Stephen
@flyingsteve.bsky.social
Husband, dad of 3, Captain, Flight Safety Investigator. Planes, boats, skiing and biking.
3 months, endless CBTs, 12 procedures trainers, 14 full flight sims, 52 hours and 6 sectors of line indoc, one line check and I’m officially, and finally, a line qualified Airbus A330 Captain.
DONE
DONE
July 24, 2025 at 2:10 AM
3 months, endless CBTs, 12 procedures trainers, 14 full flight sims, 52 hours and 6 sectors of line indoc, one line check and I’m officially, and finally, a line qualified Airbus A330 Captain.
DONE
DONE
We decided to move to the boat for the summer. Miranda’s first week commuting from the marina (45 mins) has been good so far and my commute only happens once per week. So far it’s a resounding success! Kids are floating between the boat and the house with Jeremy. Best decision ever!
July 8, 2025 at 9:11 PM
We decided to move to the boat for the summer. Miranda’s first week commuting from the marina (45 mins) has been good so far and my commute only happens once per week. So far it’s a resounding success! Kids are floating between the boat and the house with Jeremy. Best decision ever!
Got 12,000 steps in roaming Old Town Stockholm, and had an amazing meal and a couple beverages. Let’s see if I can sleep right through the night 😂!
13:15 TOBT for home tomorrow.
13:15 TOBT for home tomorrow.
July 3, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Got 12,000 steps in roaming Old Town Stockholm, and had an amazing meal and a couple beverages. Let’s see if I can sleep right through the night 😂!
13:15 TOBT for home tomorrow.
13:15 TOBT for home tomorrow.
First A330 line indoc pairing tonight, and my first flight since April 6! Off to ESSA/ARN for a 24 hour layover! Very excited for my first Atlantic crossing as an operating crew member, and calling myself “heavy” without it being a reference to my weight 🤣. Hoping I don’t say “rouge” on the radio 😅
July 2, 2025 at 8:26 PM
First A330 line indoc pairing tonight, and my first flight since April 6! Off to ESSA/ARN for a 24 hour layover! Very excited for my first Atlantic crossing as an operating crew member, and calling myself “heavy” without it being a reference to my weight 🤣. Hoping I don’t say “rouge” on the radio 😅
Indian Harbour was empty but pretty exposed to the wind today and the water temp a chilly 61F. So we are pushing another 90 minutes north into the Massasauga hoping our “secret” anchorage known to us as “Kid Island” is free. It’s got great shelter and hopefully warm water.
June 27, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Indian Harbour was empty but pretty exposed to the wind today and the water temp a chilly 61F. So we are pushing another 90 minutes north into the Massasauga hoping our “secret” anchorage known to us as “Kid Island” is free. It’s got great shelter and hopefully warm water.
And we’re off. Supposed to be a 2 ship but the wingman is having engine issues so they’ll form up later hopefully.
15nm to Indian Harbour. Wind is SE at 15G20KT which will give us a push and 2-3’ following sea. They shift to W 15G20 overnight so gotta find a tight anchorage.
15nm to Indian Harbour. Wind is SE at 15G20KT which will give us a push and 2-3’ following sea. They shift to W 15G20 overnight so gotta find a tight anchorage.
June 27, 2025 at 2:49 PM
And we’re off. Supposed to be a 2 ship but the wingman is having engine issues so they’ll form up later hopefully.
15nm to Indian Harbour. Wind is SE at 15G20KT which will give us a push and 2-3’ following sea. They shift to W 15G20 overnight so gotta find a tight anchorage.
15nm to Indian Harbour. Wind is SE at 15G20KT which will give us a push and 2-3’ following sea. They shift to W 15G20 overnight so gotta find a tight anchorage.
Espresso martini to kick off boating season 2025. A late start and shitty weather today but it’s better than the couch at home. 🛥️⚓️🍸
June 26, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Espresso martini to kick off boating season 2025. A late start and shitty weather today but it’s better than the couch at home. 🛥️⚓️🍸
Officially A330 type rated!
So glad to be done sim. Long course. My sim partner was great, smart kid, worked his ass off and it showed.
8 days off to finally enjoy some time on the boat.
Line indoc starts July 2 with a trip to Stockholm! Very excited to get in the airplane.
So glad to be done sim. Long course. My sim partner was great, smart kid, worked his ass off and it showed.
8 days off to finally enjoy some time on the boat.
Line indoc starts July 2 with a trip to Stockholm! Very excited to get in the airplane.
June 23, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Officially A330 type rated!
So glad to be done sim. Long course. My sim partner was great, smart kid, worked his ass off and it showed.
8 days off to finally enjoy some time on the boat.
Line indoc starts July 2 with a trip to Stockholm! Very excited to get in the airplane.
So glad to be done sim. Long course. My sim partner was great, smart kid, worked his ass off and it showed.
8 days off to finally enjoy some time on the boat.
Line indoc starts July 2 with a trip to Stockholm! Very excited to get in the airplane.
LOFT 3 complete. First leg GVA-LHR diverted to ZRH after our flaps locked during retraction. Second leg DUB-YYZ, diverted to BFS and landed overweight after we discovered ENG1 was leaking fuel and needed to be shut down to stop it.
