Flight Planning..

Today we got some great advice from The Sheen, an Ex-RAF navigator with a broomstick moustache who eats his words as he speaks. The lesson basically boiled down to 'How to "Be" a Pilot' for the best all round gain. We all had our pens at the ready to take notes.

- "We used to get alot of allowances, for a long time I lived off only my allowances; my salaray went straight into savings. You want to learn to make the most of it! Eat and sleep on the plane, play on the ground..! You should all be very familiar with flight planning by the time you are flying. Say you are flying to the Caribbean and you run into a spot of bother, what do you do? turn around or keep going; you bloody well keep going..! If you can divert to Iceland of Bermuda, where do you divert? Of course, you divert to Bermuda. This is what flight planning is all about. Have any of you ever heard of the IsoDollar line?"

We all shook our heads to the negative.

He continued
- "Well the IsoDollar line is a line on the Earth which determines whether or not you get your allowances. And what type of allowance you get. Say you are flying across the Atlantic from London to New York, the IsoDollar line is roughly 30W; once you cross that line you get your allowances, if you don't then you don't; past 30W pay day..! So, with that in mind what do you do if you get an engine failure at 25W? That's right, you keep flying till you pass 30W then you assess your options..!"

Slightly different from the textbook..

My Mac is Here..

Just over a week ago I had ordered my MacBook Pro. The point of this was mainly to use whilst in the States with my flight training as I would not be able to take my desktop across the pond with me.

With a tasty student discount I ordered my MBP.

A week ahead of schedule it arrived today..

I've never owned a Mac before and so I am currently getting to grips with the ins and outs of how to use it. I should be working, but I think I'll take a bit of a break..

Three Useless Things..

Today Mr Pilot went through the ways for the 'Airman' to operate the aircraft.

- "The three most useless things to a pilot are:
- Altitude above you
- Air in the tanks
- Runway behind you"

Good to know..

Student Operating Procedures..

Only two days into the new term; we have fallen straight back into the very familiar routine which we had briefly left only two weeks ago, long days and evening reading with not much else.

However, the course now has taken a more 'what you need to do and know in the real world' perspective; which is a welcome change.

It really does feel as though we are learning the ways to behave and what to do when we will be flying. Phrases such as "When you are in command of..." and "As captain you..." have reminded me of what I am working towards.

Today we had quite a lesson with The Weatherman; since having finished with his 'teaching' in Meteorology, he has reprised his role as an instructor teaching us Operating Procedures. This is a subject he regards as

- "Shit I know about"

He has got quite a wealth of experience for a few airlines from around the world, making him full of stories and anecdotes to aid the teaching. We're not the only class he has for this subject; last thing of the day he came bursting in saying

- "I've just had the **** Air class; some of that bunch haven't got a clue. I was explaining to them about alternate landings and one of them asks

- 'Can you land on sand?'

- I suppose you could, if you wanted to. Then one of them asks

- 'Can you land on the side of a mountain?' "

He gave a concerned look.

If those are going to be the pilots of tomorrow, I would recommend not flying with **** Air.

The Phonecall..

Our results were released on Thursday of last week. As they say, this was one of the most nerve-wracking phone calls I have ever had to make.

I was woken up at 1330hrs by the Headhunter via phone, as I lay in bad, quite hungover from the night before. He had received his results and was really chuffed. I informed him I had not gotten mine yet; his results were in the mid 90%, so this really mounted the pressure.

The feeling of butterflies began to grow, mixed with a feeling of hangover nausea and hunger made for a very unpleasant time. I made the call to the Academy, both phone numbers were engaged.

I decided shower and mentally settle myself , whilst waiting.

I made the call again, and it rang a few times. The secretary began to read my results; my heart was racing..

- "100%, 100%, 96%, 96%, 95%, 100% and 100%"

Job done..

Back to Business..

Having had the post exam two week break, we started the second phase of Ground School. The remainder of my holiday involved heading over the Bristol to see some friends. I attended a fortified wine tasting and a Black Tie Ball. It ended up being a very expensive two weeks, but when you have been working so hard, it seems worth splashing out, especially when you don't get to go out very often.

