Hello,
I really enjoyed the show and it has definitely influenced how I am going to go about getting my fATPL licence. Aside form the presentations; I thought the exhibition was informative (though I nearly passed out from the heat at one point!) I did somehow manage to not blow the rest of my credit card limit at the pilot warehouse stand, though it was a close call!
After talking to a GAPAN chap, the thought of taking the aptitude tests isn't as scary to me now as it was before the show (I am a complete coward about tests) So I will be taking them at some point in the not too distant future (well, as long as I pass my medical)
If all goes well I'll also be giving BALPA membership some serious consideration, especially after the Britannia/Balpa presentation.
I couldn't hear most of the BA presentation as I was right by the (constantly opening and closing) door, slightly late as I had been talking to BCFT! But BA did seem to value the integrated route over the modular. Though to be honest I wannabe a freight dog so I was of the opinion that I hadn't missed too much.
To my utter shame I missed the DHL talk because being on the road since 5am on an empty tum, I was chomping my way through potato wedges (which incidentally took half an hour to arrive at the table otherwise I would have heard it!). Humblest apologies to the DHL speaker, in future I will abandon the spuds. If anyone out there made any DHL notes can I borrow them please?
Full marks to Atlantic Freights' Captain Newberry for looking like he just stepped off a Milan/London/New York/Paris catwalk and proceeding to tell us (with a straight face) that being a pilot is not a glamorous life.
The Astraeus talk was inspirational, good reminder that you have to keep trying, take some calculated risks and just hang on through the not-so-good times. Perspective.
Anyway, the result for me is that I have so far managed to whittle my preference of flight schools down to three and even if I score the lowest ever points on the aptitude tests the feeling I get when I just think about flying (tummy tickles, it's either aviation or the potato wedges!) means I won't be able to give it up.
SR
P.s.
Fogbound, I know you ain't fishing for compliments but
prowling around the exhibition with another wannabe, we both agreed that BCFT were the friendliest bunch there with very balanced views on training.