For the past two years I’ve been very seriously considering, finally, to pursue a PPL.
I’ve forever and a day been interested in aviation, so much so that it was locked in as a career choice for the first 15 years of my life. For reasons that have since evaporated with time, the other passion in my life took over: film (which is now my profession, one that has coincidently funded my PPL!)
At the start of this year, 2016, it was time to start the search for a flight school. I had a 5 week gap coming up in my otherwise full-on schedule, and I wanted to train 5-6 days a week. I live in West London so I naturally started looking at schools and training programs within my vicinity, including Denham Aerodrome, Fairoaks, West London Aero Club and the further afield Stapleford. All of which were good, but all were slightly more expensive than I’d hoped (I needed and wanted the PA28 as I’m not the smallest of frames at 6ft2). Some were very responsive to the idea of a tailored program, given that I’d be training so intensely, others were a simple and standard “pay as you fly” deal.
Then came in the idea of looking in Bristol. I grew up in the South West and the family home is just some 20 miles south from there. The most prominent I found, Bristol and Wessex, came very highly rated, had a long lineage and a great fleet and facilities. It took a matter of two days to have a blisteringly great deal and membership squared away, thanks to Nick - their marketing consultant and fellow pilot. A week later, I was in Somerset so I had the chance to see everything in person and meet the lovely owner, Barry.
I told everyone that, whilst yes, I have set myself a target of 5-weeks, I don't want to rush anything. I want to be a safe and knowledgeable pilot and I cannot forget the simple fact that a PPL is a journey and not just a destination!
It was official, though, I was to start in late March. I had better start revising.
Here is my log so far. My free time finishes very early May, so I'm fully booked with lessons until then. I'll be updating this log every Friday with my progress.
[LOG - Last updated 30/04/16]
Thursday 25/03: 1HR C152, F.I LH, 1TO&L, ex 4.1, 5
Monday 28/03: (no flying, weather cancelled)
Tuesday 29/03: (no flying, weather cancelled)
EXAMS: Air Law (94%) & Op Procedures (100%)
Wednesday 30/03: 2.5HRS, 2 flights, 2 TO&L, ex 4.2, 6.1, 6.2
Thursday 31/03: 2.5HRS, 2 flights, 2 TO&L, ex 7.1, 8.1, 8.2, 9
Friday 1/04: 2.5HRS, 2 flights, 2 TO&L, ex 10a, 10b1/b2, 11
Monday 4/04: (no flying, weather cancelled)
Tuesday 5/04: 1HR, 1 flight, 5 TO&L, ex 12/13
Wednesday 6/04: (no flying, weather cancelled)
Thursday 7/04: (no flying, weather cancelled)
EXAMS: Meteorology (100%) & Communications (100%)
Friday 8/04: 1.5HR, 1 flight, 6 TO&L, ex 12/13
Monday 11/04: (no flying, weather cancelled)
Tuesday 12/04: 2.4HRS, 4 flights, 14 TO&L, ex 12/13 & 14. FIRST SOLO
Wednesday 13/04: 1.3HRS, 2 flights, 2TO&L, ex 18a
Thursday 14/04: 2.4HRS, 2 flights, 2TO&L, ex 18a, ex 20
EXAMS: Aircraft General (100%) & Human Performance (100%)
Friday 15/04: No flying
Monday 18/04: 2.4HRS, 2 flights, 2TO&L, ex 18a
Tuesday 19/04: 1.3HRS, 1 flights, 1TO&L, ex 16
Wednesday 20/04: 2.6HRS, 2 flights, 2TO&L, ex 18a&b
Thursday 21/04: 1.9HRS, 2 flights, 6TO&L, ex 12/13 (X-wind), ex 19
Friday 22/04: (no flying, weather cancelled)
Monday 25/04: (no flying, weather cancelled)
Tuesday 26/04: 1.1HRS, 1 flight, 1TO&L, ex 18c
EXAMS: Principles of Flight (92%) & Flight Planning and Performance (100%)
Wednesday 27/04: (no flying, weather cancelled)
Thursday 28/04: 2.5HRS, 2 flights, 2TO&L, ex 17/19 & 18a
Friday 29/04: (no flying, weather cancelled)
Saturday 30/04: 0.7HRS, 1 flight, 4TO&L, ex 12/13 (x-wind)
(A special thanks and shout-out to my instructor, Nafis Rehman, who continues to push me to be the best I can be. And a big thanks to all the others at the club, too)