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Richard Wheatley
Former golf professional Richard Wheatley has never looked back since giving up his golf to pursue a flying career with flight training at the Multiflight Flight Training Centre at Leeds Bradford International Airport.
“I am just about to do my first solo cross country flight and starting to plan towards my Private Pilot's Licence (PPL) flight test and am then planning to do my ATPL (Airline Transport Pilot Licence) ground school through Multiflight, as well as the CPL (Commercial Pilot’s Licence), IR (Instrument Rating) and MCC (Multi Crew Co-operation) courses,” says Richard.
“This is a far cry from what I used to do, as I used to be a golf professional but had to give this up due to a sports injury that I got from playing the sport. To be honest, it was probably the best thing that could have happened to me.
“Ever since I was a child I have always been fascinated by aviation: no doubt the reason for this is due to the fact that my family home is about two miles from the end of runway 14 at Leeds Bradford International Airport. During my last few years as a golf professional I was not really thinking about the golf, but of how I would like to become a pilot and eventually work for an airline flying a Boeing or an Airbus. Well, I am still a long way from the flight deck of one of those aircraft, but the dream is starting to take flight: if you pardon the pun!
“So, with all the flying schools out there why did I choose Multiflight? For me growing up in the shadow of Leeds Bradford Airport’s runway 14 climb out there was really only one choice, but at the same time the positive things I had heard about Multiflight made me sure that I was not making the wrong decision. I decided to book an appointment with Mike McKenzie, the Multiflight Flight Training Centre Manager, so I could get to know about all the ins and outs of what the ATPL course involved. Mike was great: he explained everything in a very understandable way and was more than happy to answer any questions that I had over the phone.
“So, on to the training: it is quite simply the most enjoyable and exhilarating thing I have ever done in my life and I wish I had done it sooner! Taxiing out in a Robin 200 aircraft and waiting for an airliner to land or depart ahead of you is a unique feeling and makes you feel part of something very special. It’s great to be part of the environment at an international airport, especially for me as I am working to make this my career.
“As for my instructor, I could not have found a better person to teach me than Azard Hosein. He, as are all the staff at Multiflight, is approachable and extremely easy to get on with. It certainly makes you feel safe in what you are doing when you are able to talk to all of the instructors there and get an insight into their expertise and wealth of knowledge.
“The facilities are also second to none at Multiflight. Whether you are just paying a call to the Multiflight café bar, or planning your next flight, you can always expect a warm and friendly service there. With regard to the flight planning you have access to the internet to get all the necessary weather and information you will need for the flight planning stage and if you ever have any queries there is always someone there to aid you, be it a member of staff or someone doing a course like you.
“To sum up I feel that personally I could not have made a better decision than to do my PPL at Multiflight and will definitely do the other parts of the ATPL there. You are always made to feel welcome and know that the aircraft you are flying are always maintained to the highest standard by the behind-the-scenes crews there. Whatever your ambition is in aviation, if you want to be as good as you can be then Multiflight will make that possible for you!”
Above: Picture shows Richard with Multiflight Instructor Azard Hosein in a Robin 200 aircraft.