My Ari Ben Aviator Experience
- Thread starter maverick2
- Start date
maverick2
Well-Known Member
May 8th, 2006
Most students here mostly fall into this black hole when they are studying for the MEI. I am currently in this black hole. Some days I feel so motivated and some days I don't. Hopefully, I will get myself out of this black hole soon. I also had some setbacks where my wife came and visit and I moved into an apartment in Vero. I have already taken my FOI written and did my spin training today with Catherine which was so much fun. Currently, I'm studying for my FIA. After I take my FIAs and pass, my instructor will send in the paperwork to the Orlando FSDO. Then also as well as there will be some more hardcore studying and flight training. Then the checkride hopefully soon. Until then, back into the black hole. :nana2:
Most students here mostly fall into this black hole when they are studying for the MEI. I am currently in this black hole. Some days I feel so motivated and some days I don't. Hopefully, I will get myself out of this black hole soon. I also had some setbacks where my wife came and visit and I moved into an apartment in Vero. I have already taken my FOI written and did my spin training today with Catherine which was so much fun. Currently, I'm studying for my FIA. After I take my FIAs and pass, my instructor will send in the paperwork to the Orlando FSDO. Then also as well as there will be some more hardcore studying and flight training. Then the checkride hopefully soon. Until then, back into the black hole. :nana2:
Florida_Flyer
Well-Known Member
The black hole is deep, real deep, but you'll get there in the end. Keep the faith brother.
It's mainly because we just want to get it over with! We also now have to go back and study so much stuff and learn all kinds of additional stuff on giving endorsements and getting "instructional knowledge" so we can teach what we know. So basically we are always thinking about this "big bad checkride" coming up and studying like crazy to get it done. And if you do this right, you can keep studying and do the other two instructor ratings very quickly...as in like 2 more weeks.
Getting our spin endorsements was AWESOME! I gotta go back and get some more aerobatic time! I think that's probably the neatest thing I've ever done with my clothes on...and I have some pictures to go with it...including a couple looking out upside down....unfortunately it was hazy so they aren't great...
Getting our spin endorsements was AWESOME! I gotta go back and get some more aerobatic time! I think that's probably the neatest thing I've ever done with my clothes on...and I have some pictures to go with it...including a couple looking out upside down....unfortunately it was hazy so they aren't great...
Hello maverick2!
That is really informative to read your messages.
I read all the messages since you started in May2005.
Must be about to finish the course now.
M in touch with AriBen for my training.
i would like to know what exactly is the total expenditure(like exam fee,check rides,uniform,books,living,etc.) apart from some $35k they charge for the course.
That will be a great help.
By the way how can you spare so much time to complete the course then married life and then posting such informative messages.Thats really impressive.
That is really informative to read your messages.
I read all the messages since you started in May2005.
Must be about to finish the course now.
M in touch with AriBen for my training.
i would like to know what exactly is the total expenditure(like exam fee,check rides,uniform,books,living,etc.) apart from some $35k they charge for the course.
That will be a great help.
By the way how can you spare so much time to complete the course then married life and then posting such informative messages.Thats really impressive.
LoadMasterC141
Well-Known Member
Great read for a "Researcher" Maverick, and the rest of the Ari-Ben (Why does he call it that anyway?) team. You have done your school a great justice blogging your experience for all to see.
One question--It seems you have pretty much doubled that 6 month program's time. Is this normal? Have others made it out faster?
Congrats on all the hard work, and again thanks so much for the efforts. It is helping me alot to make a decision. Please keep it going all the way through your 777 Capt checkout!
One question--It seems you have pretty much doubled that 6 month program's time. Is this normal? Have others made it out faster?
Congrats on all the hard work, and again thanks so much for the efforts. It is helping me alot to make a decision. Please keep it going all the way through your 777 Capt checkout!
