Adam, 29, started his PPL flight training at the Multiflight Flight Training Centre at Leeds Bradford International Airport in July 2010. Once he has completed his PPL with us it is his intention to continue Commercial Flight Training with Multiflight on a modular basis.
We are extremely grateful that Adam, a business manager for a health sector company, has agreed to share his PPL experience with us on an on-going basis. First he recounts his PPL training at our Leeds flying school to date:
Adam writes: “The decision to train to be a pilot has always been one I have put off as there has usually been a barrier such as circumstance or cost. Ever since I was a young boy it has always been a dream, which I thought I had missed as I progressed through my 20’s. It was through a close friend, while on a trip to Prague: while we sat on a Boeing 737 bound for the Czech Republic, that my friend turned to me and said how much he had always wanted to learn to fly. I had not known this previously and I, of course, shared this dream. It was he that had in fact heard good things about a company called ‘Multiflight’ based at Leeds/Bradford Airport. I had not heard of them but agreed on return from our trip we would go up and have a look around.
Upon arrival at Multiflight there was certainly a good vibe about the place. As we walked up to the flying school the whole area was dominated by ‘Multiflight’ and it was easy to see this was a sizeable operation both as a school and also a private aviation company offering engineering, aircraft parts, aircraft charter, aircraft management, aircraft for sale and executive aircraft handling. To my left were a few of the Robin 200 training aircraft, some coming, some just departing with students and their instructors. The excitement was building as we walked into the building. It dawned on me as we walked in: ‘What do we say?’ We are interested in something we know very little about and I guess felt a bit silly walking up to the reception desk and saying: ‘Hi, we would like to be pilots’, or words to that effect. We decided to play it by ear. As soon as we walked in we were greeted by a gentleman we now know as Andrew Binns. He immediately stopped what he was doing and offered to sit down with us to discuss things a little further. Off we went to a briefing room and before we knew it Andrew had explained what was available and the modular training route at Multiflight. We were very impressed with what Andrew had to say and that he was himself ‘modular trained’ by Multiflight and even though staring up at a very long journey felt we were on the start of something special……before we knew it we had (gulp) booked our ‘trial lesson’ with mine being 25th July.
I had been looking forward to the lesson all week obviously a little nervous. On the day I was introduced to Simon who would be my instructor for the flying lesson. Before too long I had been briefed about the flight, taking off runway 32 and heading out over Eccup reservoir to the York area, where he would be handing control over to me…yes that’s right OVER TO ME! Well not what I expected so soon but ok. Pre-checks complete we were off, taxiing out to a holding point just short of the runway. Out to my right and only meters away a 737 was just landing and it was an impressive sight, made we feel good being part of something so impressive. The take off, being a ‘newbie’, was exhilarating and the views from lift off amazing of the area. Simon explained everything each step of the way and I was soon becoming familiar with my surroundings. Once clear of controlled airspace Simon showed me some basic medium level turns which I was to replicate. They say there are a number of ‘firsts’ you never forget as a trainee pilot, well let me tell you one of them is when you are controlling the aircraft on your own for the first time. A very special feeling and I knew then as I maneuvered the aircraft left and right I really wanted to do this. Before long however it was time to return to the airport and end to what had been a very enjoyable introduction to learning to fly. Simon left no stone unturned with his guidance and explanations which to this very moment laid the foundations for how I have approached the PPL training. I wasted no time in booking my future lessons.”
You can read more about Adam’s PPL flight training at Multiflight in his subsequent blogs.
