Whew! Scared me for a minute!
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What is the matter with having the Top Gun music for a ring tone? Should I change mine?
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Fun fact Chris, I have never seen the movieâŚso I really donât get the reference to the theme song.
Chris if you have it itâs too late, changing it wonât help!
Adam
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Brady,
Itâs an old standing joke (maybe this many years later itâs faded) but in EVERY airline newhire class thereâs at least 1 guy whoâs got the theme as his ring tone. That guy (whoâs usually a Riddle grad) is gonna be âthat guyâ all through training.
Adam
Brady,
If you havenât seen it, you must! Itâs a classic. One of my familyâs favorites growing up so Iâve seen it dozens of times. A lot of aviation references come from that movie so youâll be more âin the knowâ, just please promise you wonât become âthat guyâ and set the theme song as your ring tone 
-Hannah
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Brady you know Hannah actually brings up an excellent point. For you to be this far along in aviation and never seen Top Gun is actually a little disturbing and something you really need to remedy. You see every pilot who sees it harbors a desire to be Maverick and has a deep reverence for the film. However this desire and reverence must be kept suppressed less you be seen as uncool (and as you know by now, pilots by definition are SUPER cool). By having the ring tone youâre letting youâre exposing your hidden desire and therefore are âuncoolâ which is a terrible faux pas.
I know itâs complicated. Once you have some more hours and experience youâll understand 
Adam
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Certified Flight Instructor â Mutli-Engine Add-On (MEI) - 01/21/2021
A very short timeframe from the completion of AMEL add-on to this CFI add-on! Not much happened between the previous and current phase of the program. I didnât take a day off, the following day I went right back into the plane and flying from the right seat this time. Two other students in my ânowâ phase had all of Christmas break off and I was informed I had the better advantage because I was fresh out of a checkride. What I was asked on the oral seemed like questions I was asked for the AMEL add-on to my commercial certificate, just more in depth and teaching it this time (e.g., Vmc and defining a critical engine). Transition from the right seat had a short adjustment for sight picture because how the Seminole sits and outside reference maneuver (e.g., steep turns).
I was excited for this phase for multiple reasons 1) I have completed what has been an accelerated program, 2) on a roll with passing checkrides and understanding the airplanes better each time, and 3) being able to start looking along the lines of careers and figuring out what is next. Iâve met a lot of really amazing people and have had the opportunity to experience wonderful flights. Letâs break this checkride down one last time (until the ATP checkride):
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The oral, as we all know I am a sucker for digging holes and for once I did not carry a shovel with me. After hours of virtual ground lessons with my instructor and fellow multi-engine students, I became very good at describing the systems and how we can define a critical engine (and determine our Vmc). This proved me good as I started my last oral as an ATP student off solid. The oral seemed to go much quicker as I was more confident on the material and what to expect. For once the DPE said to my instructor, âhe did really fineâ and boy was that a sigh of relief! On to the flying!
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The flight, since my last checkride itâs been ten (10) days, Iâve had 5 flights between then and now. Nothing changed much here as I only had to switch seats and learn to land again in the right seat with a different sight picture. Today I checked with my taxi to find that sight picture and utilized it on landings. The amount of time you spend practicing for a checkride will result in how well you can flow through a configuration and maneuver and look back to say, âdang that was smooth.â Todayâs weather played a huge factor as there was no turbulence, the surface winds factored in a âstraight down the pipeâ wind, and very cold weather helped the plane performed better. I offered my DPE to land my last landing as an ATP student, I thought he was serious until he handed the controls over right before we prepared our gear down landing configuration.
This phase of the program went quick, every day there was some sort of flight activity. A lot of zoom calls were made with fellow students in this phase and instructor to go over the airplane systems and maneuvers. The amount of time I spent in the training center during this time as unbelievable to stay on top of my game. I am thankful for those that helped me ensure I was on task when it came to learning about the systems and aerodynamics/principles of flight with the critical engine inoperative.
Thanks to ATP, I went from Private to Commercial ASEL/AMEL & CFI (CFII/MEI) in a matter of 6 ½ months or 200 days exactly.
Proud instructor moment, the âhypeâ was real, the sunset was beautiful, the pineapples were welcoming.
Brady
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Awesome job Brady!
You made it look easy!
Adam
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Appreciate you Adam, thanks for all your advice. The twin flying was honestly amazing! I will miss the twins for a little bit.
Brady
Eventually youâll see a Seminole and think âman that looks like a toy!â 
Itâs all part of the process!
Adam
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Brady,
Thank you for all of your detailed posts, it really has provided valuable insight into the program. I for one have really enjoyed following your story from beginning to end.
Congratulations!
Chris
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Turn the volume up and SMASH that button!
Pineapples? Is that what you have all over your shirt? 
I was wondering.
As always, thank you for the detailed writeups, Brady. Let us know if you need any help with your students. I doubt youâll need any
Tory
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Brady!
Congrats! Youâre all finished! Sounds like youâve got a good game plan, keeping your knowledge fresh while you wait to see if there are any openings with ATP. If youâre flexible to move locations, Iâm sure it will only be a matter of time. Sounds like youâve really excelled through this program so a letter of recommendation from the lead there should be in order:)
-Hannah
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Chris,
I have been grateful to being exposed to the forum prior to my entry and have enjoyed every moment! I can only give back for those that helped me.
Looking forward to a great future!
Brady
Tory,
First off, thanks for all your advice and encouragement from the past year and half that I have been on the forum. Secondly,
Of course! I love rocking the pink shirt with pineapples, plus it gives off that welcoming vibe. My DPE loved it because when I first met him he always rocked a beach/summer shirt for every checkride.
Brady
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Hannah,
I appreciate the kind words! ATP has treated me very well and my experiences have been some of the best in my lifetime (granted Iâm only 24, lol). I have been assisting some of the students back at the training center during my own studying with instrument and commercial knowledge to keep material sharp in my mind. Iâd prefer to stay on the east coast of course, I like the low-wings, but opens are always open 
Brady
Nice 
Iâm anxious to see where your career takes you.
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Iâm anxious too.