So, you've made it through Indoc and ground school—now it's time for the sim. Are you ready to take the controls?
In Part 2 of our Airline Training Series, we sit down again with Seth Bunker, a current First Officer with a major airline, and a former simulator instructor, systems instructor, and regional airline Captain to demystify the airline simulator phase of training.

Whether you're heading to your first 121 carrier or planning your long-term aviation career, this episode will arm you with the tools and mindset you need to excel in the sim.

We break down:

🧑‍✈️ What Airline Sim Training Is Really Like: From day one in the mock cockpit to your final checkride
🤯 Sim Surprises: What catches most new hires off guard—and how to prepare for it
💡 Tips from a Sim Instructor: How to make progress, manage stress, and build good CRM
👨‍👩‍👧 Working with a Sim Partner: What makes a good sim buddy and how to help each other succeed
✅ Checkride Prep: How to approach your LOE (Line-Oriented Evaluation) with confidence

If you're on the path to becoming a regional airline pilot, or making a midlife career change into aviation, this episode gives you the real-world knowledge and actionable advice from someone who has trained countless new hire pilots—many of whom had no previous 121 experience.

🎧 Whether you’re wondering what the sim will feel like, how hard it really is, or how to handle the pressure—this is your insider guide to conquering simulator training and earning your wings.

Support the Show:

If you are looking for early releases, exclusive content, or just want to support the show, consider joining me on Patreon!

There are several levels of support and extra goodies at each level.

Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/flyingmidwest⁠⁠⁠

AeroExploration:

Check out Jim's new YouTube Channel.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@AeroExploration⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join our Community:

If you enjoy Fly the Transition and want to continue the conversation, consider joining our Discord community. To request an invite, simply reach out to Jim by email or social media.

Social Media Handles:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.flyingmidwest.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/flythetranstion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Jim on Instagram: ⁠@flymidwestjim⁠

Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠

Sponsor Information:

Support our sponsors and affiliates who help make this podcast possible!

Affiliate Links:

Lightspeed Headsets: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.lightspeedaviation.com/?campaign=flyingmidwest23&ref=101⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Flying Eyes Sunglasses:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://flyingeyesoptics.com/?ref=Flyingmidwest23⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Use code Flyingmidwest10 for 10% off your purchase

Fly the Transition Merch:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠flyingmidwest.com/merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Contact Information:

Do you have questions or comments about the show? Do you have an idea for a future episode? Do you want to be a guest on the podcast? Reach out at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or connect with Jim through social media or the website.

🔊 Listen now on:✅ Apple Podcasts | ✅ Spotify | ✅ Google Podcasts |

🔔 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review!