Falcon Aviation Academy - My Journey (2007-2008 & beyond...)

[Hacker15e]

Sounds to me simply like you have an interesting and funny story to tell at all your future interviews.

[motoboy]

I agree, I'm sure it sucks now, but I'm sure you will be able to laugh about it a few years down the road.

[ATLTRACON]

Texas,

Doubt there will be a next time, but if there is give me a call. I'll pick you up.

CJ

[TexasFlyer]

Originally Posted by ATLTRACON

Texas,

Doubt there will be a next time, but if there is give me a call. I'll pick you up.

CJ

Thanks. But you are right. There won't be a next time. I tend not to make the same mistake twice.

[TexasFlyer]

FIA PASSED (Flight Instructor - Airplane Written):

That does it for FAA Written Exams for at least a year or two. Well, at least until I am ready for the ATP Written Exam or decide to knock out the AGI in case I want to be a Gold Seal Instructor. But that's all a year or three away at this point.

THE THREE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WRITTENS SUMMARY:
CFI-I, Instrument Instructor: I took this the same day I took my Instrument Written. I scored a 96% back in September. It was pretty much the same test as the Instrument Written.

FOI, Fundamentals of Instruction: As previously mentioned in the thread from last week, I passed this with a 100% after a few days of self study.

FIA, Flight Instructor Airplane: After 4 full days of studying the nice red Flight Instructor Test Prep Book (went through the book twice cover to cover), I took the test today. The self study paid off once again; 99 of 100 correct on the FIA. A score of 99%.


So what now?

This weekend I am moving to a new loft, costs a little more but it's much nicer. So I am in downtown Atlanta for at least another 12 full months. Oh and the place has a great view of the pool. So I think it's time to have a BBQ and check out the ladies!!!... anyone care to join?

Then next week, once settled into my new place, I will focus on writing the lesson plans required for the Multi-Engine Instructor as the initial rating. Once I get all those lesson plans written, I'll basically teach them all to my instructor so he feels I know my stuff and can ace the oral part of the exam. Then it'll be back in the cockpit of the DA42 to burn up about 15 hours of PIC time from the right seat before taking the practical exam with the FAA.

[TexasFlyer]

PROGRESS UPDATE:

Lesson plans for my multi-engine initial are 50% complete. It's taking longer than expected. I never planned on writing a book, but it pretty much seems what writing these lesson plans consist of. I'll be meeting with my CFI next week to teach him what ever parts he wants to hear about on the lesson plans I have completed.

From the 18th to the 24th, I'm taking a week long vacation. I'll be camping and riding the Harley around the mountains. A little something I planned like 6 months ago, and it's finally here! I hoped to be through my program as this was supposed to be my reward for completing everything, but I'll just enjoy an early reward.

Then from the 25th to July 1st I'm in Ohio. First for the NBAA Regional Forum in Dayton Ohio which should be a blast. It's a business trip for me, but how could being surrounded by business aviation professionals and business jets really be work! I'll then spend that weekend checking out the US Air Force Museum for some aviation history education along with the other sights and sounds of Dayton, Cincinnati, and Northern Kentucky (not like it's anything too exciting considering I lived in the area years ago for way too long!).

Once I get back, the first week of July I'll wrap up my lesson plan by demonstrating I have the knowledge and every lesson plan completed to my CFI. So in July I'll be able to fly my 15 hours of PIC in the DA42 Twinstar and get my MEI rating! At this point the goal is to have my resume to the Falcon Aviation hiring gods in August since I was told they still will honor my original program deal of them paying for my CFI and CFI-I once I get the MEI completed (looking forward to the day!

[lolotte]

Hey I have read your journey and found it amazing... Congratulations on your CFI exams and good luck for whatever is next!!!

[TexasFlyer]

Originally Posted by lolotte

Hey I have read your journey and found it amazing... Congratulations on your CFI exams and good luck for whatever is next!!!

Thanks. Next is just getting that MEI-Initial Rating in hand in the next 45 days or so, then getting employed with Falcon Aviation Academy if all goes as planned. Then it's just working as a CFI here at Falcon to build a couple thousand hours total time with a lot of multi-engine as well. Fingers crossed.

[carter32]

I have also been keeping up with your journey, great job on recieving all your ratings. I plan on starting there at the end part of this year, any advice you could give me would be great help....but once again congratulations

[TexasFlyer]

Originally Posted by carter32

I have also been keeping up with your journey, great job on recieving all your ratings. I plan on starting there at the end part of this year, any advice you could give me would be great help....but once again congratulations

I'd just do some reading to put you ahead of the game. Read and study the Jeppeson books if you'd like (Private and Instrument/Commercial).

Or the books I prefer, The Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, The Airplane Flying Handbook, Aviation Weather, Aviation Weather Services Explained, Instrument Flying Handbook, and the Instrument Procedures Handbook. I'd recommend reading them in that order to prepare. And best of all, you can get these free on the faa.gov site by viewing their PDF. Of course, I bought them since it's easier to carry around everywhere I go and read and study casually in my free time. Oh, and you can also pick up a Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) for the Diamond DA20 and the DA40 if you want to study that as well to be familair with the aircraft (those books are hard to come by unless you live near a school with a Diamond Fleet).

Hope this helps. See you soon!

[Berkut]

Originally Posted by TexasFlyer

you can also pick up a Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) for the Diamond DA20 and the DA40 if you want to study that as well to be familair with the aircraft (those books are hard to come by unless you live near a school with a Diamond Fleet).

http://www.diamondair.com/owners_world/da20c1.php
http://www.diamond-air.at/da40-180_a...087573ab0.html

Good old Diamond. Even maintenance manuals too, looks like. Good for systems study.

