Stalin
Well-Known Member
Without going into details, I'll just say I know a great deal about the flying phase of NIFE... what you can do to prepare for day one, common misconceptions, areas many students are unprepared for, etc.
I'll start with the most beneficial things you can do to prepare and end with some "good to know if you have time" items. If you do not have enough time to do all of these items, do as many as you can in this order.
1. Memorize limits and EPs. This is probably the first thing you should do for any aircraft you'll fly and NIFE is no exception. You will be expected to know them day one, for your checkride, and every day in between. You may not be asked them on day one or any given day, but you may be asked them at any time.
Know them verbatim. Be able to recite them like you read them. Do not mix up steps. Do not skip steps. Do not add steps or techniques. Do not add additional phrases like "now we are going to shut down the engine." Just recite them as is.
Realize that the only memory items are the ones with a * next to them. If they aren't memory items, you don't need to have it memorized. In most cases, it's best to not try and memorize the rest of the checklist (students usually confuse which items are the actual memory items, they sometimes memorize them incorrectly, and there are better things to focus on).
2. Realize that you may potentially have your first cockpit procedural trainer on day one, especially if you have a last name at the beginning of the alphabet. This CPT event has discussion items! Many people show up not realizing this until they get to the brief. Look in the NIFE syllabus (can be found on the SkyWarrior NIFE website).
The C1101 has discussion items you need to be able to discuss and talk through competently. Everyone does the C1101 on day one (it's the check-in brief) but you will actually brief the discuss items on your C1201 CPT event. Kind of confusing, just know those items before arriving day one. IMSAFE, CRM, etc.
3. Read through the FTI. You're responsible for all the knowledge in the FTI, and it's the same way when you get to Primary. Especially pay attention to the maneuvers. These are not verbatim memory items, but you do need to know how to do them. Be able to talk through the maneuvers and understand what is being said.
4. Start chairflying and getting used to the normal checklists. It helps if you have a poster of a Cessna. SkyWarrior's Cessnas are all a bit different inside but this is close enough:
The radio panels are different. Just know you'll at least have 2 radios and transponder, and each radio has an active frequency and a standby frequency.
Have a friend to study with. The one flying uses the checklist. Not they Hollywood script. Not a gouged up checklist. A clean, authorized checklist. Your study partner will have the Hollywood script and ensure you are doing everything correctly per the Hollywood script.
Get familiar with the checklist and about where things are in the cockpit. A 70% solution is better than nothing, so if you don't know where exactly everything is, you are better than showing up knowing nothing.
Practice checklists the way they're done in the military. Start every checklist with "[Checklist Name] Checklist." Challenge, action, response. Challenge, action, response. Etc. Complete every checklist with "[Checklist Name] Checklist Complete." Challenge-action-response means you'll say the item (such as "Flaps"), you will do the action, (such as raising the flap lever), you ensure the action is completed (such as the flap indicator raises up and you visually look to see the flaps are up), ONLY THEN do you say the response (such as "up"). You don't say "flaps - up" and then throw the lever up. Challenge. Action. Response after you've executed and verified the action.
It helps to start memorizing things like what you need to check when doing the flight instrument check, the takeoff brief (doesn't need to be exactly verbatim but pretty close), etc. Can't hurt to start throwing in comms.
Realize that the checklists you'll perform in flight you need memorized. Typically, normal checklists are not memorized (nor should they be) but sometimes during that phase of flight it's too detrimental to basic airwork to have to look down to read off the checklist. When it comes to NIFE, literally everything is too detrimental to basic airwork, so flying checklists will need to be memorized. Climb Checklist, Cruise/Post Maneuver Checklist, Pre Maneuver Checklist, Descent Checklist, Before Landing Checklist.
The more comfortable you are with the checklists and knowing where things will be in the cockpit, the easier your life will be early on.
5. Do step 4 except with the EPs
Beyond that, I would say do NOT focus on too much else. I say that with a disclaimer because something may be escaping my mind right now. I'm just saying that there is enough in these 5 steps that you probably won't have time to look up much else, as step 4 will consume a lot of time and can only be improved upon.
If you don't do steps 1 and 2 prior to day one, you'll probably get away with it but you may get blindsided. If you end up dodging that bullet, you'll just be required to learn it that night anyway so you're behind either way.
Step 3, again, you can probably get away with not knowing on day one (and maybe two or three), but you're going to hate life playing catch up.
Step 4 is the first step you can not do and not be behind immediately, but the more you can do of step 4 the easier your life will be. This is where you can quickly go from an average student to a squared away, above average student.
Step 5 is easily tacked onto step 4 but something you probably won't get to until several days in.
There is definitely a lot more you'll need to learn but they aren't things that will not blindside you right away, things you can start learning after you get there.
One more random tip I'll add, not something to do prior to day one but something you should do prior to your first flight (C4101) is do a dry run of the brief. Do it at least the day before. Figure out what you don't know (oops, I don't know how to do weight and balance, oops, I don't know which airfields to pull up for NOTAMS, etc.) Otherwise it'll be 0629 and you're freaking out because you don't know something and you'll look like crap on your very first brief.
NIFE has a reputation, and those running things are well aware. Help make the program better. Seek out those that care and let them know how you think the program can be better. When you do your critique post-checkride, put good info in it. "I felt unprepared when I showed up to day one because I didn't realize I needed to know ____." "I feel like the CFIs could have been more standardized in regards to ____." Be constructive, don't be an asshole.