maverick2
Well-Known Member
May 16th, 2006
I chose maverick2 because it was my call sign when I was deployed in Iraq and I set up this account when I was in Iraq. Checkrides are about $300 except for the MEI which is $350-$450 depending on who you go with. Actually, checkrides are free with the FSDO. Books are somewhere in between $200 to $400 depending how many books you get and from where. Housing and expenses are up to you. I found an apartment outside the school who I share with and I save a good chunk of money. Marriage and having two jobs do hold me back from completing the course quicker, but I'm enjoying and having so much fun. Having a job on the side helps pay for the rent and expenses, some students at the school take out so much money from the loans to pay for the tuition, housing, party money, buying a car, etc. i only took out 30k from key bank, but its taking me a little bit longer. I'm just enjoying my journey, but I should be done my instructor ratings very soon. Some students will finish sooner than me like Catherine and some students wont depends on your MOTIVATION and extracurricular activities. The MEI is a very big hump here at the school, the key is to get over this hump asap. Well, thanks for reading this blog and I intended for this blog to help you guys out there. You guys should do a search for Cruise's blog, his blog inspired me to come here also as well. Maybe I will keep this blog going until I retire. You should this blog out also as well: http://home.att.net/~pgoertzen/CareerJournal.htm
I chose maverick2 because it was my call sign when I was deployed in Iraq and I set up this account when I was in Iraq. Checkrides are about $300 except for the MEI which is $350-$450 depending on who you go with. Actually, checkrides are free with the FSDO. Books are somewhere in between $200 to $400 depending how many books you get and from where. Housing and expenses are up to you. I found an apartment outside the school who I share with and I save a good chunk of money. Marriage and having two jobs do hold me back from completing the course quicker, but I'm enjoying and having so much fun. Having a job on the side helps pay for the rent and expenses, some students at the school take out so much money from the loans to pay for the tuition, housing, party money, buying a car, etc. i only took out 30k from key bank, but its taking me a little bit longer. I'm just enjoying my journey, but I should be done my instructor ratings very soon. Some students will finish sooner than me like Catherine and some students wont depends on your MOTIVATION and extracurricular activities. The MEI is a very big hump here at the school, the key is to get over this hump asap. Well, thanks for reading this blog and I intended for this blog to help you guys out there. You guys should do a search for Cruise's blog, his blog inspired me to come here also as well. Maybe I will keep this blog going until I retire. You should this blog out also as well: http://home.att.net/~pgoertzen/CareerJournal.htm
maverick2 said:
Thanks a lot!
That all expenditure should be around $10k if I take one year to complete professional course from zero experience.Ya..i may take that long to complete...'am a lil slow learner
About the cost I was just worried if there are any hidden fee costs from the school side.I heard at some schools students end up paying extra,from the originally stated amount, till the time they complete the course.
please keep writing its really helping novices like me!
LoadMasterC141
Well-Known Member
Well it took me my whole lunch break, but I read all of that blog too. I could easily become a pilot blog addict! That was great stuff. It definitely scarred the pretty picture I had of the road once you get to the regionals. This guy had an amazing attitude towards it all and an EXTREMELY supportive significant other. That had to make all the difference in the world.
LoadMasterC141
Well-Known Member
BrianNC said:I think I already am.
I have to live vicariously through these guys until I can do it myself.
Ditto!! What great real perspectives you get on it all too though! This last blog was the First time I have read about someone that has passed that initial “poor as poor can be” stage of the regionals. So far, the only people that seem to respond to threads are those that are in training, want to be, are ruined for life from it, are in their first year at a regional, or are “old hats”.
I would simply love to see more blogs or just some perspectives from third or fourth year regional pilots, and perhaps even some 1st and second year guys that have made it to the majors, major freight (UPS and FEDEX).
maverick2
Well-Known Member
July 15th, 2006
Ok, its time that I resurrect this thread. About ten days (7/5) ago, I took my initial MEI Checkride. I only did the oral that day, and the flight the day after. I failed the flight portion of it because my short field landing was too hard. As a matter of fact, it was the worst landing I ever did. It was the second to last task I had to do on the flight portion after a really solid flight on a extremely hot and humid day. Forever I will regret for not doing a go-around on that approach. Anyway, last Monday (7/10) after several nights of insomnia, I did the retake where I only had to do two landings, the short field and single engine and I finally passed my MEI checkride. I was happy I passed but yet I am still upset at myself.
The oral exam was more comfortable than I thought it would be. The examiner brought in some snack bars, fruits, and water. She made it seem like a picnic more than a checkride which was really cool and relaxing. We started going over my 810, then we dug thru the a/c maintenance logbooks looking for the required inspections and asking a few systems questions. Next, we talked about endorsements and she gave me all these scenarios (commercial helo convert to commercial multi, solo requirements, throwover yokes, the legalities and the ethics of giving endorsements, student pilot certs, 61.49, etc.), then we went over some FOIs (flight instructor responsibilites and characteristics, principles of learning, and a few scenarios of what if the student does this, what is it called, how would you fix it, how would you want your students perceive you and why). After the FOIs we took a break and it was amazing to realize that 3hrs has passed already. After the break, we started going over principles of flight and from this point on the examiner was playing student. I taught her four forces, lift, tail down force, static stability, and forces on a turn. Next, I did my lesson plan with her (stalls and stall recovery, and the power on stall), talked about critical angle of attack and coefficient of lift. Next, I taught her Vmc, Vmc cert, and the nine factors affecting Vmc. We went over every single one. After all that, she told me I did a good job and I passed the oral portion of it after six hours. It didn't seem like six hours at all, it felt at most 2 hours. So the next day, came the flight portion.
