Adam Rahnavard is currently studying for his Private Pilot’s Licence at the Multiflight Flight Training Centre at Leeds Bradford International Airport. Read here the next installment of his PPL flight training adventure:
“Due to when I wanted to fly and availability and when I wanted to fly a chap called Paul became my instructor and to this day has been the main person taking my lessons. With this in mind my following lessons were soon to get to the very basics of general handling of an aircraft. My first few lessons were all about basics in flight handling, turns, descents. Paul for the early stages took care of the Radio comms, take offs and landings. I did feel I was starting to pick things up at a steady pace and by hour 5 I could control the aircraft in the air in terms of general handling. I had just started to master take off’s when it was time to go on the widely acclaimed in house Radio Telephony course based at the Leeds flying school. I have to say this course is excellent. You spend the first few lessons wondering how you will ever master the speed and competence to learn air traffic communication. Well the 2-day course, stretched out over two consecutive Sundays, certainly solves the dilemma for those prepared to work hard and apply themselves. I was not there to waste my time so I intended to make the most of it. The course on day one covers the theory and language while day two the practical side, you need to pass both a written and practical exam to be signed off for your radio licence. Malcolm is an excellent tutor with years of experience, you are learning from the best so this gives you real confidence. Parts of the radio work are challenging but thanks to the course I was up to speed and passed the tests The improvement in my radio in the aircraft was instant and gave me such a confidence boost to keep working hard in my lessons. By lesson hour number 9 I had take offs, radio work, general handling and stalling under my belt thanks to the direction of Paul who in addition to being a very competent pilot is able to demonstrate things with ease and helping you replicate. This really helped me pick things up by learning in a step by step fashion.
One of the most challenging parts for me was not the take off per say but the landings. There is a bit more to this than meets the eye but with quite a bit of practice I was starting to get the hang of it. It is exciting throughout and such a good feeling when you finally nail that perfect landing. By hour 14 my circuits of Leeds/Bradford airport were coming along nicely and I knew the famous part of the syllabus the ‘first solo’ was just around the corner. The moment came on the 7th November when after a round of good circuits Paul took over the comms with Air Traffic (which had me wondering) to announce this circuit was ‘to land’ and he would be getting out as I would be doing my first solo! Actually I was excited, not nervous as I thought I would be. Paul had paid me a huge compliment by deeming it now for me to take to the skies (albeit a quick 10 min circuit) on my own. I was not going to let him down and determined to show what I could do by flying my best circuit ever. The moment he got out and shut the hatch is one I won’t forget. Excitement was pumping and I was ready, I taxied out and before I knew it out on the runway and cleared for take off!! I did what I had been taught to the letter and flew an excellent circuit, even if I do say so myself. Even the air traffic controller congratulated me which was a nice touch. I taxied back, parked up and walked back into the school…head held high.
Hours 17-23 were what they call in the trade ‘circuit bashing’ where interspersed with instructor flights I had to build up 3 hours solo time in the circuit on my own which I absolutely loved! To prove to yourself that your first solo was not a fluke by doing it for another 2 hours 45 mins is a huge confidence boost. To go from shaky taxiing in the first lesson to solo flight at an international airport is a great feeling and testament to the quality of the PPL flight training. From this point on a lot had become second nature but still a lot more to learn. Since completing the solo circuits training has been focused on practiced forced landings in the event of an engine failure and precautionary landings which take a bit of practice. By this point I continue to make good progress, brushing up on basics along the way. 28 hours in to the course and enjoying every minute.”
More to follow!
