Technical reading.

BravoHotel

BravoHotel

Well-Known Member
I am just curious if there are some ways or strategies other people digest large volumes of technical data, and remember it. The -1 (flight manual) for my plane is 2320 pages long. That is a lot of pages. Thank you.
 
I'd make notes based upon the checklists, so have Datacards on v speeds, weight and balance emergencies etc.

You don't need the MEL for e.g. Each system (gear electrics engine) should be summarized on a page, kind of like a pilots notes version.
 
Is this the technical explanations or just straight data limitations?

The only 'bigger' airplanes I've flown have been the ATR-72 and Dash-8 and those were around 800-900 pages each. What worked for me was sitting down for an hour at a time and reading a couple chapters highlighting and taking notes on what I felt was important. Made flashcards for all limitations and specs that needed to be understood by rote memory.

I would study for an hour and take a break and divert my attention to something completely different for an hour and it seemed to work well.
 
What helps me:
  1. Read/learn in chunks not longer than 20-30 mins (or however long you can enjoy ). Then relax for at least few minutes.
  2. Divide large material into smaller, manageable parts (23 doesn't sound as bad as 2320)
  3. Scan for patterns ( Sheppard's ATP gouge is an example )
  4. Visualize, write, draw etc.
  5. Read aloud for you might be better at remembering sounds than images.
  6. Rehearse the accumulated knowledge ( as odd as it might be, it helps me when I walk) or "act" the procedure.
  7. Find someone who worked on the same manual and ask them what helped the most in the same situation (but you figured this one out already)
 
I'd think that you'd just be focusing on Section 1 and Section 3 when you are just learning the airplane.
 
Hawks said:
I am just curious if there are some ways or strategies other people digest large volumes of technical data, and remember it. The -1 (flight manual) for my plane is 2320 pages long. That is a lot of pages. Thank you.
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Page 1, paragraph 1.

Go from there. :D
 
In that case, definitely mnemonics to remember the checklists by, and you should still be able to get the limitations and quick reference aspects on one page, if you have a flat panel trainer, definitely practice the flows. Make notes before and after and it'll sink in, slowly but surely.

If they give you an iPad (only) and expect it to sink in, I would suggest pen and paper, much better for retained learning.
 
Hacker15e said:
I'd think that you'd just be focusing on Section 1 and Section 3 when you are just learning the airplane.
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So far elements of 1,2,3 and 5. There obviously is a cirriculum in place and we have a fair amount of time to learn it. As I plod through the seas of acronyms and reading I was thinking there has to be an efficient way to digest and retain this information.
 
Hawks said:
So far elements of 1,2,3 and 5. There obviously is a cirriculum in place and we have a fair amount of time to learn it. As I plod through the seas of acronyms and reading I was thinking there has to be an efficient way to digest and retain this information.
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You will retain it through repetition and working with it. Like anything else, at first glance, it'll appear overwhelming.
 
As a retired Navy FE... My advice for memorizing the manual is, don't.

Instead, pick a system and study it's operation, not it's schematic. As you go through the function of a switch, mode, or other function; THEN go into the schematics and flow to figure out WHY something happens.

One of my biggest teaching techniques with young engineers would be to ask them "Why" on each step of a checklist. The deer in headlights look as they actually tried to dive into their knowledge to explain it to me was priceless. Going from trainee to trainer, you'll have to make these connections anyways, so you can explain it to someone when they really do ask you why.

If you can understand the operation, the reason behind it, and what happens to the system when you do it... Memorization will come with it.
 
I keep threatening to do the FE written. Should definitely knock it out while I still can.
 
ahw01 said:
I keep threatening to do the FE written. Should definitely knock it out while I still can.
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Definitely pretty much a novelty rating at this point. But, I am glad that I got it while the Navy would pay for it.

Probably helped land the current job, as well.
 
Indeed, the written is nicely technical though, need to get an invite to see these FEs at work!
 
If it helps, everyone I've flown with agrees that it's impossible to know everything about the airplane. And that's just a Herk. You learn what you can, and learn a ton more once you're flying operationally.
 
NewYorkophile said:
If it helps, everyone I've flown with agrees that it's impossible to know everything about the airplane. And that's just a Herk. You learn what you can, and learn a ton more once you're flying operationally.
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I'm recruiting new-hire FEs for our Reserve J-model Herk squadron. Once they sign on the dotted line and swear in, we change their AFSC to Security Forces or Services (so they have a choice in something) and send them to basic.

:D
 
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