VC10 Rib22
13th May 2006, 22:06
To all wannabees who are definitely going to take that leap and begin their fATPL course, I kindly offer a cautionary tale. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a pilot, but not having the resources to finance this, I decided that maintaining aircraft was the next best thing. Indeed, I had a wonderful 14+ years servicing aircraft, but despite being surrounded by them on a daily basis, and being infuriated by them on an almost equally daily basis, my desire to fly them never really went away.
My background in aircraft maintenance allowed me the opportunity to get some hours in a VC10 jumpseat, where I saw, at close quarters, what the guys at the front end did to ensure safe operation of a large commercial aircraft. In addition, I was fortunate enough (thanks Sqn Ldr Wood) to get a back-seat in a flight from South Wales to North Wales and back, at 250 feet, in a BAe. Hawk (sadly not the Dragon Hawk - but I digress), including a stint at aerobatics at 12,000 feet over the Irish Sea, and a flight that will live with me 'til my death bed for so many wonderful reasons. Further to this, numerous domestic and holiday flights convinced me that flight and I were very much a happy couple.
With the vast sums of money needed to start commercial pilot training, it took many a sleepless night to find the courage to chase my dream - but chase it I have........ which takes us to where I am now, adding my little bit to the Pprune bible, and hoping it is useful to those who are sure to follow me. Only six hours have passed since I experienced my first solo, and I have to say, I think I left a little bit of myself up there. Before I took off I promised myself that I would make a conscious effort to enjoy the flight - after all, you can only do it once (whether that be because of numerical fact or because you have killed yourself). I needn't have bothered - it really was so rewarding to be able to look out below at the palm trees, arid land and business jets on the ramp, above at the clear, blue sky, and ahead at the (gulp) rapidly approaching mountains (think I'll turn base here).
But what I believe made it such an incredible experience was looking across at that empty seat and realising the gravity of what I had just done, and knowing that the only things that would get me down safe and sound were my training and myself. In the end, I sit here feeling.......well, lots of things really - empowered, proud (both for myself and my friends and family), happiness that a long cherished dream is slowly being achieved, and relief that I have not made a financial cock-up of legendary proportions.
My last point is where I introduce my cautionary tale - for despite a dream crushed, embarrassment in front of friends and family, or being forced to find another career, I believe that the biggest factor, when coming to the realisation that you and flying are not meant to be, is the huge hit that you take financially. This is why I urge all those who are going to start the long trip down this very expensive road to do what I failed to do.......TAKE SOME FLYING LESSONS FIRST!!!
I know this may seem obvious to many, but such was my love affair with aircraft and flight, I couldn't see myself not loving it, so I never even bothered with any lessons in a light aircraft prior to splashing the cash and enrolling on my commercial pilot course. However, I very much came to regret this with my first two flights. Being used to larger aircraft, I felt so uneasy with the size of aircraft, the vibrations, the instability......everything really. But more than that, I think it was the whole sensation of being given control of this aircraft, which seemed to want to go wherever it fancied , and all the responsibilities that went with it......keeping the right heading, altitude, speed, attitude, listening to ATC and trying to work out what they are saying and wanting you to do - same with the instructor - monitoring all the systems and instruments, knowing when to turn, when to descend, how to correct for wind, how to match what you see on the ground with what you see on your chart, and (especially out here) trying to avoid having a mid-air. It was so strange, on my second flight, thinking to myself that the ground school, time, change of career, etc, had all been for nothing as I would never be able to grasp this. That night was a very lonely one.
However, I woke up next day and convinced myself that I had written myself off too early, that, whilst some do take to flying instinctively, the majority have to work to get over the shock to the system - whether this be because of a fear of flying, the high workload, or the alien environment that it initially is - but get over it they can. Happily for me, each flight became easier and easier, as I got used to knowing what checks to do and when, and the control over the aircraft and its systems became more natural to me. Additionally, each flight allowed me to become more comfortable in an airspace and traffic pattern shared with fellow inexperienced students and aircraft as large and fast as GIVs. And being able to break the earthing switch that grounded my brain whenever I pressed the transmit button sure helped.
I have met many others who, like me, were so dead set on becoming professional pilots that they couldn't possibly foresee them not loving it or being competent. Unfortunately how a wannabee perceives pilot training to be and the reality of it are two entirely different beasts. It caught me out, but I am happy to admit the error of my ways and air my views on this forum if it encourages even a single wannabee to get down to their local flying club and see if flying really is for them - much easier than discovering it 5000 miles away as I have.
Getting lessons in before you start your course will also offer you the advantage of discovering whether you have the aptitude for flying. The tight scheduling of an integrated course does not offer you the luxury of time - from my school, and that of another school who we share the building with and who provide a national airline of a very flat country with low-houred pilots, I know of at least 5 students who have been sent home recently, the reason being, primarily, a failure to land competently.
