Nov 24 2008
Missing in Action
It has been exactly one year since my last post. Things in my life have changed, and for the better. I had left the freight company that I had gotten hired on with and came back to instruct at ATP. I had the opportunity to instruct at ATP locations such as Atlanta, Birmingham, and Bowling Green, it was good experience being in various airspaces and busy airports. While in Birmingham, I had the opportunity to meet an MD-11 captain for FedEx. In fact, I had to fly him to Memphis a few times to catch his flights. Good connection! I am currently managing the office at Trenton. I have been instructing at ATP for almost two years, July is when my CFI certificates expire. (Note to self: Consider renewing them soon, apply for Gold Seal Flight Instructor!). It seems like only yesterday I was a CFI applicant. I remember that day…. My checkride oral was 8.5 hours long we started at 10am and didn’t end until 6pm. We flew the next day for two hours. I got drilled on anything and everything. Any FAA stamped publication was up for grabs, and the examiner didn’t rush or bypass any detail to test me on. However, I passsed after studying my butt off. I earned those licenses, every license I hold I earned.
I currently have 3 students at Trenton. Two are working on their instrument licenses. They both are based at EWR and are flight attendants for a major airline. Kudos to those two for being such great students given their availability. They really do take the time to study and come prepared for each lesson. They meet the instructor half-way at every scheduled lesson, and that certainly is a plus and an ease on my mind as it makes my job a whole lot easier and more enjoyable! My other student’s availability is limited, this student is currently working on their Private pilot multi-engine license. They are slowly but surely coming along. It is frustrating at times due to the students inadequacy to study effectively, however, I do my best to assist this student any way I can, within my means. Of course with dedicated ATP career pilot students, I do have walk-ins for multi-engine licenses, ATP writtens, ATP flight training, multi-engine flight instructor applicants, etc.. These students are given top priority on my schedule because they are just “in-and-out.” Our “walk-in” programs consist of either 4hrs or 10hrs of flight instruction, yeah, pretty fast paced. I’m slowly but surely building my flight time. It is approaching the winter time so being slow is expected.
I’m still making connections, still plugging along. I’ve had to opportunity to connect with pilots from FedEx, various airlines, as well as the corporate sector. I think for now I am doing well and sitting at a good position at ATP. I am the manager for the Trenton location as well as a Testing Center Supervisor for CATS Testing. Good for the resume. Another great resume add-on is that of my science degree. I am in the process of counting the costs and applying for my bachelors at Thomas Edison State College. Once I gain that damn piece of paper, my options will be unlimited and many doors open. By that time I should have 1300hrs with 1200 multi-engine. Those are very competitive times, and having my degree will just set the bar right where it should be for myself. By the time I’m 24 I should have a decent job making a comfortable living. It will all pay off in the grand scheme of things. Patience, dedication, and having fun in the process (stress relief)! Key ingrediants to this whole process.