Exhausted

Published: July 12, 2017

So I’m not totally sure why, but this week has been physically exhausting for me! I am definitely not used to working 5 am shifts per week, so I’m sure that has something to do with it.

Not much of an update for today, just more labs. Today we only did 6 runs instead of the normal 7. Problems today seemed pretty straight forward, but apparently not to me since I kept making silly stupid mistakes all day long, just felt like an off day. I vaguely remember having this problem in tower class too, but fortunately without assessments to worry about, a bad day doesn’t phase me nearly as much as tower class did.

I don’t remember much specifics about the problems today besides the usual traps. It was mostly academy arrivals and departures, with the handful of Jeske and other satellite airport operations. The only other “trick” was that the weather changed from VMC to IMC halfway through the problem and the arrivals into academy that were VFR you had to ask them their intentions (and they’d come back and say they wanted an IFR clearance).

We only had 6 scenarios today because at the end of the day we were briefed on our “skills check” tomorrow morning, where our normal instructors (NOT QA) will give us a write-up of how we are doing. They are supposed to just sit and watch us work the problem, without helping or giving us guidance. I guess once we get closer to the end of next week the skills check will be used to find out what our deficiencies are then we will run scenarios designed to help us improve those specific areas. Since RTF is currently pass-pass for BUE members, I’m not at all worried about these skills checks.

Overall, RTF has been a pretty laid-back time so far, which I’m thankful for. While I’m excited and anxious to get back to my home facility, it’s nice to have a break from training (even though we are still training) because it does wear on you. Obviously a big part of that is being pass-pass, but our instructors have been encouraging us to “have fun with it” and “try things you might not have the chance to try in the field.” I think this is a valuable learning opportunity and I’m happy to have been given it.

I’ve had the chance to talk to some basics and terminal initial students over the last few days, and soon I plan on posting a blog with some advice for those getting into the agency or those just starting or soon going to the academy.