Licence in hand

Just two weeks since all the form signing for my licence issue, this arrived through my letterbox last thursday. I was surprised how quick it was processed. So I'm now a proud owner of a PPL.

Naturally, as soon as the licence arrived, I was on the phone to the airfield to book out an aeroplane. I went up this Monday just gone, just for a few circuits, before my evening work shift. After being signed off at the ops desk I walked out to the aeroplane, the start of my first ever flight on my own...without the student banner...a very very amateur private pilot!

It was a very proud moment, lining up on the runway, 855m of grass runway ahead, a sudden uncontrollable grin consumed my face, I think I just realised what I had achieved for the past two and a bit years of training. Hard work does pay off!

'Oscar Charlie' after a short but sweet flight in the circuit...a very monumental flight

Reflections from PPL training

Dipping the tanks on the flight line

So, thats it, all basic PPL training completed. When my licence eventually arrives in the post,I plan to do my first little nav flight along the coast, maybe then I will realise what doors I have opened to myself, the further freedom the licence gives. It will be a short nav flight, to get myself used to flying alone...and properly alone (no instructor on the ground...listening intently from the tower, or awaiting a call from Gatwick -'Oi one of your students has infringed our airspace!!' ...luckily never happened to me). Got to be a short flight though- to save the pennies, especially after emptying my bank account to pay for the licence issue etc!!

So before I get airborne, a little bit of reflective thinking is in order. I want to summarise my training, a reflection for myself to look back on, because I feel I got the most out of my PPL training at Goodwood.

I am aware I took loads more hours than the minimum 45 hours needed, but I am grateful for the experience I gained through those hours. In the early days it took me a while to learn how to land the aeroplane, this coupled with part-time training (sometimes only flying once every two-three weeks), the countless cancellations due to weather (snow, lots of rain, wind and volcanic ash!)  and a few group flyouts soon added to my hours. However, apart from the initial circuits and landing practice, the rest of the entries in my logbook show good progression. So in summary, what did I do?

• climbing,/descending/medium level turns
• stalling/practice emergencies EFATO (engine failure after takeoff)
• circuits, yes alot of that!
• 1st solo-best day ever!
• period of no flying-bad winter, so buried my head in textbooks, studied and passed all 7 ground exams

                                                                Shortly after arrival at Duxford

• more practice emergencies-PFLs (practice forced landings)
• first solo local area nav-trip to Selsey and Hayling Island, landed at Goodwood moments before the B17 Flying Fortress 'Sally B' arrived for the Goodwood Revival! read more here http://inplaneview-rich.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/perspectives-from-revival.html 
• First dual cross-country nav flight to Duxford for airshow/introduction to autopilot at Garmin 1000 avionics (installed in all 5 school based aircraft). First landing on hard asphalt runway
• low level flying-flying between the South Downs at 800ft
• Flying from Thorney Island (disused ex-RAF airfield)-maybe a once in a lifetime opportunity, but a fantastic experience with new surroundings and a hard runway!
• Diversions/lost procedures

   The day before the Goodwood Revival, on the flight line

• Low-level/crosswind circuits
• Steep turns/Spiral dives (alot of fun!)
• VOR tracking/radio navigation
• Dual/solo nav flights. Various flights to Whitchurch/Burgess Hill/Odiham (MATZ Penetration)
• Instrument flying-climbing/descending/turning
• Autopilot/Garmin 1000 glass cockpit -local area flights
• Further bad weather put more delays to flying
• Dual/Solo cross country to Wycombe Air Park and Kemble-2nd best feeling after first solo, the achievement is immense
• Revision-general handling, diversions, PFLs
• More bad weather-another record breaking wet summer! So no flying...for five weeks! Used the time to undertake the RadioTelephony Test. Booked PPL skills test-plus one hour of circuits just to keep current and give me added confidence the day before my test...It certainly helped!
• PPL skills test time-passed!

So there we have it, a rough summary of my PPL training, with all usual high and low points, weather delays,financial difficulties (empty wallet syndrome!) .I have self funded all my training which meant 100% dedication-sacrificing holidays and nights out to save money, but I was determined to reach my goal. I have had some great (maybe unusual) flights not covered in all PPL syllabuses. For instance, two or three flights were dedicated to the autopilot and Garmin 1000 avionics systems-trying out all the different modes, all the helpful tips and a few 'gotchas' to look out for. Another time, earlier this year we took off and landed in snowy conditions-it was interesting to see how terrain was hard to pick out, when everything was covered in a white dusting! And ofcourse a few 'very bumpy' flights in the circuit in windy conditions!In my early flying career it is unlikely I would fly in such conditions, but I always appreciate the experience of flying in less than perfect conditions.

                                                                      A historic shot, before departure from Thorney Island