure on the simulator.
• Fly approaches using a cheap joystick. If you can afford it, purchase a yoke and other accessories:
  Wilco Publishing.
• Purchase downloads to provide extra functionality to your Microsoft Flight Simulator.
  (i.e. Captain Sim and Wilco Publishing)

Learn more about advanced systems and aerodynamics found on airliners:

• "Fly the Wing" by Jim Webb and Billy Walker
• "The Turbine Pilot’s Flight Manual" by Gregory N. Brown and Mark J. Holt
• "Mental Math for Pilots" by Ronald D. McElroy

Airline Interview Courses are available at Dean Type Ratings International. You can also purchase the following books in order to practice for your interview:

• "Airline Pilot Interviews: How You Can Succeed in Getting Hired" by Irv Jasinski

You Represent a $20,000 to $100,000 investment! Airlines want to hire you if you’re not expensive to train. They want the best.

• Be proficient, knowledgeable, have good study habits.
• Obtain a type rating before applying.
• Airlines hire captains, not first officers. They look for candidates with good leadership and communication skills. They don’t want career first officers. You will be a captain someday or they won’t hire you.
• Keep a clean record. Airlines don’t want problems with the FAA, DGCA, etc., so be careful when you drink. Don’t exceed speed limits. Don’t burn bridges with your employer or flight school. Watch out for anything that can go against your record.
• Stay healthy. Many airlines will require you to take their medical examinations, so stay healthy, exercise, and eat right.
• And of course, enjoy flying! That's why you're here!