I just got back from C340 recurrent training at AST with Rick McGuire and I have to agree wholeheartedly with the comments everyone has made. Rick reads these comments and I think he is a little embarrassed with all the accolades that he receives but they are well deserved. It was clear to me that he isn’t doing this for money but rather he thoroughly enjoys making people better pilots. Here is what Rick brings to the table:
- Very current Twin Cessna Pilot– he truly loves flying, flies a lot, and always has since he was a kid
- Twin Cessna owner (has a 340 and 421) Knows both the pride and pain of owning these birds
- Aircraft Mechanic– has deep understanding of how all the systems work (I think I lost every argument)
- Attorney–Clearly not intimidated by the FAA or ATC and has a healthy perspective of how they should work for you
- Has a first class Twin Cessna Full Motion Simulator–He has invested a lot in this with plans to make it even better
- Instructor–Its hard to say enough about this. We have all worked hard to be the pilots we are and are proud of our accomplishments. But when we go for training we are vulnerable because our weak points become obvious. Any instructor can make you feel stupid or incompetent by making you repeat the same thing over as you attempt to get it right. A great instructor like Rick will have insight on why you are failing and offer suggestions to help you improve–and you do! Very patient too–in order to improve you must have a certain amount of latitude to deviate (off course, off glideslope, off speed, etc) or you’ll never learn. He has a sense of humor too–somehow he suckered me into believing I should bust the minimum on an approach and continue on down to the runway when I could never see it. I ‘m glad I could provide the entertainment.
Rick claims to be married to a woman named Staci whom I didn’t get to meet. She set up this class at the very last minute, made sure I had a hotel, lent me a Jeep, made sure we didn’t forget to eat lunch, made Rick to respond to my emails, and called to remind me (very tactfully) to close my flight plan. I think she is actually in charge.
Anyway, this was a great experience for me. I am sorry I ducked recurrent training in the past.