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Sep 7, 2010
The Live Broadcast for the Reno Air Races will not take place in 2010
more ... Sep 3, 2010
National Aviation Heritage Invitational hosts rare restored aircraft
more ... Sep 2, 2010
The 17th FAI European Aerobatic Championships are starting on 2nd and will be finished on 12th of September
more ... Aug 16, 2010
France is the big champion at the Advanced World Aerobatic Championships 2010
more ... Aug 16, 2010
Red Bull Air Race finnal round in Lausitz Germany highlights
more ... Aug 5, 2010
Norman Surplus will restart his attempt to be the first to fly a gyrocopter around the world
more ... Jun 17, 2010
World Record like nerver seen before established by a stunt who jumped from over 11,000 feet, blindfolded and handcuffed
more ... Jun 9, 2010
Interview with Aero GP pilot Zoltan Veres
more ... Jun 2, 2010
An interview with Aero GP pilot Mark Jefferies
more ... May 28, 2010
First Skydiver to Break the Sound Barrier?
more ... Apr 26, 2010
Flying Aces has a brand new website! Go and check it out!
more ...
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| Training for my Pilots License: Part 1 |
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By: Alex Houldsworth |
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I have always thought that the concept of flying was amazing and I have always thought that it would be fantastic to have a career that allows you to travel. Despite this, I was 14 before I considered a job as a pilot.
My Grandfather was a Squadron Leader in the Royal Air Force and built up over 18,000 hours on a wide range of aircraft, particularly the Shackleton and Lancaster. Although he died before I was born, I am still hearing new stories every time I visit my grandma in Lincoln.
For my 16th birthday, I received my first trial lesson from my parents. This took place at a small flying school at Redhill Aerodrome in Surrey. It was within the first 10 minutes of being airborne in the Cessna 172, that I knew being a pilot was going to be my future career!
I sent a letter of application, along with a CV, to 11 different flying schools within my local area. I heard back from six – Five of which said they either didn’t have any job vacancies available, or they did not take people on without any previous experience. Luckily for me, the flying school that accepted me was the one that I had my trial lesson with earlier that month!
I began work there as soon as I was able to, which happened to be the following weekend. I worked mainly on the front desk, creating and sending invoices to customers after they had flown, taking messages for the instructors, booking in lessons, selling pilot equipment from the shop – you name it!
It certainly wasn’t long before I realised that when bad weather hit the aerodrome, it becomes a ghost town! When there is a light breeze, it is sunny and there is not a cloud in sight, you will see the two Tiger Moths out, pilots cleaning their planes on the side of the grass runway and a distinctive smell of Avgas blowing across Runway 18/36. When it is dark, foggy, rainy or snowing, everyone seems to hibernate. Closed hangar doors, aircraft locked snugly up inside and radio transponder to my side – voiceless. It was when it was quiet like this, I reluctantly decided to complete coursework, revise or help out with the engineers in a neighbouring hangar, performing fairly basic aircraft maintenance (e.g. fixing landing gears, screwing in instruments, compression tests etc).
After working there for almost a year I have been given some more interesting errands including taxiing around the airfield for fuel uplifts before customers have a flight.
As a result of working at the flying school I also managed to get more involved with the engineering services in the next door hangar. I quickly built up a wide range of knowledge about the various aircraft that were being stored there, From Stampe’s to Pitts specials, to Cessna 172s.
I managed to get a lot of work cleaning private aircraft from the owner of the hangar. In the winter weather I managed to make a lot of money to put into my ‘Flying Savings Account’, from cleaning dirty, muddy and oily aircraft. Seeing as there is only a grass runway at Redhill, it becomes extremely boggy and muddy when it has rained the night before. Terrible conditions for pilots like myself, excellent for plane cleaners like myself!
Lately, after my flying lessons or after work, I have been visiting the Air Traffic Control tower. I think it is important for pilots (especially those under training) to put a face to the voice on the radio and I find it really interesting every time I go there to speak to the controllers and see what everything does.
For the past month, I have been doing work experience once a week at Biggin Hill, which is a much busier tarmac runway airport, with business jets and a much more advanced Air Traffic Control tower. The airport is roughly 3 times the size of Redhill and has a much more professional feel to it. I am working for a much larger aircraft maintenance company, that specialise with a wider range of aircraft including float planes, aerobatics, vintage and large multi-engine. It is fantastic working there, the people are all really nice and I am learning more every time I go up there. Unfortunately, I only work Monday mornings as I don’t have any school lessons then, and the company doesn’t work at the weekends. This means that I can only fit in around 4 hours a week.
I would be lying if I were to say that my passion for aviation does not affect my school work. I find myself doodling ‘the circuit’ in my school books and revising for my flying lessons – when I should be doing homework. However, I find that everyone becomes distracted in school occasionally; just most of the other students are planning on what they are going to drink at the weekend.
I am currently working three different jobs, all in the aviation industry, to keep me airborne. I also have work experience placements – so I am working, but am not getting paid to be there. I am finding it really difficult to pay my way through the course. However, it is definitely worth it!
Currently, I am trying to build up as much aviation based work experience as possible. When I heard about the World Aerobatic Championships at Silverstone this year, I immediately wrote a letter volunteering my services. I heard back from the organisation very quickly and they seemed as keen as me. Alan Cassidy who is one of Britain’s most highly experienced aerobatic instructors and four times National Champion, suggested I become his runner, because when he saw my CV he said I reminded him of how he was, when he was my age.
I am going to be at Silverstone for four days prior to the Championships, helping to set up the event and then for the fourteen days that the Championships are on. I think this will be a great opportunity for me to not only widen my knowledge of aerobatics, but also for the entertainment value – it should be amazing and I can’t wait!
I have written numerous letters to many different fields within aviation, some have accepted, some have declined, some haven’t even replied – Mr. Branson! However, what I have found out with aviation so far is that it is not only what you know, it’s who you know. I know people who are very academic, yet are struggling to find placements. I find that if you work hard enough, the employer will be able to recommend you to somewhere else.
My advice for future teenage pilots is to try and get a job at a flying school. You will be able to build up a respectable knowledge of the airfield, where everything is and more importantly in my opinion, who everyone is.
To date I have done 10 hours worth of flying with an instructor, and am due to go solo shortly.
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