RoarkJr.
Well-Known Member
NIFE phase 3 replaces IFS. The intent is to model the training after primary to better prepare us. There will be no validators after a certain point in the near future. It consists of flight prep, flight support events at assigned FBO, and 6 flights and a check ride in a Cessna 172. Phase 3 indoc takes place after you pass the air navigation exam, but before the weather exam. After passing phase 2 academics, phase 3 begins the following Monday with an all-day class on land survival. Thanks to COVID ours was via ZOOM. Tuesday began "flight prep", consisting of classes on various topics like ORM, CRM, Aviation Safety, etc. During this week we are expected to memorize the memory item EP's and limits for the Cessna. On Friday you are quizzed on that and must pass with a 100%, or, at least, correctable to 100%. Failing is embarrassing because passing the EP/limits exam triggers the start of your flight suit Friday.
The following Monday is orientation at your assigned FBO, either Skywarrior at Pensacola International or Skywarrior Jack Edwards. I believe that proximity to your home address is how they determine where you'll be assigned. Monday-Thursday you will have 3 sessions of 2 hour blocks in the cockpit procedural trainer, which is essentially a cessna cockpit in the building. There weren't explicit instructions so my partner and I just ran through the entire hollywood script while one of the civilian instructors watched. We added comms, landing pattern, and whatever else as we progressed. There is a digital simulator there too but I haven't seen any students use it.
Thursday is the CFI brief, which is essentially a reiteration of a lot of the info and some more stuff on how to brief. Friday is your first flight. You will fly weekends if necessary (I did due to the hurricane delay) but most likely you won't unless there's something like that. Expect a flight daily until your 7 flights are up, but there could be a day off thrown in here or there. For example, I did my check ride Wednesday whereas some other studs from my class didn't do theirs until today.
Flights begin with the brief, which consists of talking over IMSAFE, ORM, timeline, TOLD card, weather, notams, bird risk, and whatever discuss items are required for the flight/block you are on. There are 3 blocks. The first 4 flights, C4101-C4104 are the first block. C4201-C4202 is block 2 and the check ride is the final block. You should fly with the same instructor for the first block, and different one for the second, and will have a military instructor from NASC for the check ride. You must meet Maneuver Item File (MIF) score for each graded item on that block.
After the brief, you get headsets, keys, ATIS, clearance, and then head out to the cessna for preflight. Overall, every flight has the same structure. One stud takes off from KPNS, does high work at one of the practice areas, then does ~6 touch and goes (probably more) at one of the non-towered airfields. Then the students switch, the second stud does his/her touch and goes, goes to the practice area for high work, then lands back at KPNS for post-flight and debrief. You get your grade sheet, log your flight in the system, and that's it.
I have a virtual reality flight simulator with x plane 11 that I put about 20 hours in prior to starting, so I felt confident going in. However, you get significantly dumber once you climb in the cockpit (especially if it's your first time) so do what you need to do. I'll share some of my recommendations. The first thing I worked on was memorizing the hollywood script completely. Not entirely necessary as the FTI states that only a few of the checklists are required to be memorized, but it helped me practice easier in the VR sim. Once I had the memory item checklists memorized, I began adding the FTI procedures. During flight prep week, as soon as you get your FTI, start studying it, highlighting it, tabbing it, etc. The checklist is not enough. Yes, it has the descent checklist, for example, but the FTI will tell you that you should be descending with carb heat on at 1500 rpm, or that the difference in RPM between L/R mags shouldn't exceed 50, etc. The FTI will also spell out the racetrack landing pattern and associated altitudes, airspeeds, and RPM settings (know all of this cold). Obviously it will also spell out each of the maneuvers (level speed change, stalls, and turn patters). In short...start studying FTI ASAP.
Once I had the script down, integrated the comms, and had maneuvers memorized, I took turns practicing the maneuvers and landings, and then worked up to doing full flights in the sim in study groups where we could all help/correct each other. Understanding trim, rudder, the landing pattern etc. helped a lot. I understand not everyone wants to drop big bucks on a home sim but you can at least download x plane 11 mobile and fly their cessna ( I believe it's free) and/or print out a static cockpit picture to put on your wall or something. For what it's worth, once I started actually flying I quit the sim so as to not interfere with the feel of doing everything IRL.
