Advanced pilot seminar

[Nick Bailey]

I just returned from the3 day Advanced Pilot seminar at the GAMI facility in Ada, OK. Going in, I was expecting a complex, engineer oriented aproach to engine use and management. complete with complex, esoteric proceedures and data. What I got was one of the most clear, concise and articulate explanations of how an engine really operates and how to run it safer,cleaner, cooler and more efficiently.
In short,it was one of the best, if not the best learning seminar I have ever attended. The quality and amount of information presented, as well as the presentation format itself, combined to make every minute interesting. . They unquestionably achieved their course title, "Engine Management Made Easy".

Beginning with a "fun test' and then a question list to allow everyone to ask any question about engine use and management, the nonstop delivery of information began. The promise by Walter Atkinson , John Deakin and George Braly to answer every one of those questions, as the seminar progressed, was fulfilled by the last hour.
In discribing the goal to truly make the weekend simple and easy, John Deakin, is his unique self deprecating style, described himself as a lazy, penny pinching pilot, who never wants any more complication or cockpit chores than absolutely necessary.
John, George and Walter each took turns disseminating the info on the various topics. Each proved to be extremely knowledgable, animated, passionate about the materials presented.
The other concern I had was that this would be a marketing soapbox for GAMI JECTORS. I don't believe that any of the three presenters ever mentioned or even alluded to GAMI JECTORS except in response to questions about them. This seminar was not in any way about GAMI products.

However, if someone was not a graphic engine monitor believer before this seminar they certainly would be after. Several real life, real time catastrophic engine failures were exhibited as seen on an engine monitor. Recognized early enough by proper monitor interpretation, lives were saved. If you had an engine monitor before this course, you realize how unbelievably valuable this tool is. If you didn't have one, you will make it your next purchase.

In the end there is no question that I am now a much more in formed, safer,lazier and cheaper pilot. So, WOTLOPSOP to all you ROP ers out there. I will now be cruising LOP, after "the big pull" at 17-18 gals per hour, same speed as you, with cleaner, cooler, longer lasting engines. And if I do start to have an engine problem, I'll recognize it long before it can hurt my engine or me.
Thanks John Walter and George.