As we leave 2016 behind and roll into 2017, I managed to start the new year off in the best way possible, achieving my multi-engine instrument rating early in January. After spending 40 hours in the simulator, nothing beats getting back in to the aircraft for real. The simulator was great for practice and developing instrument scanning and flying techniques but it just doesn’t give you that same buzz. However, the one big advantage of the sim was shown in December when we had a week of very cold weather, it meant I was inside, in a nice heated simulator centre, while everyone flying was suffering the pain and cold of de-icing aircraft in below freezing temperatures. In fact, maybe through a bit of luck, but throughout my entire training programme I haven’t had to de-ice that often
From the end of my time in the sim it’s amazing how quickly it comes around to the time of actually doing the flight test. After only becoming reacquainted with the plane you’re already planning, prepping and studying for your mock test. I have to give particular credit to the instructors who fly with you on the Seneca in preparation for your MEIR test. As the senior/most experienced instructors in the school they really know their stuff. Any issue you may have, no matter how insignificant they will not only pick up on it but also help you sort it in no time at all. Not only that but their knowledge and advice in general is a fantastic and really stands to helping you prepare for your flight test. AFTA use a mixture of fully glass cockpit and conventional instrument configured aircraft for the instrument rating which gives you a distinct advantage as you certainly develop an enhanced instrument scan as you have exposure to both new and classic displays.
I have to give particular credit to the instructors who fly with you on the Seneca in preparation for your MEIR test. As the senior/most experienced instructors in the school they really know their stuff.
Like the CPL flight test, I definitely felt more than ready by the time the day came around to do the real thing. Again it was a case of flying as you have been taught and treating it like any other flight, if you follow that formula it’s hard to go too far wrong. I was lucky enough to have a beautiful January day for my test, blue skies and light winds. On the flip side, I have heard that a gusty day can also be useful as a potential “excuse” if you make minor mistakes on the flight!
Training in Ireland has definitely been a huge advantage though as I have flown in strong gusty winds, heavy precipitation, experienced real airframe icing regularly throughout my instrument rating training and I have been lucky to have been guided by some of the flight training industries most experienced instructors who thought me how to develop all the decision making skills that I needed to develop as a professional airline pilot.
I was delighted with how the test went, one or two small mistakes but nothing to cause any heartache. It’s a strange feeling when you land back in Cork and shut down the plane, it’s the last flight you have in your training programme so it’s both a mixture of elation on passing the test together with a slight deflation with knowing you’re finishing up the fun and exhilaration of flying high performance training aircraft around full time. It makes you appreciate all the time you’ve had buzzing around the skies in the previous months.
The next few weeks are an exciting prospect though with the MCC in our 737-800 simulator to look forward to. Safe to say I’ve been looking forward to that one for a while.