Like this:

It’s weekend!! And sadly it has been a while since my last post as well…. Time just flies like crazy around here, and that’s a good thing. You basically want these first 6 months to pass as soon as possible, just to let je actually flying begin

The Seneca (PA-34) is still a loooong way to go   

The past week, the first week of ground school, was actually quite fun! No, honestly, it was! We start class at 08.40 in the morning, meaning we have to leave Langford Hall (the place where our rooms are) at around 08.25. Lessons are in 2 hour blocks, and 1 lesson is 60 minutes. In between lessons there’s a 5 minute break, allowing the instructors to switch classes. That’s another thing that surprised me. One class group, like us AP298 8) for example, has once classroom in which they stay at least one week. So it are not the students that are changing classes, but the instructors. Quite handy, since this reduces the amount of persons walking thru the hallways, and allows us to quickly review before class as well. After the first 2 hours of class we have a 25 minute break and after the second 2 hours there’s a 1 hour lunch break in which we go back to Langford hall to prepare our own lunches (to reduce expenses). After lunch there are 2 more hours and then school is out at 16.20. This doesn’t mean that you’re off the rest of the day…… you still have about 2 or 3 hours of home study to do. Whohoo! It sounds worst than it actually is. In those 3 hours you revise all 6 hours of class you had that day, relating to about 4 or 5 different subjects, giving you an average of 30 minutes homework per subject. In those 30 minutes you review the chapter you discussed in class and complete the small “test” at the end of each chapter. It’s doable, trust me

The class as it was last week. Too bad Ivo is missing

The classes we had so far include: Piston Engines, Instruments, DC electrics, Airframes, Principles of Flight, Human Performance, Hydraulics and Meteorology. Next week we also start with the Meteorology Computer Based Training (CBT), which is more or less a self-study you complete behind a computer. You then sit in a classroom filled with computers divided by dividers, behind a computer with a headset on, listening to an instruction video after which you have to complete a test about that chapter. Only after you have scored 75% for that test, you’re allowed access to the next chapter. If you don’t pass you have to start over again, till you finally get the picture. We can access this program from our rooms as well, so you can always retake the test in the evening in your own room.

We’re having fun!

After school we generally go to the gym for about a half an hour to get a bit of exercise and to recharge your battery in a way. Me myself didn’t register there yet, but will do tomorrow most probably. After the gym and the following shower we either go to the shop 10 minutes away to get some groceries, or we use the ones we bought the days before to get a nice a healthy meal. Right now we still have time to cook, since we just started, but the guy’s who have been here for a wile are switching more and more to microwaveable meals as the pressure turn up. I hope not to do that of course, but we’ll see how that develops. So far so good; we bought a 3-level steamer, allowing us to steam 3 kinds of food at the same time (salmon, broccoli and potatoes for example) and an electricity powered wok, since there are no cooking facilities in the kitchen apart from ovens, microwaves and toasters. The wok rules! We made such a nice meal last night, using loads of fresh vegetables etc, hmmmmm .

Party downtown

In the weekends we have been taking it easy. The way to do it is to go for a beer or a party on Friday night, relax on Saturday, go into oxford, walk around a bit, get a nice coffee etc. Sunday is generally the study day. Revise last week, and prepare for the coming week. Take the end-of-chapter test again, and see what the items are you’re still having difficulties with. That’s the way it works for me at least.
This morning I went jogging. My goal was to go around the airport, but about 30% down the road got sick of the strong winds, realized I couldn’t feel my hands anymore and turned back. Back in my room I found out it was only 3 degrees and that it was freezing last night. Eventually I did run 60% of my goal, and had a bit of exercise. Only too bad it required a 30 minute shower to warm up again.

The west wing warriors  – downtown oxford

Right now I’m updating my blog, resizing pictures and select the ones I want to put online. We have sooo many already. Later on today, at around 14.00, a few of our class are meeting up at school to revise the week all together. This way we can all learn a bit and learn by explaining to the ones who need a bit more of understanding.

Hydraulics by John Hooper, what a guy

Anyways, I’m signing off again. Time to clean my room a bit and to start getting ready for school (on a sunday, never guessed I would do that again) . Take care! Over and out.

Advertisement