Before the flight, we talked about what I was gonna teach during the flight. For the preflight portion, I taught her how to start an engine, explained positive exchange of flight control, collision avoidance, and taxiway markings. Next, we did a short field t/o mixed in with a simulated engine failure on t/o. Taught her turns to a heading and leveling at an altitude using the integrated teaching method. I demonstrated a steep turn and she performed the other steep turn, anc correcting her mistakes. Demonstrated a power on stall, slow flight, and a Vmc demo. And then I walked thru a full engine shutdown and restart, and an emergency descent. During the emergency portions, the examiner purposely tried to make mistakes so you really had to keep a good eye on it. I was really tense and jumpy when she was doing that. During all these maneuvers, the examiner give me some tips and pointers on common mistakes students make that arent in the books and other methods of teaching the maneuvers. We went in for a normal landing, and did a rectangular pattern around the pattern, and in for a short field, on the approach I misjudged the displace threshold and I came in high, at this point I thought of a go-around, but my pride kicked in and I wanted to put it on the numbers, and......well you guys know the rest. The retake flight was simple but we had some heavy winds, but the landings were excellent and that was that.
After a few days of boozing and relaxing, I'm working on the single commercial and CFI now. I have the single commercial checkride scheduled for 7/24 and CFI on 7/26. What an adjustment it is getting back on the 172 after the Duchess, whats even better is the hardest part of my flight training is over. I'll keep you guys updated on my last stretch to the instructor world.
Ok, its time that I resurrect this thread. About ten days (7/5) ago, I took my initial MEI Checkride. I only did the oral that day, and the flight the day after. I failed the flight portion of it because my short field landing was too hard. As a matter of fact, it was the worst landing I ever did. It was the second to last task I had to do on the flight portion after a really solid flight on a extremely hot and humid day. Forever I will regret for not doing a go-around on that approach. Anyway, last Monday (7/10) after several nights of insomnia, I did the retake where I only had to do two landings, the short field and single engine and I finally passed my MEI checkride. I was happy I passed but yet I am still upset at myself.
The oral exam was more comfortable than I thought it would be. The examiner brought in some snack bars, fruits, and water. She made it seem like a picnic more than a checkride which was really cool and relaxing. We started going over my 810, then we dug thru the a/c maintenance logbooks looking for the required inspections and asking a few systems questions. Next, we talked about endorsements and she gave me all these scenarios (commercial helo convert to commercial multi, solo requirements, throwover yokes, the legalities and the ethics of giving endorsements, student pilot certs, 61.49, etc.), then we went over some FOIs (flight instructor responsibilites and characteristics, principles of learning, and a few scenarios of what if the student does this, what is it called, how would you fix it, how would you want your students perceive you and why). After the FOIs we took a break and it was amazing to realize that 3hrs has passed already. After the break, we started going over principles of flight and from this point on the examiner was playing student. I taught her four forces, lift, tail down force, static stability, and forces on a turn. Next, I did my lesson plan with her (stalls and stall recovery, and the power on stall), talked about critical angle of attack and coefficient of lift. Next, I taught her Vmc, Vmc cert, and the nine factors affecting Vmc. We went over every single one. After all that, she told me I did a good job and I passed the oral portion of it after six hours. It didn't seem like six hours at all, it felt at most 2 hours. So the next day, came the flight portion.
Before the flight, we talked about what I was gonna teach during the flight. For the preflight portion, I taught her how to start an engine, explained positive exchange of flight control, collision avoidance, and taxiway markings. Next, we did a short field t/o mixed in with a simulated engine failure on t/o. Taught her turns to a heading and leveling at an altitude using the integrated teaching method. I demonstrated a steep turn and she performed the other steep turn, anc correcting her mistakes. Demonstrated a power on stall, slow flight, and a Vmc demo. And then I walked thru a full engine shutdown and restart, and an emergency descent. During the emergency portions, the examiner purposely tried to make mistakes so you really had to keep a good eye on it. I was really tense and jumpy when she was doing that. During all these maneuvers, the examiner give me some tips and pointers on common mistakes students make that arent in the books and other methods of teaching the maneuvers. We went in for a normal landing, and did a rectangular pattern around the pattern, and in for a short field, on the approach I misjudged the displace threshold and I came in high, at this point I thought of a go-around, but my pride kicked in and I wanted to put it on the numbers, and......well you guys know the rest. The retake flight was simple but we had some heavy winds, but the landings were excellent and that was that.
After a few days of boozing and relaxing, I'm working on the single commercial and CFI now. I have the single commercial checkride scheduled for 7/24 and CFI on 7/26. What an adjustment it is getting back on the 172 after the Duchess, whats even better is the hardest part of my flight training is over. I'll keep you guys updated on my last stretch to the instructor world.
S.T.Aviator
Well-Known Member
Hey Maverick , how's the training going??