Line Training, what does it mean?
It's a crucial phase of a pilot's training, a very demanding transition process from the protected environment of the simulators to being part of the actual airline operations.
It begins with some observation flights, during which the Cadet just sits on the jumpseat, looking what people do on an everyday basis on the line.
After that brief initial phase, the Cadet finally gets to sit on the right seat, operating as both pilot flying and pilot monitoring on ordinary flights with passengers, initially with a safety pilot occupying the jumpseat and, once he demonstrated to be safe in his seat, alone with the Captain, who needs to be a particulary qualified instructor, a Line Training Captain.
What comes next are an average of 80-90 flights that, challenge after challenge, will fill the new pilot's metaphorical bag of tools to use in his upcoming career. Application of procedures, CRM, radio communications, take-offs, landings, time management, descent management, and so on, all of those and many more "learning items" will need to be understood and well performed in order to reach the final goal, the initial line check, the final test to pass in order to stop being a Cadet and becoming a Second Officer, a pilot who have proven to be safe and competent enough to become part of the normal operations, and begin to fly with any Captain on any flight.
To me, sunday the 3rd has been that memorable day, and now I'm finally ready and looking forward to operate on the line as anyone else, very well knowing that even tho the training is formally over, I just begun to learn how to carry out this awesome profession!