737 type
Hey Ski,
If you go without a bud and want a sim partner, think about pairing up with a mil guy or gal. I went to HPA a ways back and had a few civ guys in my class.
I have never really worked with civ pilots before and came out of the experience with my eyes wide open. The civ guys were the cats meow. They had flown a lot more than me and had flown newer and better equipped planes than me. I learned a lot from them. When we learned the systems, things seem to flow a lot better for them than the mil guys and gals. In the mil, we dont do flows, or I should say, I don't know anybody in the mil who has done flows. The civ pilots were a huge help when it can to teaching me how flows work and what to do in each phase of flight. I think we all taught each other something and came away better pilots, not just typed pilots.
I'll second Kevin's comments. Find someone in the same hotel as you. It will help with studying and going out at night. You also probably want stay at a hotel near the classrooms. That way you can go in after hours to use the cockpit trainers or whatever they are called today. This was a enormous help for me since I'm a knuckle draggin' C-130 pilot.
I would recommend studying the memory items "boldface for mil folks", ops limits and briefly going over the systems. Getting a general idea of how the planes works is a good idea, but don't get to detailed. Trust me, they will pound this into you when you get there. I also recommend NOT getting into the flows before you go. It will only confuse you. They will give you plenty of time to learn that.
Other than that, have a good time, study hard and make a few friends along the way. If you go to HPA, you are in good hands. I haven't had someone care about me like they did for a long time. Not a pitch, just keepin' it real.
Take care and fly safe,
CB
