MVFR 10-Hr at Sacramento
October 14, 2009 from Charles Kemp

« Previous  |  Index  |  Next »

rom: Charles Kemp <---@hotmail.com>
Date: October 14, 2009 12:44:38 AM EDT
To: jim@allatps.com
Subject: Comm Inst Multi Training at ATP/KSAC feedback

Hi Jim,

I just wanted to give you some feedback on my experience this
last weekend at the Sacramento Exec branch of ATP in pursuit of
my Comm Inst Multi add-on.

A little bit about my background. I'm 55 years old, and have
been flying since I was 15, with a 22 year hiatus from 1972 to
1994. I'm a 1750 hr CFI/I ASEL. Currently, I'm the Chief Pilot
at the Alameda Aero Club at the Oakland Airport in Oakland, Ca.
(KOAK). I've been instructing for about 3 1/2 years. I'll be
retiring from my current position as an Engineering Associate
next June, and I plan on flying professionally full-time after my
retirement. The Comm Inst Multi add-on is an essential part of
my career path, so I wanted to do it right, and in the most
efficient manner possible.

I decided to achieve the Comm Inst Multi add-on at ATP on the
recommendation of Terry Campbell, a Pilot Examiner at nearby
Calaveras Co. Airport, who I send my applicants to. Terry
teaches Single and Multi-engine seaplane ratings, and told me
that she has had many of her AMES students do their initial Multi
at ATP with very good results prior to training with her. She
was very impressed with the ATP Program. That was good enough
for me.

This was my initial Multi-engine rating. I've had very little
experience in Multi engine aircraft up to this point. A few
right seat hops, but otherwise, not much. I really didn't know
what to expect. Once I enrolled and was given access to the
student resources, I found the training supplement to be very
good. I printed and bound a copy for myself right away, and
spent as much time as I could memorizing the checklists prior to
commencing training, but it's never enough. Without an actual
cockpit to sit in and levers to grab, it is a very abstract
notion, running checklists...

I was scheduled to meet my instructor on Thursday Oct 8, at
0800. At exactly 0800, Chris Thomas was there and we got right
down to it. Chris is bright, enthusiastic young man, and I could
tell right away the he is a very dedicated instructor with
approximately 800 hours of Multi-engine experience. We reviewed
all the ground school subject material very expeditiously,
and then got down to flying. Since this was my first time at the
helm of a Multi-engine aircraft, I was naturally a bit tentative
with the plane, but Chris was able to demonstrate to me the
capability of the Seminole very quickly, and by the end of our 8
hour instructional allotment, I felt very confident about the
check ride. Throughout the 4 day period I trained with Chris, he
proved to be an exceptional instructor. He was thorough in his
knowledge of Multi-engine aircraft, and of the Seminole. Chris
was able to demonstrate the required maneuvers effectively and
efficiently. He knew when he could push me just a little out of
my comfort zone as well. We just matched up very nicely, and had
a great time together.

I aced my checkride with Pilot Examiner Reinhard Jarschke from
Angwin, who has a reputation of being very tough, and I owe that
in large part to Chris and his guidance and encouragement during
what was a very intense learning experience. I hold myself to a
very high standard in my instructing, and with Chris I
immediately felt like I was working with an instructor who was on
the same page as me. The result speaks for itself. I enjoyed
every minute of my time with Chris, and I'm seriously thinking of
returning to train for my MEI rating with him. Chris gets two
enthusiastic thumbs up from me!

Cheers, 
Charles D. (Drew) Kemp CFII ASEL, and now Comm Inst Multi!

Request an information pack by mail to receive brochures, magazine articles, and financing info for ATP’s Airline Training Programs.

« Previous  |  Index  |  Next »