Day 67, I PASSED!!!

I PASSED I PASSED I PASSED! I'm now officially a certified flight instructor! It actually hasn't fully set in yet for me. I can't believe that I'm now legally allowed to teach someone, ANYONE, how to fly a multi engine airplane. Today was one heck of day let me tell you. Conrad and I woke up at 7am to get ready, grab a bite to eat from the 5 star Days Inn continental breakfast. We got on the shuttle by 8am and were at the airport by 8:15am. I still had plenty to due before my 9am checkride began. Conrad and I walked out to the plane to check the oil and gas. I grabbed my empty weight weight and balance figures to make my required performance calculations. "Pinkslip" Pinkston showed up around 8:30am, well before I was ready to go and he saw me working on my performance figures. In my mind I'm thinking "great start Mark, now he thinks you showed up unprepared". The truth of the matter is I didn't know what Mr. Pinkston's body weight was so I couldn't make the calculations until I had found that out. He seemed VERY abrasive at first, and no matter how hard I tried throughout the day to get him to open up and smile a little, no dice...

My oral began exactly at 9am and lasted almost 2 hours and 30 minutes. We covered alot of ground and could have covered ALOT more. We got into real deep discussions on aerodynamics. It was actually pretty cool because I could tell he was definitely well versed in aerodynamics and since the physics aspect of aviation and flying interest me so much we had some pretty lengthy discussions about certain aspects of aerodynamics. I got the impression that he did not normally delve that deep into aerodynamics with other instructor candidates. I finally got through my oral and we were on to the flight portion.

I've never sweated so hard in my life except while playing hockey. The sun was burning bright today even though sporadic showers were popping in and out of Ft. Lauderdale all day. I conducted my preflight inspection as he watched everything I did and asked questions about certain parts of the plane as I visually inspected them. We finally got into the plane and immediately I began to sweat due to the heat. I had my button down shirt and tie on as well. It didn't take long for me to figure out that either I start using my sleeves as a hand towel or I was going to be dowsing everything on my kneeboard with sweat. I kept the door to the Seminole open to let what little breeze there was into the plane but as soon as I did it began to shower. NICE... of course it would rain right now... I closed the door and began to go through my checklists for starting the engines and got my clearance to taxi. The airport was so busy with aircraft we didn't get off the ground for 45 minutes. We literally sat at the end of the runway in a position and hold for about 7 minutes.

Once we got airborne air began to flow in through the fresh air vents and all was well again. Even if I had lost 5 pounds of water weight prior to takeoff. The actual flight portion was short and sweet. I had to demonstrate 4 maneuvers and we started to head over to a much less busy airport for some touch and go's where'd be conducting a short field landing and single engine landings but the even that airport was solid with traffic so we headed back to Ft. Lauderdale KFLL and conducted a crosswind single engine landing and taxied to the ramp. I thought for sure since the ride was so short that I had busted on one of my maneuvers or my landing but once I stopped the plan on the ramp he simply said " Well your performance today was satisfactory." I didn't know how to react for a second so I asked him "Satisfactory... so you're saying I passed my MEI?", "Yes" It was not the warm congratulations I'm used to hearing Mr. Shelton give me in Alabama but I'll take it any day of the week. I stuck MY hand out to him and said "Well thank you very much, sir" He shook my hand "congratulations" cracking a small smile.

And that's all she wrote. BAM! I'm an MEI!

I'm starting to realize how quick everything has gone by. Even though I've been away from home for just over 2 months. I've made some good friends while I've been here and have had some good times. I'm definitely going to miss this process but I'm looking forward to moving on with my career and life. Now the real adventure begins... training students from all backgrounds how to fly airplanes.

I still have my CFII and CFI and single engine commercial to knock out but that will take no more than 10 more days or so.

I'll keep you all up to date on those checkrides this upcoming week.