Jeremy's CPS CFI School Blog

[LoadMasterC141]

Yeah it was not lacking any less than most GA only airports I have been to.

[wildwezul1]

Originally Posted by KC Jake

...before the police shot him to death. Most GA airports I've been to have pretty relaxed security unless the president is there.

The guy took an almost point blank shot from a shotgun, but lived, and was put on trial, and found guilty. he is serving time now. Best part of it all, was he was wearing a " show me the money" shirt.

That or the dash cam footage of the fat chick running straight into the horizontal stab, and getting knocked on her butt just before the cop shot him... laughed soooooo hard.

[KC Jake]

Originally Posted by wildwezul1

The guy took an almost point blank shot from a shotgun, but lived, and was put on trial, and found guilty. he is serving time now. Best part of it all, was he was wearing a " show me the money" shirt.

That or the dash cam footage of the fat chick running straight into the horizontal stab, and getting knocked on her butt just before the cop shot him... laughed soooooo hard.

That was one of my dad's good friend's airplanes that the cops shot up. Brand new 172 they picked up in Independence. He gave up flying after that. Kinda sucked to be him that day.

[LoadMasterC141]

Yesterday I flew for about 4 hours. 2 was with Michael and the other 2 on my own practicing flying and maneuvers from the right seat of the Arrow. Does not seem too hard. My skills are decent on Commercial maneuvers I think but I am obviously lacking a little seeing as I did not do them much on my CSEL practice seeing as I did the CMEL as the initial.

Most of the day and night was spent studying for the FIA. I studied for that again this morning and took the test this afternoon. I am pretty pissed right now because I knew I was not ready--I got an 83 That breaks my straight A streak.

2 days until checkride....I am studying the AFH tonight and getting back to the FOI again as well.

[LoadMasterC141]

Yesterday I flew another 4; half with Michael, half with a commercial student in the left seat. Maneuvers are getting better. 8's on pylons finally have clicked. Of course, that is killing my thought process on the rest of the ground reference manuevers. Negative Transfer!! Also went through the FOI again yesterday with Michael, and overviewed the PTS.

Today is going to be a cruddy weather day. We will focus on teaching area of operation II stuff again as well as some flight manuever ground lessons.

My checkride will most likely be pushed to Tuesday at this point because of the crap weather we have had this week. I am fine with that. I could use the weekend to study anyway, and definitely need a bit more flying.

[LoadMasterC141]

Crappy weather the last few days has not allowed for any real flying.

All the studying must be getting to me a little because it was hard to "get in the game" yesterday.
Michael suggested it was time to get "out of the office", so I hopped in the back of one of the Twin Comanches and studied a little as Patrick and my current room mate, we'll call junior, headed down to Stephenville for some Hard 8. Hell of a headwind and lots of dust storm IMC! It took 5 hours to get there and 2 to get back!

Back in the game today and I have been working on teaching ground lessons again and studying the FOI some more.

Michael is coming in tomorrow and Sunday to work with me. Checkride is now confirmed for Tuesday, if this crud weather can get the heck out of here.

[nkoenig]

Sounds like a good time. It's good that you could get out for a breather from studying for a bit.

[Patrick]

That was quite the trip for dinner wasn't it! Gotta love seeing 220 knots coming home!

[LoadMasterC141]

Sorry for the delay in posting. I went into deep study mode since the out of town break Friday.

Over the weekend Michael came in to work with me as promised. We did alot of ground and a little flying. I took out a private student and practiced some teaching on him.

As the weekend progressed, my anxiety level really started to rise. By yesterday, Monday, I was really a mess. I was so sure I was not ready that I was actually sabotaging myself. Michael took me flying and I was just hosing up my maneuvers badly.

At the end of the day, I had convinced myself I was not ready. Michael told me a little reassuring story, seemingly convinced to just the opposite. He said that those going into a checkride confident are the ones who often fail over the ones who are nervous as hell. Okay whatever I swallowed the red pill and prepared for today's checkride.

I met the FSDO Inspector at 0800 this morning. He was a very pleasant gentleman and the oral went pretty well. I stumbled slightly here and there but overall was very happy with my performance. We got in the plane around 1500. Checkride was over at 1730. I am beat!

It was a clear sunny day, but bumpy as heck and winds down the runway at 27 gusting to 31. Power off 180 accuracy landings in a 1968 Hershey bar wing Piper Arrow are near impossible on a day like this. The inspector was a little lenient given the long day, seeing the wind, and having managed to get through the rest of the flying, but I did manage to pull one off.

Oh yeah...I passed!! 15 days after I started.

Listen people, seriously, I really am happy with my decision to come here. Sure I could have done this on my own. However, I ended up paying for the tutelage of a fantastic instructor, who helped polish off my knowledge and taught me how to be an instructor, not just pass an instructor checkride. Thanks Michael!

This is a HUGE weight off my shoulders and I really feel like an idiot for how stressed out I got, but now it is time to push that aside and move right into the CFII and MEI. I'll be getting in the twinkie in the morning!

For everyone that has PM'd me, sorry for not replying. I will try to get to them this weekend when I get a more time.

[the_dmn8tr]

Congrats! You are right about the Arrow dropping like a rock in the wind. In fact, I am convinced that even without wind, the Arrow still doesn't want to fly.

[KC Jake]

Originally Posted by LoadMasterC141

This is a HUGE weight off my shoulders and I really feel like an idiot for how stressed out I got, but now it is time to push that aside and move right into the CFII and MEI. I'll be getting in the twinkie in the morning!

