Jet Orientation Courses

 
The Virtual Flight Centre offers Jet Orientation Courses (JOC) in our B737-800 Fixed Base Simulator located close to London’s Gatwick airport.


We operate our own dedicated simulator training facility.  Our instructors are all current airline pilots.  By manufacturing and operating our own simulators we are able to offer courses far more competitively than any other course on the market.

 

The course has been designed as ideal preparation for pilots transitioning from the basic commercial training environment (piston engine aircraft) to jet airline operations. The JOC will thoroughly prepare the student for his or her first jet type rating course as well as any potential airline selection simulator assessments.


JOCs are viewed very favorably by potential airline employers and are a useful addition to the MCC course. The JOC builds on the MCC in developing CRM skills, but unlike the MCC, also focuses on developing the pilots handling skills and spatial awareness within the jet environment.


At the Virtual Flight Centre our JOCs are run by our highly experienced and enthusiastic team of instructors, all of whom are type rated on Boeing or Airbus jet aircraft and are currently operating for airlines such as easyJet, Astraeus, Monarch and First Choice Airways/Thomsonfly. We strongly believe that aspiring airline pilots should be taught by current airline pilots who have current and relevant operational experience in today’s airline environment.


The course will be conducted in a modern EFIS-equipped aircraft simulator, the B737-800, which is the workhorse of the world’s short-haul and low-cost carriers and of course the destination for many of the students attending the course. Again, we believe that our students should be trained on a similar type to that they will eventually be operating and hence the choice of the B737-800 which provides an ideal teaching platform for the course.

 

Some topics covered in the JOC include:
  • General Handling and IFR flying in the jet environment;
  • Real-time LOFT exercises;
  • Introduction to the Autopilot / Flight Director / Autothrottle systems;
  • Precision and Non-Precision approaches;
  • Transition from instrument to visual flight;
  • Visual circuits;
  • Handling of Non-Normal Situations;
  • Checklist and Briefing philosophies and techniques;
  • Holding and tracking;
  • Development of CRM & MCC skills;
  • Decision making;
  • Flying of current airline assessment profiles.

    • Notably, each JOC includes 4 hours of ground school with a qualified airline instructor prior to the simulator phase. Within this ground school element you will be introduced to the technical systems of the B737-800, the aircraft’s instrumentation layout and airline SOPs and profiles to be used throughout the course. You will also have a chance to ask any questions you may have and to meet your course instructor and partner over a free cup of tea or coffee!

    Prior to each simulator detail you and your flying partner will receive a comprehensive brief on the detail's content from your instructor, and following each detail there will be a de-brief highlighting training points that came out of it.

    We currently offer two JOC options, as follows:

    Dual JOC for 2 pilots (Recommended)

    This is a comprehensive five-day course for two students comprising a total of 9 hours ground school (including simulator briefings/de-briefings) and 20 hours (5 x 4 hour details) on the flight simulator flying as a two-person crew. This allows each student 10 hours Pilot Flying (PF) and an equally important 10 hours as Pilot Monitoring (PM). During the five details students will be given a wide range of operational scenarios providing a valuable introduction to the various procedures, systems and flight management controls of the 737NG as well as invaluable handling experience.

    The course is priced at £1999 (including VAT) per student and includes all classroom and simulator time, instructors, approach plates, checklists, study material and refreshments.

    A full syllabus for the course is available upon request.

    Single Student JOC

    Whilst usually we are able pair two individual students together for a Dual JOC, sometimes this isn’t always possible and we therefore offer an abridged 3-day version of the full JOC for a single student.

    The Single JOC is made up of 7 hours of ground school (including simulator briefings) and 12 hours on the simulator (3 x 4 hour details). The details cover the same ground as a Dual JOC but in a more compact format, although the student does enjoy 12 hours as Pilot Flying (PF) (as opposed to 10 on the Dual JOC). We are able to supply qualified pilots to act as PM for this course option.

    The Single JOC is priced lower at £1799 (including VAT) and includes the same course items as the Dual JOC.

    A full syllabus for the course is available upon request.

    We would recommend the Dual JOC wherever possible as the whole simulator experience is far more comprehensive. Remember, you can often learn as much being Pilot Monitoring (PM) as being Pilot Flying (PF)!

    Further Course Details

    Course Dates

    Currently our JOC courses are planned on an “on demand” basis. Please contact us to discuss possible dates and we will do our best to accommodate your wishes.

     

    Pre Course Entry Requirements

    Entry requirements for acceptance onto one of the above JOCs are:

    • JAR CPL
    • JAR Multi Engine IR (does not need to be current)
    • JAR ATPL Theoretical subjects passed
    • Solid command of the English language (all documentation, briefings and instruction will be given in English)

    Please bring your license on day 1 of the course.

    Location

    The courses are conducted at our training facility near Billingshurst, West Sussex in the beautiful Sussex Downs, about a 25 minute drive from London Gatwick Airport and less than an hour from London Heathrow. Billingshurst Railway station is on the main London Victoria – South Coast line with regular connections into central London taking 45 minutes. The location is quiet and provides a conducive learning environment with unrestricted, free parking and no significant traffic “hot spots” in the area.


    For those of you not living in the UK or with a bit further to travel, there is plenty of local hotel and bed and breakfast accommodation with prices starting at around £20.00 per night / per person – please ask for an accommodation list which can be emailed.  We also have a few local accommodation houses listed on our FAQ page.

    Payment

    Upon booking your place on one of the above courses we will invoice you 50% of the course cost which we would ask that you pay by return as this enables us to block out the simulator time, pre-book your course instructor(s) and secure your place on the course. You will receive an invoice for the outstanding 50% approximately seven days prior to the course commencement date which we would ask is settled prior to course attendance. Please note that course deposits/part payments are non refundable, with this policy only variable by a company director at his/her sole discretion.  Payment can be made by cash, Bankers Cheque (in Sterling), Bank Transfer and all major credit & debit cards.

     
     
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