Half year done!
Took the first of three PSI written tests (General), and will take the Airframe written and FAA DME oral/practical in December. I'll then be a certified "A". Next year will be all about the "P".
Fun so far. Basic soldering, line fittings, safety wiring, disassembling and putting back a donated airplane, rigging, weighing aircraft, all the fun paperwork, etc. etc. etc. Now we're into sheet metal and riveting. And how many different rivets are there?
Our school is brand new, facilities are great. All tools are Snap On, hangar has about 10 GA planes (and a helicopter) for us to practice on, workshops are up to date for us to work with dangerous air tools, etc.
We started with 25 in the class, down to 20. One guy just stopped showing up after the first week, second guy was ex military and figured out how to get his military experience credited and went that route. A few just didn't apply themselves and didn't pass. This stuff is doable - but you have to study the books and pass the written tests and workshop labs.
I'm in the night class (4:30 - 10:00 M-Thur), and we seem to be a bit ahead of the day class. Night class is filled with mid 20's to 40's, and a few "old" guys like me. Almost all have full time jobs, and are doing this to get a better job.
Day time class is mostly High School grads, and they are struggling to focus on studying, really struggling with basic math skills, and quite a few can't read cursive, etc. Their drop rate is quite a bit higher.
So... on the summer break now, and Monday it's back at it!
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