PAT, APT, etc. is a good way to learn how to fly. After a while, you know what is required in your machine to achieve the desired effect.. .. .I always preferred Attitude + Power = Performance, but we're often taught at the beginnning that pitch controls speed and power controls altitude change (there's a good reason why it's taught this way...a different thread). With that in mind, to enter a climb you would want to add power. Of course a change in power means a change in attitude will be required, therefore an attitude change will be needed. Thus P-A-T to enter a climb.. .. .On the helicopter we're much more used to adjusting all other controls after a slight change in another. Also, a fixed wing pilot may think that the power is not as immediately available after demand in a helicopter. So while you may have been adding power and forward cyclic at the same time, he may have seen it as A-P-T.