Yesterday having arrived back in Oxford I felt completely drained from the previous four nights of drinking and clubbing. It reminded me of my time at university when throughout the days there is very little to do except for turning up to lectures; and the nights are reserved for going out.

Today started the second set of subjects for ground school. With only seven teaching weeks to go, until the final exams it really does seem as though the trip to the States to do the Flight Training part of the course is within reach..!

We have been assigned The Navigator as our tutor for this block of the course. During the briefing with The Chief it was hilarious to see two very senior Ex-RAF servicemen banter. They bantered back and forth very well; mostly about which of them was richer and had the bigger house..!

Classic stuff..

Vienna & Venice..

Despite the delay in LGW I arrived with a heavy landing in Vienna before too long. The snow situation didn't seem at all as sever as had been made out. A few trains later and I had met up with the friend who I was to stay with. My time in Vienna was mostly savouring the culture and foods; such as Schnitzel, Sacher Torte and various sausages.


During my time there I also managed to meet a friend from University who was also in Vienna. As part of a University trip we made a very hectic trip to Venice for a day.

The transport there and back was a sleeper train laden with international students and as much alcohol as one could drink; oh, and there was a party carriage.

My friends and I held up the British end in various drinking challenges. We also played drinking games in a host of different european languages.

The day in Venice involved recovering from the night's painful hangovers. Lots of sightseeing and lots of Ice Cream.


The train back left in the evening; with another onslaught on limitless drinking. More drinking games ensued. The remaining few days saw the rest of the sightseeing and the trip back to the UK.

I have just under a week of holidays left; now to make the most of them. Tomorrow Bristol..

An Hour on the Ramp..

Thursday morning, 0437hrs; I am standing at the platform at a train station in North London and I watch as my train flies straight past without stopping.

- "Shit!"

I see two other people waiting at the platform just as confused as I am. Then I notice that on the electronic board the information ticker reads.

- "From the 9th February until the 12th February trains will not be stopping at this station between 2300hrs and 0500hrs"

I now have 20 mins to get to St. Pancras to make my train connection; this is the last train I can get before having missed check in. With very few options I make a quick call to my father.

A few minutes later he arrives. I chuck my bags into the car and we get moving before I have quite closed the door.

- "Cheers Dad, I have to get to St. Pancras by 0512hrs."
- "Right, well we'll be cutting it a bit fine."

Never before, have I been in a car where my dad has driven over speed bumps like that..! A few short cuts later we arrive at St. Pancras. The time is now getting very close to 0512hrs.

- "Right, jump out" my father shouts.
- "Erm, there's moving traffic on the left, dad..!"

He quickly pulls over and I jump out. I dash across the road with my luggage and get inside the station. I frantically search the signs for my platform.

Midway through my train jourmey to LGW I check my wallet to find I have left my Euros in my other wallet.

A quick check in and a rush to get to my gate; we then board the plane. The sun is just rising over the LGW terminal. I look around the cabin to see all of the faces of exhausted PAX and the two easyJet FAs checking boarding passes as the last few PAX embark and find the last few seats. The front exits are armed and crossed checked and the Jet Bridge retracts. The Female Captain addresses the cabin.

- "Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen. I will be your captain for today's easyJet service from LGW to VIE. Unfortunately due to the snow at Vienna; which is currently being cleared, we will not be able to take off from here for at least another hour...
... We thank you for flying easyJet."

A Long Weekend..

I've been playing in London for the past few days since coming back from Oxford, following the exams.

I've managed to do quite alot in the time I've been here. Yesterday I was on the brink of ordering a Apple MacBook Pro; as someone with an engineering background this was quite a big step. I have always been a PC person; always having to use MS Office and other such programs only available on PC.

I have always regarded Apples as computer for media types or people who use their laptops for the more fun stuff. Now I will be one of those types..!

Whilst in and around the West End I managed to meet up with some friends for a coffee and a beer. I went for dinner at a nice tapas restaurant round from London Bridge with some family.

Tapas Brindisa

The food was good, a very vibrant atmosphere but annoyingly, they don't take bookings.

I'm flying out to VIE and also heading to Venice for a very long weekend; which will be quite cool. Check in opens at 0520hrs..! Before public transport starts running properly; what a nightmare..!