Skywarrior's website has a NIFE tab that has all of the pubs you should need. The instructors are all pretty relaxed (mine was a hard-ass but I'm grateful that he pushed me). A lot of the instructors are young, but the ones who aren't are military retired. Anyway, they all came off as being genuinely concerned with teaching and preparing us. There seemed to be a lot of unknowns as far as expectations go, but looking back as long as you prepare and are safe, you'll be fine. Hopefully this helps. Feel free to DM if you want.
The following Monday is orientation at your assigned FBO, either Skywarrior at Pensacola International or Skywarrior Jack Edwards. I believe that proximity to your home address is how they determine where you'll be assigned. Monday-Thursday you will have 3 sessions of 2 hour blocks in the cockpit procedural trainer, which is essentially a cessna cockpit in the building. There weren't explicit instructions so my partner and I just ran through the entire hollywood script while one of the civilian instructors watched. We added comms, landing pattern, and whatever else as we progressed. There is a digital simulator there too but I haven't seen any students use it.
Thursday is the CFI brief, which is essentially a reiteration of a lot of the info and some more stuff on how to brief. Friday is your first flight. You will fly weekends if necessary (I did due to the hurricane delay) but most likely you won't unless there's something like that. Expect a flight daily until your 7 flights are up, but there could be a day off thrown in here or there. For example, I did my check ride Wednesday whereas some other studs from my class didn't do theirs until today.
Flights begin with the brief, which consists of talking over IMSAFE, ORM, timeline, TOLD card, weather, notams, bird risk, and whatever discuss items are required for the flight/block you are on. There are 3 blocks. The first 4 flights, C4101-C4104 are the first block. C4201-C4202 is block 2 and the check ride is the final block. You should fly with the same instructor for the first block, and different one for the second, and will have a military instructor from NASC for the check ride. You must meet Maneuver Item File (MIF) score for each graded item on that block.
After the brief, you get headsets, keys, ATIS, clearance, and then head out to the cessna for preflight. Overall, every flight has the same structure. One stud takes off from KPNS, does high work at one of the practice areas, then does ~6 touch and goes (probably more) at one of the non-towered airfields. Then the students switch, the second stud does his/her touch and goes, goes to the practice area for high work, then lands back at KPNS for post-flight and debrief. You get your grade sheet, log your flight in the system, and that's it.
I have a virtual reality flight simulator with x plane 11 that I put about 20 hours in prior to starting, so I felt confident going in. However, you get significantly dumber once you climb in the cockpit (especially if it's your first time) so do what you need to do. I'll share some of my recommendations. The first thing I worked on was memorizing the hollywood script completely. Not entirely necessary as the FTI states that only a few of the checklists are required to be memorized, but it helped me practice easier in the VR sim. Once I had the memory item checklists memorized, I began adding the FTI procedures. During flight prep week, as soon as you get your FTI, start studying it, highlighting it, tabbing it, etc. The checklist is not enough. Yes, it has the descent checklist, for example, but the FTI will tell you that you should be descending with carb heat on at 1500 rpm, or that the difference in RPM between L/R mags shouldn't exceed 50, etc. The FTI will also spell out the racetrack landing pattern and associated altitudes, airspeeds, and RPM settings (know all of this cold). Obviously it will also spell out each of the maneuvers (level speed change, stalls, and turn patters). In short...start studying FTI ASAP.
Once I had the script down, integrated the comms, and had maneuvers memorized, I took turns practicing the maneuvers and landings, and then worked up to doing full flights in the sim in study groups where we could all help/correct each other. Understanding trim, rudder, the landing pattern etc. helped a lot. I understand not everyone wants to drop big bucks on a home sim but you can at least download x plane 11 mobile and fly their cessna ( I believe it's free) and/or print out a static cockpit picture to put on your wall or something. For what it's worth, once I started actually flying I quit the sim so as to not interfere with the feel of doing everything IRL.
Skywarrior's website has a NIFE tab that has all of the pubs you should need. The instructors are all pretty relaxed (mine was a hard-ass but I'm grateful that he pushed me). A lot of the instructors are young, but the ones who aren't are military retired. Anyway, they all came off as being genuinely concerned with teaching and preparing us. There seemed to be a lot of unknowns as far as expectations go, but looking back as long as you prepare and are safe, you'll be fine. Hopefully this helps. Feel free to DM if you want.