Category: Blog

In an interesting string of events, I have stopped work on my MEI.

I’m currently in a standardization class for the Swiss contract. Which directly conflicted with the multi-engine standardization that starts tomorrow.

It’s going to be interesting. This program has completely different procedures, and methods of teaching. I’m relearning everything I know for the most part. Which isn’t even the best part! I can’t forget all the other ways of doing things. I still have to finish my MEI, and complete MEI standardization which will require the ‘old’ way of doing everything.

The best part is, the procedures and methods are only slightly different. Speeds I have to memorize are merely a few knots different. No chance of confusion there! Nope.

The plan now, is, once I finish this standardization I will complete my MEI. Then join the next MEI standardization class. Hopefully this maze won’t delay my instruction in the multi-engine too long.

As an afterthought to this whole mess, they require 500 hours total time, and 200 hours of dual given(as flight instructor). I currently am about 50 short on both those numbers. So during standardization I have to find the time to fly 50 hours. Looking forward to the paycheck, not the lack of sleep.

It has been just under seven months since I have flown the twin engine. My last flight I logged was my multi-engine commercial check ride. Today broke that streak with a quick flight in preparation for my MEI(Multi-engine instructor). This is an add-on to my current flight instructor certificate and is my next step in training.

It was nice to be back in the plane. It is most definitely the airplane that I love to fly the best. The avionics suite in the aircraft is on another level in comparison to the rest of our fleet. Add to that the stability of a heavier, faster aircraft and you have a very fun airplane to fly.

Even after all this time out of the aircraft, today’s flight went rather well considering. We ran through almost all of the PTS items for the MEI checkride. I felt pretty good about most of it, and I think I’ll be able to wrap this up in a few hours of flight time.

My landings were of a minor concern to me. I felt like I was fighting with the aircraft and that doesn’t normally produce smooth landings. The first few touch and goes we did were quite disconcerting to me. My very last landing was finally back within my personal tolerance for a ‘good’ landing.

I’m excited to get another rating under my belt, and start instructing multi-engine students!

Well I haven’t killed anyone yet! I’d say it’s going good.

After just a little over a week of instructing, I’m still here! Things have been going so fast, and that’s ok. I’ve been flying almost every day, and around 3-5 hours a day. Filling that logbook up pretty quick!

My first two students have been progressing pretty well. Even as I’m teaching them, I’m learning so much about how to be a better teacher. I’m finding out what works, and what doesn’t. I have to tailor the way I explain things to each student. It’s pretty much the coolest thing I’ve ever done. From the first day until now, I’ve seen so much progress. It’s amazing to watch them progress, and see the ‘light’ click on.

It’s completely true that your student strives to be just like you, and they emulate everything you do. I will see them do things, or say things, and I laugh to myself. Because I know they got it from me! It’s crazy!

I’m having so much fun flying with these guys, and they’re probably teaching me just as much as I’m teaching them. If you’re reading this, you guys should be studying! 🙂

A few of the instructors and I got a call yesterday about a meeting. We were all a little nervous about what we were being called in there for. When we got in there, they had some student logbooks laid out on the conference table. We all looked at each other with pretty big smiles!

They have just received another group of Irish students, with not enough instructors to fill their schedule. The assigned each of us two new students! We’re not even done with standardization yet! We got a small crash course in how to do paperwork, and managing the students school logbook.

Today I went flying with my two brand new students. It was my first logged hours of ‘dual given’. First of many I’m sure in my career of aviation. It was pretty exciting to be the instructor finally.

So it’s officially official! I’m a flight instructor!

/phew