LAfrequentflyer

You'll be fine...Glad you decided on ATP for your training.

-LAFF

PoBugSmasher

Biggles,

Don't sweat the checkride. If you still enjoy flying, follow your dream. A busted checkride is not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. I am in my mid 30's and in the middle of a career change, myself, so I can relate to your doubts....that being said, don't let any of these "Pilot Factories", sucker you into giving them a big pile of money up front. RUN, don't walk from anybody that says you need to take out a loan for $60K, and give them all of the proceeds, up front.

Take a few lessons, and see if you are happy with your CFI, and the training program, before you pay big bucks. Don't put all of your eggs in one basket, esepecially this early in your career. I have seen too many people get sucked in, and destroy themselves, financially, like this. If you can't pay as you go, be very suspicious of the school. You should be able to walk away, at anytime, if you are not happy with the training, and take all of your money with you. You don't have to buy a job, especialy not if you are planning to do the CFI thing. There are plenty of jobs.

If you finish your Private, and find that you still love to fly, my advice is to buy a good used airplane, build some time on your own, and find a good local CFI, to work with, on your advanced ratings. You can sell the airplane when you when are done. If you are committed to this thing, you will be miles ahead, and much less in debt, when you finally get a job, or even if you decide this "professional" thing is not all that it's cracked up to be. (I'm sorry to say, you won't be able to afford to keep your plane, on a new F.O.'s salary) You will also will be a much more educated and well rounded pilot, by being an aircraft owner, than by being just a "stick wiggler".

I am currently working as a full time CFI, and recently sold my old Cherokee, for $40,000, that I bought four years ago, for $29,000. Accoring to my calculations, I was building time about $50/hr., while I owned it. (Although you can make good money on the appreciation, it still costs money to own and oprate the thing.) That little airplane tought me more about flying than any "Zero to Hero, in 6 Months Program" ever could.

PoBugSmasher

Jenn,

Sorry to hear about that. The Instrument is a tough ride.

Remember, you didn't bust the whole check ride...just the item(s) listed on your Notice of Disapproval, and you probably already know what you did wrong. Practice that Area of Operation, listed in the PTS, a few times with your CFI, get the sign off, then get back on the horse, and "get 'er done", while you are still fresh.

I'll look forward to conratulating you on your new rating, when you post back here, that you traded in the pink slip for a white one.

Biggles

PoBugSmasher, thanks for the words. Think a thirtysomething aviation club should be started up, assist all those guys that made 6 figures deal with the zero income issue when doing a 180 on careers.

Jenn, sorry about crashing your forum. Good luck with your career.

planecrazyjenn

No no...biggles I'm glad you could get your question answered. And thanks guys...for all the nice comments. I've been pretty busy with the Guard here lately, so I haven't had the time to get up...but I've taken a few days off the end of the this week so I can spend a few days to finish.

I wont for a second say that it was an unfair bust. It was my own fault what I did, and I knew it. I don't question for a doubt that I know what I'm doing...I just made a silly mistake that I had never done before, whether it was being a bit more nervous taking the checkride in IMC, or was just having a bad day.

I hate to do this and embarrass myself here telling yall why...but I still look back and laugh at it now...but I had just finished flying a single engine GPS approach...then we went to do the ILS...all is well...except nav 1's showing I've already flown through the Loc. while nav 2 is showing I haven't...yeah, yall know where I'm going with this one. I never switched it from GPS to VLOC...hence why my nav 1 was making me question where I was and I did let myself fly through the loc. being the big dummy I am. So for that alone I busted, but I passed everything else...so that's the only thing I have left to do. Just ticks me off that was literally the last thing we were doing and I was home free. Grrr.

Stupid stupid stupid...post it note next time! :-p

planecrazyjenn

Hey guys...

Went back and retook it, and passed with flying colors - no pun intended. The original mistake I made was definitely a fair bust...just had to go up and shoot the approach again. No biggie. Went fine, and now I have my multi instrument. I'm happy. yay!

Thanks again :-D

Puppyz

congrats! i love the feeling you get after passing a checkride lol.

mike734

Congrats. You are right about that first bust. It sounds fair. You will never make that mistake again and that might save your life someday. Congrats again.
Cheers

planecrazyjenn

Your darn right I wont. Too embarrasing to do again. haha. I still cannot believe I did that...but whatever, I learned from my mistake...and still got the rating. All is well and I'm happy...only now that I'm back in NY I'm not going to get many days to go up and put that new rating to use. I'm so sick of the non-stop snow.