Hey all!
Finally pulled the trigger today and enrolled! I’ll be training in Indianapolis starting Feb 7. I still have a small knot in my stomach from making this jump, but I’m also super eager to get going!
Thank you to everyone that’s offered insights about the school and what to expect. That definitely helped me grasp what ATP is all about and I know this is going to be the best decision I’ve made for myself and my family.
Mat
Congrats Mat! That’s huge! It really is just the beginning of what’s to come for you.
Enjoy your holidays and time with your family. At the new year, start hammering out your written exams to set yourself up for success!
-Hannah
Mat,
Love to hear this, I’ve done a lot of Introductory Flights and Tours recently and it seems once everyone gets a small amount of control to the plane, they get the flying bug. There is so much valuable information on this forum from previous and current student experiences as well as the advice and recommendations from the amazing mentors. I came here to this forum almost 3 years ago to date and it was one of the best decisions.
Like Hannah mentioned, getting a jump start on your writtens in the new year will help you tremendously. Even if you can just get the PAR (Private Pilot Airplane) written it will make the difference!
Brady
Congrats Mat!
You have just taken a huge first step to a career as an airline pilot. It may seem daunting right now but many years from now you’ll know you did the right thing.
Adam
Mat,
I see you are the son of an AA pilot. My father retired from AA back in 2015 (he was a US Airways guy).
Congratulations on making the leap. Get started on those written exams and let us know how we can help!
Chris
Thanks Chris!
Yeah, my dad is a captain at AA based in Charlotte, so I’ve always been around aviation. He just turned 59 so he’s got a few years left before retirement. I’m hoping he will be a nice resource to have during this journey!
Super stoked for you, Mat! We are all here to support you through the process. I agree with the others. Enjoy the holidays and consider completing some written exams ahead of the program if you can.
Congrats!
Tory
Mat,
I remember when I received my 20+ pound box of goodies, it started to feel really real. Embark the journey, the saying goes Tempus Fugit, make the friendship, memories and gain the rewards from each checkride. Wishing you the best, please keep us posted throughout your training!
Brady
Mat,
It’s really happening! For me, the box made it all feel very real for the first time. So excited to follow along with your journey!
-Hannah
Mat,
The ATP big box of books is legendary and has been around as long as I can remember. This is the beginning of a long and rewarding journey for you. Please continue to keep us in the loop.
Chris
If youre doing a student Meritize offered me 6.6% vs Sallimies 9.8% 
congratulations
Hey everyone! Just wanted to provide a small update!
Started this Monday at IND. Got checked in, met some of the other students and instructors. Didn’t get to do a flight but did get some sim time in. Tuesday was my first flight and was pumped to finally get in the air.
I did however start feeling a little motion sick rolling out of a climbing turn. My instructor could tell the Gs got me a little bit so we did some straight and level flight so I could compose myself and it helped. He even showed a couple 45 degree turns before we headed back to land and my stomach was fine. Hoping it’s just my body getting used to all the movements being in an Archer.
Also, y’all weren’t joking about the first couple weeks being overwhelming! It’s a lot of material to cover and in the plane it’s a lot trying to read what the instruments are telling you (especially when you’re only supposed to be cross-checking and looking outside), figuring out proper trim (this is brand new to me), doing the maneuvers and getting a feel for how the plane is during all of that. It was overwhelming and I tried not to be too bummed out with how…not well?… I performed on my first flight. After all, it was my first flight and second day at ATP.
Here’s my question: how did y’all keep yourself from getting too bummed in the first week when it seemed like a lot?
I’m my own worst critic, but I’m also doing my best to tell myself I’m not gonna be anywhere near the level of pilot as my instructor right now. Maybe I’m just being way too hard on myself.
Either way, I’m getting right back to studying after I write this and have another flight this afternoon. I definitely see today’s flight as a way to hopefully be a little bit better than I was yesterday.