A New Me..

So, the last few weeks have been nothing but sitting in front of a desk revising and sitting exams. All other activities such as healthy eating, sport, exercise, grooming, socialising, etc have had to take a back seat.

I am usually quite an active person and crave the adrenalin rush you get from exercise and sport. So since coming back home, I have been going for morning jogs and been eating more healthily. This has been nicely balanced with late nights and drinking.

Today I went to get a hair cut; so, I went into the west end to get one.

I usually really hate getting my hair cut; it's not something I look forward to and I always end leaving looking worse than when I went in. I am also not a huge fan of the banal chat that you get from the person trusted with the scissors.

Despite this, I got into a conversation with this particular lucky lady.

- "So, are you working at the moment then?" She asked whilst shampooing my hair.
- "No, I'm training as a commercial pilot at the moment."
- "So, what's that then? Flying planes or something?"

Speechless..

Freedom Day 1..

As planned I arrived in London by about lunchtime; within the hour I was in a pub near Paddington St. enjoying some drinks with my friend the Top Cat.

We hadn't seen each other since before christmas, so it was great to catch up. Alot has happened since then; but not for me.

I have been following the progress of the 787 lately on their new site.

787 First Flight

Tomorrow, more fun..

The End of Exams..

Finally, the end of exams came. Yesterday there was a delayed feeling of elation.

Needless to say we went out to celebrate yesterday. We decided that we should mark the occasion with a fancy dress night out. It was very funny to see drunken pilots around oxford dressed as belly dancers, bandits, sailors and robin hood..!

I'm not entirely sure why, but I have woken up very early this morning. I also have a hangover which I know is going to get worse during the day.

I'm expected in London by the afternoon.

This is the fun I've been waiting for..

Exam Conditions..

In the midst of the exam, all I could hear apart from the scratching and clicking of technical pencils, were the faint whispers of people talking.

"Hang on a minute?" I thought; we were in an exam, yet to my surprise, not everyone was adhering to the exam conditions that had been 'imposed'.

One of the invigilators looked up like a startled Meerkat. She searched the room for the source of the noise but failed to identify anyone.

It could clearly be made out, to myself and a number of others that these surruptitious conversations were being carried out in a middle eastern language. I was almost finished by this point and so wasn't too distracted by it all. I got up and left.

One of the other guys came out of the exam room, livid with the conditions that were being allowed to carry on in there. He had found it extremely difficult to concentrate with the level of noise around him. The people talking were a foreign intake class, and not any of ours.

It remains to be seen what will happen..

A Late Arrival..

I came out of the exam room an hour ahead of the designated end time. There were already a few others out. I had finished some time before, but I absolutely can't stand being the first one out of the exam, I will just sit there until someone else I know has finished; that way when I am outside I have someone to talk to.

When I got out, I could hear some of the guys asking about one of our class who hadn't turned up for the exam. I offered to call him, as I had his phone number. I tried but no response; it went to voicemail.

Oh well, there's nothing we could do about it.

Sometime later, we saw him burst into the lounge area. He came straight over, looking very dishevelled as though he had just gotten out of bed. With a gasp, he managed to get out "What do I do?"

I told him to go to the exam room and see what they could do.

Sometime later, he came back looking rather resigned; "I have to take the exam next month."

He had been to see the examiners and The Chief; both of which concluded that he had missed the point at which the exam could be fairly conducted. Luckily for him, he is still a part of our class and has not been recoursed to the class below.

- "So what on Earth happened?" I asked.
- "I overslept..!"

This wasn't the first time..

Two Down, Five to go..

I have just gotten back home from the airport having completed two out of the seven exams that we have to take this week.

I was expecting the questions be worded exactly as they had been in the revision material I have been using. The online revision bank is meant to be the same as the JAA one; this was not the case and the questions were worded slightly differently, with different graphs to use. This would definitely have been a problem if I had just 'learnt' the answers, rather than learning the material.

We had been forwarned by many of the instructors about using 'Bristol' [as it commonly referred to].

It is a good thing I learnt the material throughout and have been using 'Bristol' to round off my knowledge.

I am going to have a quick lunch and then get back to the revision in preparation for tomorrow's single exam..