F4TCT
19th Jan 2012, 23:23
Hi,
Im new on the forum and wish to share my story.
Im Dan, im 26 and live in Whitby, North Yorkshire. Ive always wanted to be a pilot and always wanted to gain my PPL. Upon leaving college, i had my share of crap jobs and decided to retrain and go into the offshore industry. I trained as a welding & coatings inspector and magnetic particle inspection technician. I worked briefly for parkol marine in Whitby until i went offshore in september 2007 on the saipem 7000, into the north sea to take down an old gas rig - Frigg CDP1.
I then started work on a pipelay vessel called the castoro sei in march 2008. The job was to lay the first pipeline linking Europe to Africa, specifically Almeria in Spain, to Beni Saf in Algeria. Part of the pipeline was done on the castoro sei as its a shallow water vessel and the rest would have to be done on the saipem 7000. By trade its a crane barge that will life 14,000 metric tons and is technically the biggest in the world. This was done by basically bolting on a 3000 ton tower on the bow.
On the day of 17th September 2008, I was involved in the worst accident in the company's history. They basically dropped a pipe through a walkway where I, and 5 others were working. We all fell some 25 meters hitting bits of framework and steel. 4 were killed including a very good working friend. I ended up in the sea and fighting for life. To cut a long story short, i really shouldn't be alive. My injuries were smashed pelvis, broken sternum and ribs, femur snapped and sticking out of my skin, head wound, smashed shoulder and a crushed sciatic nerve which has left my left leg paralised below the knee. I had to have a total left hip replacement in October 2010 as a result of arthritis. I wear a splint on my left foot which allows me to walk properly and operate the rudder as normal. Toe brakes are a little more difficult so i opt for the handbrake.
I then met a tucano instructor at my local gym and he told me about flying scholarships for the disabled and i applied in late 2010. In April, i was invited to the selection interviews at RAF Cranwell and was awarded a scholarship. It ran over June 2011 and i gained my NPPL in 25 days! The scholarship was at Aero's based at Wellesbourne and occasionally Coventry. I'm also proud to say the scholarship, for me anyway, was funded by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. It was also filmed aswell and it shall be on the telly at some point this year to bring awareness to FSD. There was 2 lovely ladies with me also, one also eventually gaining her PPL.
I managed to then gain a JAR-2 medical and gained my JAR PPL in August time. I gained my night rating just before Christmas. I'll be doing my IMC in Feb sometime. I'd love to continue on to do my commercial license as i would love to instruct. However currently im locked in a legal battle which potentially is another year away from getting resolved, however when it does, I'm going to pay for an FSD applicant's scholarship and get my commercial stuff done.
Im currently in a group share of G-AYKW and flying out of Fishburn which is next to Durham Tees Valley (EGNV).
Sorry to ramble on, however i can post further accident info and pics if anyone is interested.
Dan
Im new on the forum and wish to share my story.
Im Dan, im 26 and live in Whitby, North Yorkshire. Ive always wanted to be a pilot and always wanted to gain my PPL. Upon leaving college, i had my share of crap jobs and decided to retrain and go into the offshore industry. I trained as a welding & coatings inspector and magnetic particle inspection technician. I worked briefly for parkol marine in Whitby until i went offshore in september 2007 on the saipem 7000, into the north sea to take down an old gas rig - Frigg CDP1.
I then started work on a pipelay vessel called the castoro sei in march 2008. The job was to lay the first pipeline linking Europe to Africa, specifically Almeria in Spain, to Beni Saf in Algeria. Part of the pipeline was done on the castoro sei as its a shallow water vessel and the rest would have to be done on the saipem 7000. By trade its a crane barge that will life 14,000 metric tons and is technically the biggest in the world. This was done by basically bolting on a 3000 ton tower on the bow.
On the day of 17th September 2008, I was involved in the worst accident in the company's history. They basically dropped a pipe through a walkway where I, and 5 others were working. We all fell some 25 meters hitting bits of framework and steel. 4 were killed including a very good working friend. I ended up in the sea and fighting for life. To cut a long story short, i really shouldn't be alive. My injuries were smashed pelvis, broken sternum and ribs, femur snapped and sticking out of my skin, head wound, smashed shoulder and a crushed sciatic nerve which has left my left leg paralised below the knee. I had to have a total left hip replacement in October 2010 as a result of arthritis. I wear a splint on my left foot which allows me to walk properly and operate the rudder as normal. Toe brakes are a little more difficult so i opt for the handbrake.
I then met a tucano instructor at my local gym and he told me about flying scholarships for the disabled and i applied in late 2010. In April, i was invited to the selection interviews at RAF Cranwell and was awarded a scholarship. It ran over June 2011 and i gained my NPPL in 25 days! The scholarship was at Aero's based at Wellesbourne and occasionally Coventry. I'm also proud to say the scholarship, for me anyway, was funded by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. It was also filmed aswell and it shall be on the telly at some point this year to bring awareness to FSD. There was 2 lovely ladies with me also, one also eventually gaining her PPL.
I managed to then gain a JAR-2 medical and gained my JAR PPL in August time. I gained my night rating just before Christmas. I'll be doing my IMC in Feb sometime. I'd love to continue on to do my commercial license as i would love to instruct. However currently im locked in a legal battle which potentially is another year away from getting resolved, however when it does, I'm going to pay for an FSD applicant's scholarship and get my commercial stuff done.
Im currently in a group share of G-AYKW and flying out of Fishburn which is next to Durham Tees Valley (EGNV).
Sorry to ramble on, however i can post further accident info and pics if anyone is interested.
Dan