Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Commercial Single Engine Add-on Training


There have been a few changes in the past weeks after I took my FOI. Apparently, one of the instructors at PDK got hired by a regional airline and my instructor was basically unavailable due to a high volume of fast track students at this location. ATP sent an instructor from LZU to PDK and he became now my instructor for the commercial single engine rating.
This is by far, the best instructor I've ever had at ATP and I'm really grateful that he is teaching me these commercial maneuvers.
We have had two flights this week, one on Sunday morning and one yesterday at 7:00 am. I'm pretty sure I have nailed most of the maneuvers except for the eight on pylons. We went up to Lake Lanier and we circled an island on the lake about 10 times, I got a little better on it but we are still going to brush up that skill tomorrow evening. I must not eat anything prior to this flight because it made me dizzy.
Chandelles and Lazy Eights are easy now.. what I did is to watch the UND aerocast videos and practiced the procedures with Microsoft Flight Simulator.

http://youtu.be/UGaGzlXR3ls

http://youtu.be/px2GpLF3COI

One of the most difficult skills is the power-off 180, which is basically closing the throttle when you are abeam the numbers on the traffic pattern and land the airplane on the thousand footers or captains' bars. I nailed it on Monday and I also did it very well yesterday; this is probably the maneuver that gives me a little anxiety but I think I got it now..
My checkride changed and also my DPE.. It will now be this Thursday with Mr. Billy Smith at KLZU.
I have also been studying the Cessna 172R systems thoroughly.
I also start CFI school this Monday the 23rd at KLZU.. It will be a 14 day intensive program where I will be getting my CFI, CFII and MEI certificates. I also have one written test pending for this, the FIA
If everything goes according to the plan, I will be done with ATP on August 3rd. and I'm still not sure where am I going after that.
There is a career fair this weekend by Aero Crew Solutions where there will be a lot of regional airlines; minimums are around 1000 hours right now but I know that there will be a couple of flight schools hiring instructors; I am still not sure If I'm going or not (US$129.00) yet.
I think that's all so far, I'll try to post after my checkride, please wish me luck.

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