Anyway, I hope everyone out there is well.
I have tomorrow off, so I'm going to go out and celebrate this great day.
VC10 Rib22
:ok:
My background in aircraft maintenance allowed me the opportunity to get some hours in a VC10 jumpseat, where I saw, at close quarters, what the guys at the front end did to ensure safe operation of a large commercial aircraft. In addition, I was fortunate enough (thanks Sqn Ldr Wood) to get a back-seat in a flight from South Wales to North Wales and back, at 250 feet, in a BAe. Hawk (sadly not the Dragon Hawk - but I digress), including a stint at aerobatics at 12,000 feet over the Irish Sea, and a flight that will live with me 'til my death bed for so many wonderful reasons. Further to this, numerous domestic and holiday flights convinced me that flight and I were very much a happy couple.
With the vast sums of money needed to start commercial pilot training, it took many a sleepless night to find the courage to chase my dream - but chase it I have........ which takes us to where I am now, adding my little bit to the Pprune bible, and hoping it is useful to those who are sure to follow me. Only six hours have passed since I experienced my first solo, and I have to say, I think I left a little bit of myself up there. Before I took off I promised myself that I would make a conscious effort to enjoy the flight - after all, you can only do it once (whether that be because of numerical fact or because you have killed yourself). I needn't have bothered - it really was so rewarding to be able to look out below at the palm trees, arid land and business jets on the ramp, above at the clear, blue sky, and ahead at the (gulp) rapidly approaching mountains (think I'll turn base here).
But what I believe made it such an incredible experience was looking across at that empty seat and realising the gravity of what I had just done, and knowing that the only things that would get me down safe and sound were my training and myself. In the end, I sit here feeling.......well, lots of things really - empowered, proud (both for myself and my friends and family), happiness that a long cherished dream is slowly being achieved, and relief that I have not made a financial cock-up of legendary proportions.
My last point is where I introduce my cautionary tale - for despite a dream crushed, embarrassment in front of friends and family, or being forced to find another career, I believe that the biggest factor, when coming to the realisation that you and flying are not meant to be, is the huge hit that you take financially. This is why I urge all those who are going to start the long trip down this very expensive road to do what I failed to do.......TAKE SOME FLYING LESSONS FIRST!!!
I know this may seem obvious to many, but such was my love affair with aircraft and flight, I couldn't see myself not loving it, so I never even bothered with any lessons in a light aircraft prior to splashing the cash and enrolling on my commercial pilot course. However, I very much came to regret this with my first two flights. Being used to larger aircraft, I felt so uneasy with the size of aircraft, the vibrations, the instability......everything really. But more than that, I think it was the whole sensation of being given control of this aircraft, which seemed to want to go wherever it fancied , and all the responsibilities that went with it......keeping the right heading, altitude, speed, attitude, listening to ATC and trying to work out what they are saying and wanting you to do - same with the instructor - monitoring all the systems and instruments, knowing when to turn, when to descend, how to correct for wind, how to match what you see on the ground with what you see on your chart, and (especially out here) trying to avoid having a mid-air. It was so strange, on my second flight, thinking to myself that the ground school, time, change of career, etc, had all been for nothing as I would never be able to grasp this. That night was a very lonely one.
However, I woke up next day and convinced myself that I had written myself off too early, that, whilst some do take to flying instinctively, the majority have to work to get over the shock to the system - whether this be because of a fear of flying, the high workload, or the alien environment that it initially is - but get over it they can. Happily for me, each flight became easier and easier, as I got used to knowing what checks to do and when, and the control over the aircraft and its systems became more natural to me. Additionally, each flight allowed me to become more comfortable in an airspace and traffic pattern shared with fellow inexperienced students and aircraft as large and fast as GIVs. And being able to break the earthing switch that grounded my brain whenever I pressed the transmit button sure helped.
I have met many others who, like me, were so dead set on becoming professional pilots that they couldn't possibly foresee them not loving it or being competent. Unfortunately how a wannabee perceives pilot training to be and the reality of it are two entirely different beasts. It caught me out, but I am happy to admit the error of my ways and air my views on this forum if it encourages even a single wannabee to get down to their local flying club and see if flying really is for them - much easier than discovering it 5000 miles away as I have.
Getting lessons in before you start your course will also offer you the advantage of discovering whether you have the aptitude for flying. The tight scheduling of an integrated course does not offer you the luxury of time - from my school, and that of another school who we share the building with and who provide a national airline of a very flat country with low-houred pilots, I know of at least 5 students who have been sent home recently, the reason being, primarily, a failure to land competently.
Anyway, I hope everyone out there is well.
I have tomorrow off, so I'm going to go out and celebrate this great day.
VC10 Rib22
:ok: