Explorer Flight Missions: A Day in a Life of a Regional Airline Pilot
Winter regional flying begins with a cold airplane, a weather briefing that already feels outdated, and the understanding that today will be measured in professionalism rather than excitement.
This TPC Explorer mission follows one winter crew day out of Chicago O’Hare, built around realistic short regional legs (verified by IRL Regional Airline Pilot), where consistency, decision-making, and endurance matter more than spectacle.
Same airplane. Same crew. No shortcuts.
Mission Overview:
The day begins in Chicago with a cold airplane and winter already making decisions for you. The first leg to Minneapolis demands immediate focus, from deicing on the ramp to careful anti-ice management in the climb. There’s no easing into the day. By the time you descend through layered cloud into MSP, you’re fully engaged and aware that every leg will require the same level of attention.
From Minneapolis to Kansas City, the flying settles into a steady regional rhythm. The jet finally spends some time in cruise, long enough for weather, traffic, and ATC instructions to shape the plan. Nothing about the leg is difficult, but it rewards crews who think ahead, manage energy early, and resist the temptation to rush an otherwise straightforward arrival.
The flight from Kansas City to Cincinnati is where winter becomes less predictable. Weather systems overlap, turbulence comes and goes, and icing layers appear just long enough to demand respect. This leg tests judgment more than technique, forcing deliberate choices and conservative decision-making as the day begins to weigh on you.
The final leg back to Chicago brings everything together. Fatigue is present, ORD is busy, and winter weather hasn’t softened its stance. Precision and patience matter most here, as finishing the day professionally becomes the only real objective. You land back where you started, not with a sense of triumph, but with the quiet satisfaction of a job done correctly.
Dispatcher Summary:
This multi-leg day emphasizes winter operations discipline rather than any single technical challenge. While each leg is manageable on its own, cumulative workload, weather exposure, and fatigue increase throughout the day. Crews are encouraged to plan conservatively, manage energy early, and remain adaptable to weather-driven changes.
Suggested Aircraft:
Bombardier CRJ-700, CRJ-900, CRJ-1000
Embraer ERJ145, E170/E175, E190/E195
Bombardier Dash 8 Q400
ATR 42/72
Fokker 100
BAe 146
Douglas DC-9
Airbus A318, A319, A320; Boeing B737 (main line, but can also be used for these flights)
Admin Notes:
You can fly these missions on your own or get a group going - it’s up to you. Make sure you choose an appropriate aircraft and conduct proper flight planning.
To get the Explorer server role (access to Explorers DISCORD channel) and 4000 TPC Points
Fly the whole 4-Leg route as described in the narrative above. Alternatively, you can fly each leg separately and get 500 points for each leg.
Leave a comment on this post with details about your journey.
Post pics from your flight in screenshots channel on DISCORD.
[OPTIONAL] Post a video of your landings in streams and videos channel of TPC Discord, for extra 500 TPC Points!
Leg 1: KORD-KMSP
The first leg does what winter always does: it demands attention immediately.
Anti-ice is on, climb performance is honest, and the Midwest disappears under a dull white lid. Minneapolis rarely makes things easy in January. The approach keeps you busy and reminds you that standards don’t care how early it is.
Dispatch Notes:
Morning departure at ORD. Deicing expected due to overnight cold soak. Review holdover times and contamination checks prior to taxi. Expect initial climb through icing layers. Monitor anti-ice usage early.
Airport / Ops Notes:
Complex taxi environment, expect delays to deice pads.
Reduced braking action possible on departure runways.
MSP arrival typically well-managed but weather-dependent.
Leg 2: KMSP-KMCI
This is a true regional workhorse leg.
Long enough to settle into cruise, short enough that you’re already briefing the arrival when the cabin finally goes quiet. ATC speed control keeps you thinking ahead. Weather is better than forecast, then worse again.
Dispatch Notes:
Icing likely during climb and descent. Enroute conditions generally stable. ATC speed control common on arrival into MCI. Include winter reserve margin in fuel load planning.
Airport / Ops Notes:
Deicing likely at MSP depending on turnaround timing.
KMCI winter ops are straightforward but watch for changing runway configs.
Braking action reports may lag actual conditions.
Leg 3: KMCI-KCVG
This leg crosses weather systems instead of airports.
Turbulence. Icing layers. Changing winds. Cincinnati sits right where winter stops being polite. You manage energy carefully, stay ahead of the airplane, and resist the urge to rush just because the day is moving.
Fatigue starts tapping the window here.
Dispatch Notes:
Transition zone leg. Expect layered cloud decks, intermittent turbulence, and variable icing. Conservative energy management recommended.
Airport / Ops Notes:
Weather can deteriorate quickly near CVG.
Watch descent planning to avoid high energy on final.
Deicing availability good but can back up in high demand times.
Leg 4: KCVG-KORD
The last leg back into Chicago is where professionalism either holds or quietly erodes.
Evening traffic compresses everything. Holds are possible. Fuel planning suddenly feels personal. ORD doesn’t care how clean the earlier legs were.
You fly the arrival by the book. You land. You taxi in. The day ends without fanfare.
That’s the win.
Dispatch Notes:
Evening arrival into ORD during peak traffic. Expect vectors, potential holding, and late runway changes. Crew fatigue factor present. Precision and patience required.
Airport / Ops Notes:
Heavy arrival volume, complex taxi after landing.
Winter runway configurations likely.
Braking action advisories common.
