Going out of my mind.. rant.. read or don't.. :)

[Tram]

Going out of my mind.. rant.. read or don\'t..

Ok so.. I'm ready for the CAX... I've been calling one local airport for 4 days now.. I call the airport.. No answer.. Leave a message... I've called the house of the SINGLE man who is allowed to give the test..No answer.. Called the Airport again... FINALLY, a nice human voice.. He takes a message for the guy who gives the tests.. He will be in tomorrow.. He'll call me.. Well.. it's tomorrow.. I call the airport.. no answer.. leave a message.. no return call...call back.. a human ansers and tells me "there's no one there, call back in a few hours..." ok.. so.. call back in a few hours.. get a human again.. I ask for the "test" man... "umm, he's not here today..."

So.. I call another place.. an hour drive away..

Me: "Is there anyway I could take the CAX today?"
Them: "umm, let me find out..."
Me: "ok.."
Them: "my coworker isn't here.. let me call him..can you hold on?"
Me: "How about I just call you back in a few minutes?"
Them: "sounds good"

::minutes pass::

Me: "Hey, I jsut called about the CAX"
Them: "Ohh, yes.. can you take it next week?"
Me: "Maybe, let me check my schedule and call you back.."
them: "just let me know the day before you want to take it and we'll schedule it."

I check their website, realize they're open on Saturday.. So..l I call back..

Me: "hey, i just called about the CAX"
them: "yes.."
Me: "Can I take it tomorrow?"
them: "umm... let me check"
Me: "ok....."
them: "no, i'm sorry no one can give it tomorrow..."
me: "ok, I'll just give you a call back when i check my schedule..."


Ok, now.. I'm not really too angry.. just needed to blow off some steam..

However, the first place I called, is where I took my IRA test.. The day I was to take it, i thought I was running late (left the airplane keys at home.. heh), so I called before i flew down there and to my surprise, no answer.. ok, they're out flying.. leave a message "hey guys, i'm gonna be a few minutes late, no more than 10 getting there.. just wanted to let you know.."

Finally.. airborn.. get to the airport and walk in the office..

Me: "Hey, would you happen to be Mr. X"
Him: "Yes, I am Mr. X"
Me: "Hi, I'm Jeff Williams, I have an IRA test scheduled for today.."
Mr. X: :seriously confused look on his face: "Instrument written?"
Me: "yes, I called you a few days ago and scheduled it?" (wondering, why they haven't checked the message I left for them earlier????)
Mr. X "ohh yes, ok... well.. sure is a good thing you got here when you did.. I was about to walk out the door.."
Me: "ohh, well that would not have been good.. :chuckle.. chuckle.."

So anyway.. I take the test... I pass.. I guess I'll take the CAX sometime next week... Which means I get to continue to study all weekend long..

Like I said.. rant...

 

[pscraig]

Re: Going out of my mind.. rant.. read or don\'t..

This is almost funny-I had the same experience trying to get my writtens done beforehand. Some places seem like they don't like doing writtens, others are less professional and will cancel a written if anything comes up. That happened 3 times in my effort to get my PPA written, "had to go fly" was always the answer. I finally found a decent place to take the tests, and took the IRA, FII, and IGI tests there. I was so happy to find the place I took all 3 tests in one day.

Personally, I'd call LaserGrade or CATS and discuss your difficulty with that testing site. Places like that give the profession a negative image, even if it is just one aspect of flight training.

 

[Tram]

Re: Going out of my mind.. rant.. read or don\'t..

Yeh, it is pretty funny.

I'm not too bothered.. I'm taking it Monday, hopefully at a NICE place.

Sad thing is, ATP operates out of one of the places and the guy human I've been talking to is an ATP Instructor....


Let me ask you this..

I've got the PPL, IRA and will have the CAX written out of the way very soon..

I have the Gleim's FLight/Ground instructor Prep, plan to take that an the FOI next.. What else will I need before hitting ATP?

 

[pscraig]

Re: Going out of my mind.. rant.. read or don\'t..

If you've taken the IRA already, go take the FII soon before you forget! The questions on the FII are from the same pool as the IRA and I had several questions show up on both tests. Next take the FOI (easiest) then the FIA. The FIA has some similarity to the CAX, plus the maneuvers.

 

[Tram]

Re: Going out of my mind.. rant.. read or don\'t..

I'm gonna go ahead and take the CAX on either Mon/Tues and then will try and take the FII on like Friday.. Get some "restudy" time in there..

 

[Merlin]

Re: Going out of my mind.. rant.. read or don\'t..

If I remember correctly, arent you going for an ATP tour sometime soon? Just take the test at ATP when you do the tour.

(Apologies if Im getting you confused with someone else)

Jeremy

 

[Tram]

Re: Going out of my mind.. rant.. read or don\'t..

Well, I'm going for an interview, haven't really scheduled a tour.. From reading all the threads, talking to people, etc.. It's the place for me.

I finally got it scheduled for Monday