[MultiComm]

Just a quick shameless plug...

All the pilot supplies (or close to it) from Falcon Aviation are available online through our ebay store...

http://stores.ebay.com/falconaviationacademy

Some of the pictures are out of date but you will get the most current edition of any book listed...if you have any questions, just e-mail us.

[TexasFlyer]

Originally Posted by MultiComm

Just a quick shameless plug...

All the pilot supplies (or close to it) from Falcon Aviation are available online through our ebay store...

http://stores.ebay.com/falconaviationacademy

Some of the pictures are out of date but you will get the most current edition of any book listed...if you have any questions, just e-mail us.

Ah man Spencer, you muddied up my thread...lol. Nah, actually, it's a good plug. That link might help someone prepare for success... no shame in that!

And yep. This is being sent via internet at my campsite just outside Asheville, NC on the river. Who would have thought. Wireless internet in the middle of the wilderness!

Now, time for some zzz's and then a couple weeks of Harley riding and Hiking and Relaxation for pleasure mixed in with a little work when I go to NBAA in Dayton and work on finishing lesson plans.

Cheerio!

[TexasFlyer]

Well, here it goes...

I regret to inform all the people who followed this thread, it has now come to an end. At this time I decided to relocate from Atlanta, GA to Asheville, NC.

So with that, I'll be looking to complete my CFI, CFII, and MEI near Asheville (looks like I'll do this at WNC Aviation as they are the only operation in town up there that looks decent).

I am certainly going to miss flying the DA20, DA40, and especially the DA42. And I am especially going to miss Falcon Aviation. Dan has bult a very successful business and a great environment for CFI's. I really was looking forward to being a CFI with Falcon since I come to the program with that as my goal. But for now, life events bring me to Asheville, NC.

On another note I am happy to announce my move to Asheville, NC. I should be completely settled in over the next 4-5 weeks in my new place. I'll give an update at some point in a new thread somewhere on here (probably start a new thread under flight academies and FBOs as I complete my CFI and beyond at WNC Aviation).

To all you lurkers, best of success. And to my active friends on here, keep following the dream.

[nkoenig]

Sorry to hear that. I have enjoyed reading your blog. Good Luck with your situation as well as your training.

[TexasFlyer]

I went to Falcon today to get a refund on the money I had on account with them. Wow, their new space at PDK is amazing! Good things still going on with them for anyone looking into the school.

And on another note. Even another change on my end. Now instead of moving up to Asheville, NC to fly, I am moving back to San Antonio, TX. Yeah, life is crazy sometimes. I look forward to returning home to Texas though. I'll be there the end of August.

So now what? Well, it's settle back home and then I will be flying with Wright Flyers out of SAT to complete my CFI stuff. So, you all can expect a blog on my experience with Wright Flyers.

And of course if anyone has any questions about Falcon, you can always PM me or just ask in this open forum since I always just tell it as it is. And I do know, I won't miss Atlanta but I will miss Falcon Aviation Academy.

[surreal1221]

Best of luck to you Joe. Take care man, be safe, and drop me a line when you swing through Atlanta - I'll do the same for my travels to San Antonio.

[TexasFlyer]

Right on Josh! Hope we cross paths some day again.

[Doug Taylor]

As pilots, we ALL will cross paths! Might take a while, but it happens.

[Bsmiller05]

Take care Joe. Have fun out there...be it NC, TX, or anywhere else you might end up.

[Bama]

I didn't want to start a new thread for this but I heard about a crash down at FFC recently. Can someone confirm? Everyone ok?

[surreal1221]

Confirmed, and everyone is okay.

[TexasFlyer]

Well, I'm getting settled down in San Antonio once again. I should be completing my training at Wright Flyers starting in October for my CFI, CFII, and MEI (maybe a little sooner, but it's taking awhile to get settled back into San Antonio as my move did not go as smoothly as planned and I also have my lil' Brazilian girlfriend from North Carolina coming here to join me here in San Antonio since she decided to make the life change and move here as well).

As for Falcon. The experience was good. I'll sure miss flying the Diamond Aircraft and all the great people and CFI's I met over the last year. I was hoping to be a CFI at Falcon, but one never knows where life may take them. I am happy to be back home in San Antonio though.

And on a final note. Here I am more than 3 weeks later and many phone calls later wondering where my $732 is that I had on account with Falcon. No one seems to return my call in regard to my account reimbursement that should have been mailed to me weeks ago.

So if anyone knows what rock I need to move to make my account reimbursement appear in my rightful hands, let me know!!! All paperwork was filled out weeks ago to get the money off my account and reimbursed back to me. On top of that, since I am now moved, I also need to update an address with Falcon so the money actually makes it to the right place!!! What's it take to get a return courtesy call for a status report out of ya'll at Falcon?

Still being nice and waiting patiently,
Joseph

[MultiComm]

Hi Joseph...

Sorry you had to post about the account status on here but I will be following up on this for you to see if we can get everything settled. If you don't hear anything in the next couple days, just e-mail me or PM me and I will take it one step farther.

Spencer

[surreal1221]

Hmm. . .I know it's a small thing. . .and I know you didn't mean it like this, but. . .

Originally Posted by MultiComm

...I will be following up on this for you to see IF we can get everything settled

I would hope there wouldn't be any IF'ing involved, and that it will be resolved.

Good to see you getting settled in Joseph, hope your further training continues well.