I Know I'll Forget Something...

This will more than likely be my last update prior to commencing ATP on the 12th of January at the KLZU Atlanta location. In fact this update is more so for the future ATP students than anyone else. I figured it might be beneficial for some if I fill you in on what I've been doing since passing my FAA writtens and what exactly I'm planning on taking with me to ATP in the hopes of being as prepared as possible.

As you all know I've taken my FAA written exams in order to lighten my stress and load while at ATP. I highly recommend that you take as many of he exams before attending the 90 day Career Pilot Program as well, as it will allow you to focus in on your flying and studying solely for your Oral Exams and Practical Flight Tests with the FAA examiners/inspectors. The extra free time has also allowed me to focus in on learning the systems and specifications of the Piper Seminole, as I'll be tested on these on my first day. Your first checkride will essentially be another Private Pilot Checkride except this time it'll be in a multi-engine aircraft vice the single-engine you are already rated to fly. I've been studying everything from the V speeds of the Seminole to the hydraulic and electrical systems, as well as the standard and emergency operating procedures. As well, my Career Coach Ken whom some of you may know, advised me to start nailing down ATP's VFR and IFR approach procedures using a computer flight simulator (using Microsoft Flight Simulator X). I felt that was very good advice as ATP does require alot of pilot and copilot callouts that you as a single-engine private pilot or student pilot would not normally be used to during normal local FBO training.

One last thing I thought might help was to leave a list of things I'm getting together to take with me. Hopefully this may help some of you think of things you may have forgotten about or would like to take as well. If you think you've got something that I may want to add to my list please let me know!

New Brightline Flight Bag (see video below!) • Normal flight bag gear (knife, first aid kit, leatherman, comapss, waterproof matches, white light flashlight, fire starters, extra AA/AAA batteries) • Electronic E6-B CX-2 Calculator • Sunglasses (Rx for me) • Foggles for IFR training • Headset • Logbook • License and First Class Medical • Red light flashlight with clip for in cabin use • Back-up VFR GPS • Piper Seminole and Cessna 172 Pilot Operating Handbooks • all 20lbs of study material ATP sent me • Food and snacks for week 1&2 • Bed linens, clothes and toiletries • Jacket and gloves (winter time of course) • Kneeboard • Backpack or carry-on stlye luggage for overnight cross country flights • CHECKBOOK and CASH for ATP and FAA Examiners • Ipod • Digital Camera • Cell Phone • Laptop

Think that's it... but as the title of the post itterates I'll probably forget something.

Anyways I hope most of you future ATP students found the post helpful and please check back strating on the 12th as I will be updating the blog as much on a daily basis as possible. Please feel free to leave comments or questions.

Hilarious Skit!

This is a promotional video put out by the flight school I'll be attending. These pilots just graduated! Haha just joking of course.

Just a note...

I know, for some of you, it's been quite some time since we've spoken so I felt a general overview would be a good way to give all of you an introduction to what exactly I'll be doing over the next 4 months. ATP is one of many professional accelerated flight schools that exist for the purpose of allowing students to earn whatever FAA flight certificates they desire. Some courses are only 3 days long, others can take 1-2 years at other schools. I will be going through ATP's 90 Day Career Pilot Program. I will be starting on January 12th 2009. ATP's Career Pilot Program is their longest and most rigorous course. It is full-time, fast paced "learn from the fire hose", and gets someone who is already a Private Pilot (like me) all the way to my Multi-Engine Certified Flight Instructor w/ and Instrument Rating. Basically, I'll have achieved about 250 hours in 3 months time and will come out the other end with every certificate attainable by the FAA except for my Airline Transport Pilot (which I won't be able to earn until the airlines). Oh and I will primarily be flying the Piper Seminole pictured at the top of the webpage. While I'll certainly be extremely busy flying and studying for all of my FAA checkrides, I'm hoping to update this blog on as close to a daily basis as possible for all of you. I hope you find this journal interesting (and a good source of insight and information for some of you current and future pilots). I also hope to be uploading as many pictures and videos of my journey on this page for you to view to help make it a more visual experience rather than just text.

I'm sharing this page with my family and friends. I've also shared this page with other pilots, and future pilots, wishing to see what ATP's all about from my point of view. So all that being said, I invite everyone to leave me comments throughout this journey! This flight school will be full-time and I'll be away from family and friends for 3 months minimum, so the words you leave will certainly make my time easier.

Tests, tests, and more tests...

As of yesterday, I finally completed all necessary written exams required by the FAA before attempting oral and flight practical tests for all of the certificates I'll be trying to attain at ATP.

I was told by many previous successful ATP grads, that knocking out any or all of these 5 exams (Instrument Airplane, Instrument Instructor, Commercial Airplane, Fundamentals of Instructing, and Flight Instructor Airplane) will help to alleviate stress and study time while at ATP for the 3 months.

I was able to attain a 92%, 98%, 98%, 98%, and 97% respectively on the above listed exams and I'm excited to have a little free time left before my start date at ATP. I plan on using the time to study up on the Piper Seminole Flight Manual as well as prepare for my first hurdle once arriving at ATP. The first test will be to get my Multi-Engine Airplane certificate by passing an Oral Exam and an in-flight Practical Test with an FAA examiner.

More to come...

Best Flight Bag Ever!

To all my friends who are currently pilots or wish to one day learn how to fly, I present you with what (in my opinion) is by far the best flight bag ever designed. My Brightline has been ordered and is expected to show up next week, just in time for my ATP journey. Check out the video and enjoy!