Let me know if anyone has any questions, but no promises on a timely response. First time logging on in about 8 years but figured I can help some people out. Good luck out there.
I'll start with the most beneficial things you can do to prepare and end with some "good to know if you have time" items. If you do not have enough time to do all of these items, do as many as you can in this order.
1. Memorize limits and EPs. This is probably the first thing you should do for any aircraft you'll fly and NIFE is no exception. You will be expected to know them day one, for your checkride, and every day in between. You may not be asked them on day one or any given day, but you may be asked them at any time.
Know them verbatim. Be able to recite them like you read them. Do not mix up steps. Do not skip steps. Do not add steps or techniques. Do not add additional phrases like "now we are going to shut down the engine." Just recite them as is.
Realize that the only memory items are the ones with a * next to them. If they aren't memory items, you don't need to have it memorized. In most cases, it's best to not try and memorize the rest of the checklist (students usually confuse which items are the actual memory items, they sometimes memorize them incorrectly, and there are better things to focus on).
2. Realize that you may potentially have your first cockpit procedural trainer on day one, especially if you have a last name at the beginning of the alphabet. This CPT event has discussion items! Many people show up not realizing this until they get to the brief. Look in the NIFE syllabus (can be found on the SkyWarrior NIFE website).
The C1101 has discussion items you need to be able to discuss and talk through competently. Everyone does the C1101 on day one (it's the check-in brief) but you will actually brief the discuss items on your C1201 CPT event. Kind of confusing, just know those items before arriving day one. IMSAFE, CRM, etc.
3. Read through the FTI. You're responsible for all the knowledge in the FTI, and it's the same way when you get to Primary. Especially pay attention to the maneuvers. These are not verbatim memory items, but you do need to know how to do them. Be able to talk through the maneuvers and understand what is being said.
4. Start chairflying and getting used to the normal checklists. It helps if you have a poster of a Cessna. SkyWarrior's Cessnas are all a bit different inside but this is close enough:
The radio panels are different. Just know you'll at least have 2 radios and transponder, and each radio has an active frequency and a standby frequency.
Have a friend to study with. The one flying uses the checklist. Not they Hollywood script. Not a gouged up checklist. A clean, authorized checklist. Your study partner will have the Hollywood script and ensure you are doing everything correctly per the Hollywood script.
Get familiar with the checklist and about where things are in the cockpit. A 70% solution is better than nothing, so if you don't know where exactly everything is, you are better than showing up knowing nothing.
Practice checklists the way they're done in the military. Start every checklist with "[Checklist Name] Checklist." Challenge, action, response. Challenge, action, response. Etc. Complete every checklist with "[Checklist Name] Checklist Complete." Challenge-action-response means you'll say the item (such as "Flaps"), you will do the action, (such as raising the flap lever), you ensure the action is completed (such as the flap indicator raises up and you visually look to see the flaps are up), ONLY THEN do you say the response (such as "up"). You don't say "flaps - up" and then throw the lever up. Challenge. Action. Response after you've executed and verified the action.
It helps to start memorizing things like what you need to check when doing the flight instrument check, the takeoff brief (doesn't need to be exactly verbatim but pretty close), etc. Can't hurt to start throwing in comms.
Realize that the checklists you'll perform in flight you need memorized. Typically, normal checklists are not memorized (nor should they be) but sometimes during that phase of flight it's too detrimental to basic airwork to have to look down to read off the checklist. When it comes to NIFE, literally everything is too detrimental to basic airwork, so flying checklists will need to be memorized. Climb Checklist, Cruise/Post Maneuver Checklist, Pre Maneuver Checklist, Descent Checklist, Before Landing Checklist.
The more comfortable you are with the checklists and knowing where things will be in the cockpit, the easier your life will be early on.
5. Do step 4 except with the EPs
Beyond that, I would say do NOT focus on too much else. I say that with a disclaimer because something may be escaping my mind right now. I'm just saying that there is enough in these 5 steps that you probably won't have time to look up much else, as step 4 will consume a lot of time and can only be improved upon.
If you don't do steps 1 and 2 prior to day one, you'll probably get away with it but you may get blindsided. If you end up dodging that bullet, you'll just be required to learn it that night anyway so you're behind either way.
Step 3, again, you can probably get away with not knowing on day one (and maybe two or three), but you're going to hate life playing catch up.
Step 4 is the first step you can not do and not be behind immediately, but the more you can do of step 4 the easier your life will be. This is where you can quickly go from an average student to a squared away, above average student.
Step 5 is easily tacked onto step 4 but something you probably won't get to until several days in.
There is definitely a lot more you'll need to learn but they aren't things that will not blindside you right away, things you can start learning after you get there.
One more random tip I'll add, not something to do prior to day one but something you should do prior to your first flight (C4101) is do a dry run of the brief. Do it at least the day before. Figure out what you don't know (oops, I don't know how to do weight and balance, oops, I don't know which airfields to pull up for NOTAMS, etc.) Otherwise it'll be 0629 and you're freaking out because you don't know something and you'll look like crap on your very first brief.
NIFE has a reputation, and those running things are well aware. Help make the program better. Seek out those that care and let them know how you think the program can be better. When you do your critique post-checkride, put good info in it. "I felt unprepared when I showed up to day one because I didn't realize I needed to know ____." "I feel like the CFIs could have been more standardized in regards to ____." Be constructive, don't be an asshole.
Let me know if anyone has any questions, but no promises on a timely response. First time logging on in about 8 years but figured I can help some people out. Good luck out there.