Flying High Indeed...

BY CDT CPL EMILIE PEARSON
----------------------------------

On 8^th of August 2007 Cpl Emilie Pearson of 1066 (Hitchin) Squadron went solo in a Cessna 152 on her ACPS Light Aircraft Course at Tayside Aviation in Dundee.

‘When I found out I’d been awarded a light aircraft scholarship, I could not believe it. I was both excited and nervous. On the 30^th of July I travelled up to Dundee ready to start the course the following day. On arrival at the hotel I met two other people who were on my course as well as those cadets that had started their course the previous week. From what they said, we were in for two tough yet exciting weeks.

The following day a welcome brief was delivered and we were told that unfortunately, due to a hectic flying programme caused by a visit from the Central Flying School we would not be able to start flying that day. However, we were shown how to do a ‘walk around’ the aircraft, a check that must be done by the pilot before each sortie to ensure the aircraft is serviceable and ready for flight.

Luckily the next day the flying programme was less busy and I was introduced to my instructor and the first lesson consisted of learning the effects of the controls. At first the Cessna seemed quite difficult to fly compared to the Grob Vigilant I had flown during my Gliding Scholarship, mainly due to the fact that the control column in a Cessna is like a little steering wheel instead of a joystick, but as time progressed I got used to it.

During the first week of the course, most of the sorties were spent learning the basics, e.g. climbing, descending, turning, etc. but towards the end of the week, we moved onto circuits. To start with, flying a circuit seemed impossible. Remembering all the checks, radio calls, noise abatements turns, etc, whilst trying to fly the aircraft safely seemed like an unachievable goal. After another couple of sorties in the circuit it got easier and soon I was flying the whole circuit by myself. I was close to going solo but there was one thing I had to do before I could do this - pass my first solo exam. I passed the exam and the following day had the opportunity to ‘go solo’.

Before going solo my instructor and I set off to fly in the circuit to do some ‘pre solo checks’. This basically meant I had to prove I could fly a complete circuit with no help and also that I could deal with any emergencies that could occur during flight. After flying three circuits by myself and being tested on emergencies, my instructor said I was ready to do my first solo. I taxied to the apron to drop him off so he could go into the Air Traffic Control tower. I was then left by myself to do a first solo circuit. I thought before that I would have been nervous about doing a solo circuit but when I actually did it, I was not nervous at all.

When you are left by yourself you obviously have to do everything in the aircraft and so you do not really have time to think about being nervous or worried. Apart from the circuit being quite busy, meaning I was held at the holding point to the runway for a while, no problems occurred during my flight and I landed safely and taxied back to the flying club with a big smile on my face.

The course was fantastic and I would love the chance to do it again. I now have twelve hours towards a PPL, something that I am very proud of. The course is a great experience and definitely the best thing I have ever and probably will ever do in the ATC.’