Slam and robbed

I completed my first trip from the left seat. It was uneventful and low stress. The fact that I have a little over 2000 hours in the plane (from the right seat) helped a lot even though I haven't flown it in 4 years.

Originally I was supposed to start my trip from my current base (10 miles from my house), but scheduling changed things around and I was now starting out of my new base (hundreds of miles away).

Both the Captain and I had to deadhead up the night before. The training department arranged my flight and hotel.

The flight was fine. The First Class Flight Attendant even gave me a huge bottle of water AND a warm chocolate chip cookie during the flight. Very nice gesture.

Everything was fine until I reached for my bag that was under the seat in front of me. The passenger in front of me got air sick...really air sick...and vomited all over themselves and the seating area....including the floor. Yep the top of my bag was covered in vomit. I cleaned it off the best I could for the moment.

I tried washing it out in the sink. It helped a little.

My first flight was to Little Rock, Arkansas. Taxiing the real plane was interesting, it was nothing like the glass smooth simulator. The visuals were of course different. Keeping the plane on center line. The instructor told me to keep the line "going through my right leg"...so it's kinda like driving.

Up and away we went. Smooth flight.

Arriving from the north, the airport was landing north. This meant a downwind arrival.

The instructor was big on energy management. A nice long and smooth descent. VFR conditions.

I turned final and lined up for runway 4L. Winds were about 10 knots out of the east. Things looked decent until short final when he said I was about 5 feet too far left....sight picture was off for me.

I thought the flare was good....but the concrete and struts thought otherwise....slam! It was a firm and slightly jolting landing.

The IOE Captain debriefed me. The aircraft is difficult to land smoothly even for season pilots.

He took the next leg and made a very nice landing. The Flight Attendants said "that was better." I let them know it wasn't mine....they replied, "oh".

Break.

The flight to the overnight was short, but it was my first dose of weather and alternates. We had to print a second release after the dispatcher decided to add more fuel.

The next approach was to Columbus, Ohio. Very nice approach. The flare looked perfect....yet another slam. The instructor said I got robbed as he thought it was going to be a greaser.

Shortish overnight. Day 2 was one short flight and two longs flights. My last landing was very good.

After my deadhead home I was ready to relax. Two days off and I start again Saturday.