Last sim tomorrow. Our final check ride (LOE)!
Last sim tomorrow. Our final check ride (LOE)!
June 22, 2025 at 2:27 PM
LOFT 3 complete. First leg GVA-LHR diverted to ZRH after our flaps locked during retraction. Second leg DUB-YYZ, diverted to BFS and landed overweight after we discovered ENG1 was leaking fuel and needed to be shut down to stop it.
Last sim tomorrow. Our final check ride (LOE)!
Last sim tomorrow. Our final check ride (LOE)!
Third concert in 3 weeks - Counting Crows and The Gaslight Anthem last night.
Final 3 day push in the sim starts tomorrow with a 9am LOFT, then a 5am session Sunday, and our final check ride, our LOE, on Monday morning at 9am.
The end is in sight!!!
Final 3 day push in the sim starts tomorrow with a 9am LOFT, then a 5am session Sunday, and our final check ride, our LOE, on Monday morning at 9am.
The end is in sight!!!
June 20, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Third concert in 3 weeks - Counting Crows and The Gaslight Anthem last night.
Final 3 day push in the sim starts tomorrow with a 9am LOFT, then a 5am session Sunday, and our final check ride, our LOE, on Monday morning at 9am.
The end is in sight!!!
Final 3 day push in the sim starts tomorrow with a 9am LOFT, then a 5am session Sunday, and our final check ride, our LOE, on Monday morning at 9am.
The end is in sight!!!
Successfully completed our MPV. Saved my best engine failure at V1 for the ride! Couple days off now before our Overseas Briefing day on Tuesday, then 3 LOFTs and an LOE.
Nap time at the hotel then my wife arrives later for date night in the big city. Dinner and a concert!
Nap time at the hotel then my wife arrives later for date night in the big city. Dinner and a concert!
June 14, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Successfully completed our MPV. Saved my best engine failure at V1 for the ride! Couple days off now before our Overseas Briefing day on Tuesday, then 3 LOFTs and an LOE.
Nap time at the hotel then my wife arrives later for date night in the big city. Dinner and a concert!
Nap time at the hotel then my wife arrives later for date night in the big city. Dinner and a concert!
MT8 done, our last MT. Tons of approaches today for RNP(AR), ILS CAT II SA, and PRM quals.
Tomorrow we do our Maneuvers Proficiency Validation (MPV), a check ride of sorts, similar to a traditional PPC ride.
My July A330 sked is out, not bad. VIE/BOG/MUC/VCE. Can’t wait!
Tomorrow we do our Maneuvers Proficiency Validation (MPV), a check ride of sorts, similar to a traditional PPC ride.
My July A330 sked is out, not bad. VIE/BOG/MUC/VCE. Can’t wait!
June 13, 2025 at 7:54 PM
MT8 done, our last MT. Tons of approaches today for RNP(AR), ILS CAT II SA, and PRM quals.
Tomorrow we do our Maneuvers Proficiency Validation (MPV), a check ride of sorts, similar to a traditional PPC ride.
My July A330 sked is out, not bad. VIE/BOG/MUC/VCE. Can’t wait!
Tomorrow we do our Maneuvers Proficiency Validation (MPV), a check ride of sorts, similar to a traditional PPC ride.
My July A330 sked is out, not bad. VIE/BOG/MUC/VCE. Can’t wait!
Best sim session of the course so far. Amazing what a difference a great instructor makes. We are check ride ready.
One last MT tomorrow. RNP(AR) and CAT II SA approaches. Same script as my last A320 sim in March, so good review. Hopefully get a couple last V1 cuts in too 😂.
One last MT tomorrow. RNP(AR) and CAT II SA approaches. Same script as my last A320 sim in March, so good review. Hopefully get a couple last V1 cuts in too 😂.
June 12, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Best sim session of the course so far. Amazing what a difference a great instructor makes. We are check ride ready.
One last MT tomorrow. RNP(AR) and CAT II SA approaches. Same script as my last A320 sim in March, so good review. Hopefully get a couple last V1 cuts in too 😂.
One last MT tomorrow. RNP(AR) and CAT II SA approaches. Same script as my last A320 sim in March, so good review. Hopefully get a couple last V1 cuts in too 😂.
7 of 14 sims complete.
MT7 tomorrow. A dress rehearsal of sorts for our MPV on Saturday. All the typical check ride stuff - RTOs, eng fail after V1, holds, diversions, non-precision aprchs, go-arounds with/without eng failures, ILS CAT I/II/III, low viz, cargo fires and evacs.
MT7 tomorrow. A dress rehearsal of sorts for our MPV on Saturday. All the typical check ride stuff - RTOs, eng fail after V1, holds, diversions, non-precision aprchs, go-arounds with/without eng failures, ILS CAT I/II/III, low viz, cargo fires and evacs.
June 11, 2025 at 10:13 PM
7 of 14 sims complete.
MT7 tomorrow. A dress rehearsal of sorts for our MPV on Saturday. All the typical check ride stuff - RTOs, eng fail after V1, holds, diversions, non-precision aprchs, go-arounds with/without eng failures, ILS CAT I/II/III, low viz, cargo fires and evacs.
