This ties into the penguin theory of learning. Whenever one finds themselves in something like initial new training, it applies. The new hire's brain is like a chunk of ice, just floating there. The penguins are ALL the information, just swimming around and trying to hop on the ice chunk. The ice chunk (brain) can only handle so many penguins (information). Once it gets full, penguins start falling off back into the water, it can only handle so many penguins. Maybe if the penguin is good/important enough he'll get back on the ice chuck. Hopefully he doesn't fall off, get eaten by a polar bear, and sh1t into the ocean and never to be seen again.

The guys that try to memorize information like in the post I quoted, or try to throw it out in study sessions are coming dangerously close to having all the wrong penguins on the ice chuck. As well the possible collateral effect of putting too many penguins on their fellow classmates ice chunks.

It's all about managing the penguins.

Never herd it put like that.

Like the analogy there DoJet! As has been mentioned study what they tell you to study. They usually always have a syllabus of sorts and in many cases will send you what they would like you to get a jump on and ask you prep that. You will be fine. We're not all A/P's so we don't need to know everything technical (like rivets). We just need to know what the associated message or indication light means, how to handle it - associated memory items if any or where to look up the issue in the GOM if needed and move on. I'm not saying knowledge isn't important. There's just only so much brain matter. It's impossible to remember every detail. Some people can. I personally can't. I learn and know what I need to. The rest I know where to find the information if and when it's needed. Work smarter not harder I was always taught. It's great you have taken the step to be proactive but don't fret over things. The company is going to tell you what they expect. Follow their expectations of the training footprint and you'll be fine. It is like drinking from a fire hose but you will survive if you study correctly. Good luck to you!

Epic analogy. Didnt know where you were going with it at first but it makes perfect sense. As a CFI who teaches CFIs, I think I'll start using that one. Where do you want royalties sent?

If that is the case, I know a few check airmen who think they are glaciers.

That, in a nutshell, is why the race to the bottom in this industry will never stop. Good luck with that, and airline managers everywhere thank you for providing them with skilled labor for next to nothing.

I don't mind being away from home, I'm not in a relationship, I work a crappy CFI job and want to get some experience and move on to Kalitta where my dad is ASAP. My CFI job is very on and off and there's no chance of doing anything else besides PPL, even though I have a CFI/CFII/MEI and I've asked to do more. I bring home $800/month instructing and there's no chance of doing multi work and am stuck at 800/50. I'm in a rut and want to get out, reason why I applied at lakes. If I could get 50 hours of multi time in the next couple of weeks, then I'd apply else where. I'm leaving this area the 20th to hang out with family in that area before the class starts on the 1st. Thanks for the advice all, I'm looking forward to a change.

Lot's of Lakers at Kalitta.

In addition to the groups and memory items etc., Lakes will email you a packet of info that you need to know. Study all that stuff and make sure you can fly an approach at 130 kts. Be careful about studying material and numbers from outside resources, as Lakes has STCs and numbers unique to our airline (ie weights, airspeeds for certain operations, and engine torque/prop settings). The law of primacy can be a ***** and it's hard to re-memorize different numbers in a short amount of time. It would be a shame to come to ground school with incorrect numbers and emergency procedures. But with all that said, I wouldn't study a thing until you know what kind of airplane you will be in. Nothing worse then studying a month for the 1900 luxury liner, only to find out your going to the Brokezilla (haha, sorry Joe ). But once in ground school, don't study stuff you haven't gone over in class yet. No point in studying the systems if you don't pass INDOC, or studying the profile callouts if you can't pass systems. Study the now, not the future.

Do you by any chance remember how many days you waited for that call? I interviewed last Friday Sept 23, and I still haven't heard anything yet, no email or call yet...

I guess that no news is good news...