All posts by Terry Pitts

Terry is a retired school teacher, retired Army Reservist, and retired civilian Department of the Army Civilian working about half the time as a pilot and flight instructor. He has been flying since age 19, adding gliders in 2011. He's been an FAA certificated flight instructor since 2013.
Flying

AMEL Training Resources

This is a copy/paste from an email I share w/ clients who will be flying the Seminole w/ me. After sharing it w/ a number of pilots who won’t be flying with me, I’ve decided to make it a post on my blog for others to see.

I think it’s a useful list and one pilot from Canada just wrote me to say: “I just wanted to let you know that today I passed my MECR checkride, and I wanted to thank you again for the help. The resources you sent were extremely helpful, and my examiner was very impressed with my groundwork. Thank you!”

HERE ARE SOME resources if you are going to fly the Seminole with me. There is some duplication. Take a look and see what works for you. I’d suggest selecting something with details combined with a handy “cheat sheet” of your choice. Your homework is listed at the very end 🙂

Multi-Engine Aerodynamics/Etc.

Bob Gardner’s Complete Multi-Engine Pilot book is really good and not expensive. Not “required” but it’s cheaper than printing stuff! If you get it from Amazon I get a few cents.

Good PDF on ME flying. Ignore the Beech Duchess-specifics, but the other content is rather good.

Private and Commercial maneuvers – “cookbook” style with power settings and configurations.

Here’s ATP’s big Seminole-specific guide – maneuvers, oral review, etc. They call it a “supplement” but it’s 80 pages!

Systems, oral review, and maneuvers guide.

Maneuvers Guides

Compact maneuvers guide

Another compact one – ignore the MSL numbers, they relate to a specific airport. AGL numbers are in line with the ACS!

Long, but lots of good information from the University of Dubuque – good callouts listed.

Factors of Vmc / Critical Engine

Several ads, but good info/drawings

Good explanation of how changes in the factors of Vmc increase/decrease Vmc and increase/decrease performance. An improvement in one is not always an improvement in another.

Backseat Pilot – Nate’s a C-17 pilot. I bought all my lesson plans for MEI, CFI, and CFII from him. Really good summary and graphics.

Videos

Seminole Systems – PrettyFlyForACFI on YouTube – great stuff. Watch the systems videos (Not vacuum – 423CK has dual G5s) and the “Vmc Basics” one. Others if/as you like.

Constant speed props on ME are different than SE – watch PrettyFly’s prop video, then this one.

Here’s an example of ME performance maneuvers in the Seminole. Cheesy sound effects. Look over one or more of the maneuvers guides before watching.

Todd Shellnut on PA-44 landing gear system – good.

There are lots of “Seminole” and “Vmc” videos on YT.

Here’s a good presentation by a DPE in Illinois talking about ME checkrides from her perspective. Long w/ occasional quality “issues” but rather insightful. Review when getting ready.

Closing and Homework

Finally, the attachment is Embry-Riddle’s ME Guide. Seminole-focused.

I just wanted to let you know that today I passed my MECR checkride, and I wanted to thank you again for the help. The resources you sent were extremely helpful, and my examiner was very impressed with my groundwork. Thank you!

I can send you a POH separately.

Now – here’s your homework: in the Commercial ACS you will find a matrix for additional ratings. Actually there are a couple matrices. So pick the right one. (Speaking from experience!) Copy the ACS table of contents and paste into MS Word. Now, use the (correct) matrix to identify what you need to do. We’ll turn the ACS into the syllabus for your training. Now, read the FAR on adding an additional class to your existing Commercial ASEL.

Flying

Pilot Study Materials / Getting Started

Initial Pilot Certificates

Private Pilot – Federal Aviation Regulation 61.109 defines the aeronautical experience requirements for a Private Pilot – minimum of 40 hours of experience, but average is 65-80. See paragraph A. The Airman Certification Standard details the knowledge and skills required – print just the “Airplane Single Engine Land” portions.

Sport Pilot – Federal Aviation Regulation 61.309 defines the aeronautical experience requirements for a Sport Pilot – minimum of 20 hours of experience, but average is about twice that. The Practical Test Standards detail the knowledge and skills required – print just the “Airplane Single Engine Land” portions.

The Minimum Library

The path to your first or next checkride is well defined by the FAA. Here’s what you need to buy, print, download, etc to get started building your study materials. I have some advice on how to use them, too.

Air Space

Air Space is important, and there’s a lot of straight forward memorization. The FAA Safety page has a nice summary PDF worth printing and putting in a binder. When studying, I suggest looking for patterns. “They are all ‘3 152s’ except…” And the exceptions all make sense!

Rod Machado has a useful graphic. I memorized how to draw it, then as soon as I sat down for the knowledge test (‘written’) I sketched out the triangle to be my own reference for the test. I’m not great at rote memorization, so this really helped. Print this for your student pilot binder. Rod has a good video on YouTube explaining this as well.

Instrument Flying / View Limiting Device (‘Hood’)

What you use is your choice. I happen to like/use this one. The owner of the company offer to send me some and let me sell them, but I’ll just refer people to the site!

Summary Cheat Sheet

As you build your study materials, this Private Pilot Cheat Sheet is very good. Be sure to work backward from it to highlight the important bits in your primary documents. Expect for the Private Pilot-specific content, much of this summary is useful for Sport Pilots too.

I instruct Light Sport, ASEL, AMEL, and IFR at Spirit Aviation in Thomson, GA (KHQU) and gliders with the Mid-Georgia Soaring Association in Monroe, GA (D73).