The Arrival...

For those of you who don't already know, I have now enrolled at Oxford Aviation Training in order to complete my ATPL Distance Learning course and the subsequent flying training which will one day lead to me holding a CPL ME/IR. Although I did want to carry out this training at the Pilot Training College of Ireland at Waterford Intl Airport, after lacklustre correspondence from them, due to the fabulous postal service, I switched my attention to OAT. Not only have they got the experience and the reputation, but it is a lot closer to my home, something which i feel is important in such a career defining moment.

Today was the day, the ATPL study material has arrived, courtesy of Transair Pilot Shop. Fourteen manuals, a Jepp Student En route guide, a questions and answers CD Rom and a bundle of practice exams and a stack of notes. All in all, all the material needed for some serious revision sessions. Flying is my dream and at the moment my life revolves around the fascinating awe, also known as deifying gravity...

First Flight of the Mummy...

Having spent most of the prior week planning for this flight, I was eager to get airborne. Taking my mum up for the first time, I was excited and looking forwards to the day. She too was excited, and had been telling everyone who would listen about it all week! The route decided upon would be to route via Barton to Caernarfon via Formby. After a lunch break we would hop over to Mona on Anglesey, before returning to Barton via the North Wales coast and an overhead zone transit over Hawarden, the home of Airbus UK.

Boarding a fuelled up VA just after midday, we were quick to take-off on RWY 27R. After requesting an extended upwind departure, we headed over Wigan towards Formby. After contacting Blackpool, I was quickly forwarded to Woodvale, who similarly forwarded me to Liverpool App. who gave me a FIS. It seemed for a moment that nobody wanted to talk to me! My mum made the comment of the day, when she said is that Manchester? (When referring to Liverpool), and what lake is that? (When looking at the Irish Sea)! Having not been up in a light aircraft, she did not realise just how fast 100kts was. A pleasant trip across Liverpool Bay and then Colwyn Bay was accompanied with a few climbing turns and Wingovers (I wish). Being asked to join overhead for RWY 26, it was only then that I realised just how beautiful the area surrounding the aerodrome is. I mean transiting the Menai Straits at 1200ft is spectacular, but looking straight up the Llanberis pass and the valleys of Snowdonia brought back memories of times gone by, along with wonderful feelings of just how stunning the UK’s National Parks are.

A tasty lunch of BLT with chips, and a stroll along the local beach made me realise how lucky I am to be able to fly to another part of the country for the afternoon. A feeling which was multiplied firstly by viewing a local pilot carrying out touch and go’s and secondly by watching an Aztec depart and a Chieftain arrive from Eire, apparently for essential maintenance work. Minutes before departing, we decided to visit Mona, an asphalt strip in the centre of Anglesey, owned by the RAF and used as an overflow RWY for Valley. A local flying club run the base at evenings and weekends for flying training. The surface conditions were perfect, as was everything else about the base. We were the only aircraft visiting and apart from a local flight, the only aircraft manoeuvring at all. This was paradise, and perhaps my favourite place I have yet visited. Another benefit was that the landing cost a mere five pounds, and even this included a free drink. The club had an impressive picture of a local instructor flying underneath the span of the Britannia Bridge! At only 30m tall, this seems like a rather impressive and most probably adrenaline pumping feat!

After an enjoyable flight back along the North Welsh coast at 145 Kts. I knew the tailwind was strong, but I could not actually believe this until I switched on the VOR DME and tuned into Wallasey to see the figure appear on the screen. Even though the journey back over Hawarden and via the Low Level Corridor was technically longer then the outbound route, the distance en-route was immensely short. Another gentle landing at Barton finished off a brilliant flight. Having clocked up just under three hours PIC today I was absolutely and utterly exhausted. My mum said that she had an amazing day and had really enjoyed the experience. For me, it was another day of what I like doing the most, flying, pure and simple.