MT7 tomorrow. A dress rehearsal of sorts for our MPV on Saturday. All the typical check ride stuff - RTOs, eng fail after V1, holds, diversions, non-precision aprchs, go-arounds with/without eng failures, ILS CAT I/II/III, low viz, cargo fires and evacs.
3 days off done and back into the sim tomorrow with a 04:30 brief. MT6 of 8 introduces emergency descent, engine failure at high altitude cruise, engine fire/failure in the go-around, and TCAS RAs. Non precision and precision/CAT II approaches. First session in the company sims.
June 10, 2025 at 5:37 PM
3 days off done and back into the sim tomorrow with a 04:30 brief. MT6 of 8 introduces emergency descent, engine failure at high altitude cruise, engine fire/failure in the go-around, and TCAS RAs. Non precision and precision/CAT II approaches. First session in the company sims.
Heading home.
Back in the sim Wednesday with a 4:30am briefing time. Disgusting.
Back in the sim Wednesday with a 4:30am briefing time. Disgusting.
June 7, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Heading home.
Back in the sim Wednesday with a 4:30am briefing time. Disgusting.
Back in the sim Wednesday with a 4:30am briefing time. Disgusting.
Another MT session done. Winter ops today, contaminated runways and RNAV approaches using FPA and cold temp corrections. Also worked through fuel leaks, stab jams, and ended with AC ESS BUS 1 fault with a NAV/FPA approach to mins with no A/T. Busy!
Last MIA sim tomorrow!
Last MIA sim tomorrow!
June 5, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Another MT session done. Winter ops today, contaminated runways and RNAV approaches using FPA and cold temp corrections. Also worked through fuel leaks, stab jams, and ended with AC ESS BUS 1 fault with a NAV/FPA approach to mins with no A/T. Busy!
Last MIA sim tomorrow!
Last MIA sim tomorrow!
MT4 today. RTOs, V1 cuts in low viz, RNAV approaches with go-arounds, and slat/flap faults to landings. Cleaned up my V1 cuts with smoother rudder inputs and a bit more bank. Things progressing quite nicely. Sessions are getting much busier now.
June 4, 2025 at 9:06 PM
MT4 today. RTOs, V1 cuts in low viz, RNAV approaches with go-arounds, and slat/flap faults to landings. Cleaned up my V1 cuts with smoother rudder inputs and a bit more bank. Things progressing quite nicely. Sessions are getting much busier now.
Last day off before we ramp things up in the sim. We were gonna go for an airboat ride in the Everglades but it’s absolutely miserable outside so it’s laundry, a workout, and some studying today. Might even sneak in a nap.
3 high workload sim sessions then home Saturday.
3 high workload sim sessions then home Saturday.
June 3, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Last day off before we ramp things up in the sim. We were gonna go for an airboat ride in the Everglades but it’s absolutely miserable outside so it’s laundry, a workout, and some studying today. Might even sneak in a nap.
3 high workload sim sessions then home Saturday.
3 high workload sim sessions then home Saturday.
Marlins/Rockies attendance was 5,894. Capacity is 37,000. 😬
June 3, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Marlins/Rockies attendance was 5,894. Capacity is 37,000. 😬
Cheers to my “weekend” in Miami. These beers were well earned after the last 3 days in the sim 😵💫
June 1, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Cheers to my “weekend” in Miami. These beers were well earned after the last 3 days in the sim 😵💫
MT2 complete. GPWS and windshear escape maneuvers, stall recoveries, alpha floor flight envelope demos, as well as some more V1 cuts and crosswind landings.
2 days off now before we start getting into more complex abnormals.
2 days off now before we start getting into more complex abnormals.
June 1, 2025 at 7:29 PM
MT2 complete. GPWS and windshear escape maneuvers, stall recoveries, alpha floor flight envelope demos, as well as some more V1 cuts and crosswind landings.
2 days off now before we start getting into more complex abnormals.
2 days off now before we start getting into more complex abnormals.
MT1 today. Another session to get comfortable with the basics. Full cockpit prep, cross wind take-offs and landings, steep turns, minor abnormalities, and some V1 cuts. While there are lots of similarities to the A320, I now know what people mean by “it flies like a big airplane”
May 31, 2025 at 8:12 PM
MT1 today. Another session to get comfortable with the basics. Full cockpit prep, cross wind take-offs and landings, steep turns, minor abnormalities, and some V1 cuts. While there are lots of similarities to the A320, I now know what people mean by “it flies like a big airplane”
Completed our first sim session today, MT0. An intro to the full flight sim, it was mostly just getting comfortable before the work starts. Normal take-offs, lots of hand flying, and a couple landings. It’s nice to be in the sim and “flying” again. My landings weren’t too bad even with max x-wind!
May 30, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Completed our first sim session today, MT0. An intro to the full flight sim, it was mostly just getting comfortable before the work starts. Normal take-offs, lots of hand flying, and a couple landings. It’s nice to be in the sim and “flying” again. My landings weren’t too bad even with max x-wind!