Welcome to the Machine

I've never liked being an outsider.

For my entire life I've managed to easily adapt to different scenarios, people, and organizations through a freakishly god given chameleon like ability. Part of it must be a genetic thing because my mom, dad, and brothers share the same trait. The thing I can't figure out is if this is simply due to a natural desire to be a part of a group, or a fear of being different or alone. In my mind, this can be paralleled to the software world the same way some people might categorize certain functionality as a feature, while others call it a bug.

For a moment I almost had a panic attack. A mere five feet from the door to the club doubt invaded my mind and stomach at the same time. I can't be a pilot. I'm a wannabe. Why would anyone want to train me? What if they don't let me join the club? Did I leave my lights on? I know you are saying to yourselves "I thought you were a chameleon", but hey; just because I'm good at adaptation doesn't mean I can't be a social butterfly while at the same time feeling self doubt on the inside. I realized I had been standing there for close to two minutes when the door opened. A man stepped out, smiled at me, held the door and asked "Going in?. Again -my brain posted an image of a teenaged Tom Cruise saying "Sometimes you just have to say what the [heck]". I smiled, said thanks, and stepped inside. Welcome to the Machine.

While walking up to the dispatch counter at the Flying Club, the first thing I noticed was the buzz. The place was literally buzzing. People behind the desk on computers, the phone, helping people, and filling out forms. Pilots chatting, sitting at the computer checking weather, and filling out forms. People outside the huge windows taxiing in, taxiing out, doing inspections, and filling out forms. Instructors in fancy uniforms talking to people, checking stuff on clipboards, and well - wouldn't you know it - filling out more forms. I suddenly realized two things: This was going to require me to fill out a lot of forms and there was a business opportunity here.

The chief dispatcher whom I had spoken with a few hours earlier was ready for me. I'll call him "Patch". Even with all the action going on around the reception area, Patch took the time to walk me through the entire process. We went over the club policies, the safety procedures, the guidelines, currency requirements, the training syllabus, and my club membership. It goes without saying that I had to fill out a number of forms.

Then the question came up that I had been dreading.. what type of aircraft do you want to train in? Well - I had always thought that when my time came it would be in a Cessna Skyhawk 172 - probably around the same vintage as myself. Yet after some discussion with Patch, we decided that we would try and book time in one of the club's three new Diamond DA-20 C1 Eclipses. After all, I could always change if I didn't like it. Even better, if I'm the type who is ok with adaptation - I could train in both and in the end be checked out for both. Adaptation? My middle name.

Once the forms were filled out I was presented with a bunch of material. Aerodrome chart (or AF/D for FAA pilots), the PPL Training Syllabus, DA-20C1 checklist, C-172N Checklist, Pre Flight inspection routines, T/O briefings, Passenger safety briefing, a document about required aircraft documents (AROWILL), Club safety regulations, club currency regulations, and a radio help sheet. I also picked up a copy of the FTM (Flight Training Manual) issued by Transport Canada, and the ever popular "From the Ground Up" reference guide. I decided not to fork out even more money on the POH for the 172 or DA20 at this time.

I thought I was done at this time, but Patch had other ideas. Again - this was in a room that was full of people all interacting with each other. The other "Patchees" working at the time were constantly asking Patch questions or for help on things. He still turned to me and said "Let's take you on a tour of the club". We toured the dispatch area, apron, maintenance hangar, restaurant (it's licensed!), and headed upstairs. The upper floor consists of some briefing rooms, a certified Transport Canada examination room, a day room, washrooms, a boardroom, a classroom, and a massive lounge area. Ahhh... the Lounge area - leather couches, big screen television, stereo, pool table, foosball (million dollar game for those in the know), a kitchen, and a huge deck that overlooks the club's ramp and paralells runway 16/34. I was amazed how much time he spent telling me about the club, the people, the history, the events, the board, and the staff. It was impressive.

90 minutes later, Patch and I headed back downstairs to the same hurricane of activity. He passed me off to a "patchee" to make some bookings. Tomorrow at 8am for a ground briefing and the following day for 2 hours with an instructor and a DA20 with the registration C-FIFA.

I said thanks to Patch and his patchee and was almost shocked to hear 4-5 people say "Goodbye Ian". I could barely conceal the smile on my face as I walked down the hallway, opened the door, stepped outside, and headed for the parking lot.