Day 2, The Flood Gates of Info Open

Day 2 and today was when I truly felt the steep learning curve kick in. In 8 days +/- a day or two, you're expected to go from a single engine private pilot (and in most of our cases, a private pilot that hasn't flown extensively in quite some time) to a brand new multi-engine pilot. To the non-pilot that may not seem like to big of a deal... after all what's different other than you have one more engine than you did before right? Which just makes for a safer aircraft to fly right? WRONG.

Today I realized just how much information I'm going to be sucking up and learning before being able to quickly spit all this new info back to an examiner next week. To shed some light on what I've gone trough in the last two days of ground school and 1 hour logged on the FRASCA flight training device:

Word of advice for those following my blog that wish to - or are already scheduled to - start ATP's Career Pilot Program. On top of trying to complete as many of the 5 FAA written exams that you can prior to your start date, just as importantly make sure you deifnintely study the Seminole Suppliment that ATP sends you.

I studied it myself but only bothered to memorize the minimum that they ask you know before starting, which was the V speeds, Emergency Engine Out Procedures below 3000ft, and answers to all the oral questions supplied.

Make sure you know more than that though. Make sure you know and memorize definitions and/or explanations for all V speeds, Critical Engine, Engine, Proper, Landing Gear, Brakes, Vacuum Pumps, Fuel System, Heater, Electrical System, Single-Engine Service Ceiling, and Single Engine Absolute Ceiling. Don't just understand what these are but know these items cold (memorized definitinos/descriptions) so that you can spit it out to the examiner 7 days later when you do your checkride.

Also get very familiar with instrument placement on the panel as well as all switches so that when you run through the extensive before engine start, after start, taxi, run up, and before takeoff check lists you know where everything is and you reduce the amount of time in the aircraft.

You'll only get 2-4 hours of flight actual flight time in the air before doing your checkride so nail these things down before showing up and you'll be WAY ahead of the game.