Mat
Mat,
I’m sorry but I’m going to make this short and sweet. You say you started this past Mon and it’s Weds morning. Seriously are you kidding? You need to tell yourself you’re not at the same level as your instructor who’s a licensed and rated PILOT and you’ve been flying a day and a half? My friend you need to relax and calm down. I’m willing to bet the queeziness you felt was due to the pressure and anxiety you’re placing on yourself. It’s been 2 days. You’re not a pilot and you literally know next to nothing. The program is most definitely challenging but no one expects anything from you right now except you. Try and remember in all this it’s supposed to be fun and something you want to do.
Now take a deep breath, know the program works, RELAX and get back to work.
Adam
Mat,
Adam said it best. Don’t sweat the first few days and weeks. You’re finally getting the opportunity to really be able to control the airplane for the first time (as a student). Regardless of whether you’re flying with a newly minted CFI or a 20-year CFI veteran, they’re going to have just a few more hours than you and be able to make things look a bit easier.
What I can say is enjoy these first few flights, really learn what that airplane feels like when you takeoff, when you get to cruise and what the sight picture out front looks like when you’re doing all of these fundamental and maneuver flights. If you can recognize what the plane is doing based on outside visual reference early on, it will only improve your future flight ability as you progress through the Private phase. Now unless you’re a natural born prodigy like Kobe’s kids at basketball or David Beckham’s kids at soccer, things will seem a bit, well…overwhelmed if you compare yourself to the more experienced; instead, learn from them 
Brady
Adam,
Not gonna lie, that’s exactly what I needed to hear. Just relax. I kept that in mind as I was able to walk through the preflight checklist and get those nerves out of the way. And MAN, what a difference 24 hours can make. I felt a lot more in control with the maneuvers and felt the plane react accordingly. All while battling some turbulent wind throughout the day. So another confidence boost today for completing those in turbulence. The only queasiness I felt today too was turbulence related, but it was nothing compared to yesterday. Definitely feeling a lot better tonight and looking forward to tomorrow!
Brady,
The visual reference was a huge help today, too. When I was getting frustrated yesterday I think I was spending some time “instrument chasing” and that only led to more frustration. Spending more time focusing on the sight picture while making different pitch attitudes and banks definitely helped me get a feel for the plane today. It really is amazing how much that helps.
Now back to work!!
Thanks guys
Mat
Mat,
I still get queasy in small airplanes, especially when doing maneuvers. Some people are great with it, others not so much. In time, your body will adjust and you will get used to the feeling. I am glad it went better today, keep at it. Flight training is intense and you are learning several new things at once. Give yourself a break and remember that you are a student and that this is new to you.
Chris
Hey everyone!
Just wanted to check in with an update on my training. Classic Indiana weather has been consistently… inconsistent. Today was my first flight since March 20. Mostly because of weather, we did have a couple days scattered in there with planes being in maintenance (we only have two at KIND).
Thankfully, I was able to pass my TOL eval and do the simulated instrument flight by wearing foggles before the long pause in flying. I’m in the solo prep stage now, and it’s been agonizing we haven’t had a good run of weather to fly.
Wanted to bounce a question of y’all, though. I felt fine doing maneuvers today (power-on, power-off stalls, followed by emergency descent). When we got back to about 3500 feet, it was really turbulent. My guess is I hadn’t flown in 17 days and I’m still only at like 32 hours, but it’s a good thing we had a bag in the plane. Was this just my body not experiencing turbulence in a few weeks? I had felt fine during my previous flights and even the flight when wearing foggles. Wasn’t sure if anyone else here had a lengthy stretch of no flying and felt similar.
Hoping that’s all it was! Hope the next update I have involves completing my first solo here soon!
Mat,
I am sure that your long absence from the cockpit had much to do with that. Remember to look outside when you can.
My family is from South Bend, I am well familiar with Indiana weather
Thank you for the update, let us know when you have soloed!
Chris
Mat,
If you’ve been fine before I really wouldn’t worry about it. Could be the bumps, could be a little anxiety, could be what you had for breakfast (or didn’t). Shake it off and forge ahead.
Adam