No kidding, everyone knew you'd be fine. Just go play with your helicopter!

[Chewie von Nubbins]

Congrats man. You did it! Good job to you, now go have a beer and enjoy the accomplishment. Next to walking down the isle to get that 4-year diploma, getting that white temp slip was the most significant accomplishment for me. Nice work.

[nkoenig]

Congratulations!! Glad to hear you had a positive experience.

[Captain_Bob]

One step closer...

[LoadMasterC141]

So yesterday I got back in the training swing and began to work on both my MEI. I got an hour, maybe, in the Twinkie and then concentrated on the II with Michael. It was a pretty lax day as I was still recuperating from the FSDO ride.

Today is a bad weather day. We'll do alot of fround for the II and maybe get a chance to go out and do some right seat actual.

[LoadMasterC141]

Yesterday was a really bad weather day..it even hailed here on several occasions! We worked through the II PTS and did a bit of sim flying.

In the morning, before the storms, I took my room mate out to check on his commercial manuevers and got to log my first dual!

Today, Michael and I got in the Archer and flew 4.8, mostly actual, and shot 9 approaches from the right seat. I have a bit of a left turning tendency from the right seat I noticed, but I was able to correct for it better and better as the day went on.

My IFR knowledge is pretty good seeing as I did it so recently, though I am embarassed to say that my holding is still not where I want it to be. 2 miles from a VOR today, darn ATC starts sputtering out holding instructions...Gaahh!

I'll be doing some twinkie flying this weekend as well as some more CFII practice.

My II checkride will be Monday afternoon and the MEI is scheduled for Tuesday.

[LoadMasterC141]

My Flightaware following for all the actual yesterday. Nice DME arc and last second hold!

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N...403Z/KIXD/KSLN

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N...819Z/KSLN/KIXD

[Trip7]

CONGRATS Jeremy!! Keep up the good work!

[LoadMasterC141]

Yesterday (Saturday)
I flew the Twin Comanche for 1.5 with the instructor. I suck at flying Twins all of a sudden.

Then I flew with my roomate in a Warrior for 1.8 to check on his Single Engine commercial manuevers.

Next I went up in an Archer for 1.4 and did 3 vectored approaches in preparation for my CFII Monday afternoon.

Today(Sunday)
I was supposed to take the CFII written this morning but I refuse to do so until I have had a chance to quickly go through the Gleim once to make sure I am on my game. 3 sections to go. Going to have to be tomorrow morning now.

Today I flew 3.1 in the Twin Comanche. Again, I felt like an incredibly confident multi-engine pilot leaving NC with my CMEL in a Twinkie 5 weeks ago. I don't know what happened...Same pilot, same plane (Well a 67) but I don't feel the same.

I need to screw my head on straight and get back focused on the II stuff seing as my checkride is less than 24 hours away. Ack! Off to the Archer....

[LoadMasterC141]

I have not made a post in a week because I failed my CFII checkride
I made it through a long oral, but I botched a partial panel, no gps, one (Cruddy) VOR hold with direct cross winds at 30+ knots. Can't get much harder but I hosed it nonetheless.

For the last week I have been working with a PPL student in his DA20 and holding more than I have ever held in the trusty Archer(Bessie).

Today I rechecked and passed with flying colors. While I am happy to be one ride away from checkrides being over for a while(MEI), I am also upset that I now have a failed IFR AND II ride to explain to a future employer.

Let me be clear here, I do not blame Michael or anyone at CPS for my failure. I am glad they have an examiner that is truly an examiner, not a staff member. I am a better pilot for what has happened. Michael has been fantastic. He has not charged me for extra training time, or the extra week I'll need in the housing. He has managed to get me around 8 hours of dual as well. I cannot ask for more.

For the next week, I will continue to work with Mark (MEI Extraordinairre) and try to have my MEI complete a week from this Monday.

[mooneyguy]

Jeremy,
Sorry to hear about the II ride, but hang in there...it sound to me like you have really come a long way in your skills as an aviator. A Failed check ride is nothing accept a learning experience at this point, and it sounds like you have learned from it!!
Look forward to hearing about your mei ride.

[Michael95U]

Congrats Jeremy! See you Monday!

[surreal1221]

Just now have been able to read through this thread.

Good to hear things are going well for your Load!

[LoadMasterC141]

I have only just gotten back into the twin now, but it seems I am actually doing better after having slowed down a bit.

I have managed to log almost 20 hours of dual total here at CPS! Signed two commercial single students off, one as an add-on and one as initial. The examiner was very pleased with them so I think I am doing it right!

MEI Check is next Tuesday afternoon. I am focusing directly on that, but still have som instruction to give as well...mostly just a BFR and an hour here or there.

It is going on 5 weeks without going home. The wife is at the end of her rope so win or lose I gotta blast home for a bit next Tuesday. Anyone wanna mow my lawn?

[notawannabee]

Originally Posted by LoadMasterC141

I have only just gotten back into the twin now, but it seems I am actually doing better after having slowed down a bit.

I have managed to log almost 20 hours of dual total here at CPS! Signed two commercial single students off, one as an add-on and one as initial. The examiner was very pleased with them so I think I am doing it right!

MEI Check is next Tuesday afternoon. I am focusing directly on that, but still have som instruction to give as well...mostly just a BFR and an hour here or there.

It is going on 5 weeks without going home. The wife is at the end of her rope so win or lose I gotta blast home for a bit next Tuesday. Anyone wanna mow my lawn?

Im going home to .....cut the grass at my house this weekend
I will see you guys on Monday