Crew Meals..

Since arriving in the States I have not really been eating properly. When I say 'properly' I mean, a well balanced, healthy meal. My meals have quickly, over the course of the past week, become fast food, restaurant meals and lots of greasy snacks. This was not a conscious decision of mine, in fact one which I abhor. It was initially my plan to try and eat healthily here in the States and exercise regularly, especially with my sleep pattern being so disrupted, as to prevent becoming out of shape.

Recently I came across a blog from a pilot who discussed this very issue; there are some very poignant issues in there which I have taken heed.

Flight To Success

It is however very difficult to have full control over your meals when you never really know where you are going to be at meal times. But as far as I can control it, I will try..

On the Range..

Yesterday after finishing early we decided to pass the afternoon at a local gun range. A 30 minute drive later we arrived. Having come from the UK where guns are not carried at all to the States where guns are as common as watches was quite surreal.

Inside it was just like in the games, Grand Theft Auto where people were buying unnecessarily large firearms for personal use. Really, who needs to possess an M16, who hasn't already been issued with one from their respective Armed Forces..? Just in case, I suppose..

Having never fired a gun before we had a full briefing from one of the sales assistants, who taught us everything we needed to know.

I think $30 well spent on an afternoon of gun-toting..

The First Flight..

It has been six months in the waiting, this is what I have been waiting for, flying the plane, the thing that has been the light on the horizon throughout the months and months of arduous groundschool.

The day was finally approaching, quickly. Being sent out the PHX a week ahead of schedule, being rushed through the basic groundschool preparation for flying, the numerous hours of reading through the checklists and lessons plans. The day arrived..

A very early start to get in the air before thermal activity, meant waking up just after sunrise. Some final checks of my flight bag and its contents saw the trip to the airport. A feeling of nervousness mixed with a true feeling of excitement. Many thoughts ran through my head as we drove towards the airport; I couldn't wait.

It wasn't long before we were finished on the ground and ready to go up; my flying partner was first to go up, then I to follow.

It was absolutely amazing, the views, breathtaking, the feeling, euphoric.

It was so much fun, until I threw up..

Did I mention I get airsick..?

A New Home..

Since moving to PHX my accommodation has been very very nice; a complex of Luxury Apartments.

This is very far removed from the living arrangements back in OXF. Where I once had a bed that was as soft as a trampoline, this has been replaced by a nice firm double bed. The TV with limited channels has been replaced with Satellite TV with more channels than you can shake a stick at. Meals have been mostly prepared using the outdoor cooking facilities, making for an enjoyable outdoor summer feeling; something that is quite lacking in the UK for the best part of the year.

The swimming pool and Jacuzzi has been a nice touch allowing us all to relax after a hard day at the airport. Since we have been uprooted from our lives in the UK there have been many things that have needed to be attended to, lifestyle and comfort items, things like travel adaptors, to allow us to live normally.

I have to say, I am enjoying the new lifestyle..

Welcome to a Goodyear..

A quick update on the life of a Cadet; having finished on the 7th of May, this was followed by some "First Officer Fundamentals". This basically gave us a number of tips in Airline recruitment and the best ways to prepare for interviews, etc; all in all very useful stuff that we will need sometime in the bear future. This was concluded on the Wednesday 12th May. Here began the slow removal of my life in Kidlington; moving out of my student house left feeling of ending or emotional disconnection whatsoever. It was back to London for me..

Not more than a few days later, our worst fears were realised; yes, the BA cabin crew were going to strike on the day of our flight to Arizona. So far our course has truly been pulled through the ringer, everything that could've have gone wrong for our course, HAS gone wrong; either through acts of God or human intervention. A feeling of resignation descended.

There was a very real possibility that the flight was not to go ahead; with this, a very fast paced week began. An email was sent round requesting our availability over the next week, in the hope of flying out early. I had daily plans to dine with family and drink with friends before my 20 week departure to the States; despite this, I could reschedule some of these for my return if need be. Thus I responded with availability from the Monday. Soon after it became clear that seats on the Monday flight were in short supply, an earlier flight would be necessary if I was to not be grounded in the UK for a considerable time; "Sunday it is then" I thought..

Saturday night I arrive at home in London after a weekend of Lash with a few University mates in Oxford. I should probably start packing..

Meanwhile somewhere in Iceland, the 'Volcano with the unpronounceable name' decides to erupt creating the very real possibility of UK Airspace closures for the next few days. The possibility of my cancellation suddenly resurrects itself.

Was there any point in packing? The Met Office was almost certain that airspace would see closure from Sunday. An early start saw was met with a check on the BBC website for an update on the Volcano situation, "Please check with your Airlines before travelling to the airport". My heart raced as I phoned British Airways to hear the verdict..

"Flight from LHR have not been affected at this time and are running on schedule"

I finished packing and set off for the Airport..

Flexibility is the Key to Air Power..

"Good Morning Gentlemen and welcome to your flight training..!"

The Chief bellowed as he sat on a desk at the front of our classroom; these were his introductory words. He continued

"... You are entering one of the most demanding careers ever, but with this, it is one of them most rewarding. Flexibility is the key to Air Power! You will have to make some huge sacrifices in your careers..."

How right he was, we would have to make some huge sacrifices during our training aswell..

End of Groundschool..

Today was the last official day of groundschool. We were issued our kit for the States and sent on our way.

Still suffering from the tiresome weeks leading up to now, I had no energy to celebrate. The rest of the day was spent packing as we all moved out of our accommodation and back to our respective parents' houses or rather wherever we call home. I felt no love lost for the house I moved out of, being there for only a few months I can barely say I have grown attached.

With so much to sort out in London, I didn't hang around..

Failure is Not an Option..

I have finished my final JAA Flight Crew Licensing exams. The exams finished on Friday and were celebrated with a day in the Sun, a continuous supply of alcohol and a BBQ; what a great way to spend the day, what could ruin this great day..?

I left the exam hall on this last day, there was a distinct lack of elation. I would have expected there to have been a much more energetic feeling amongst the group. What was causing this? A sense of lethargy dampened the mood; in truth it had been such a horrendous onslaught of exams we were just all mentally and physically drained. Whether it had been the numerous all-nighters or the sleepless nights, these were all worthy factors. We sat around in the lounge area of the academy with bags under our eyes, dishevelled beards and stubble struggling to plan the 'celebratory lash*'.

[* lash - To drink a lot of alcohol in a social manner]

Seven exams, four days; all in all it amounted to eleven and a half hours worth of examinations. All hours not spent in the exam hall were spent in front of a PC studying and doing practice exams.

The exams were over but the worst was yet to come. So, we had finished the exams, but now we had the tortuous wait for results. So much is resting on these exams, more so than the first set of JAA exams. If we fail any of these exams, the implications are quite sever. We will have to stay back in the UK and re sit; we would therefore miss starting our Basic Flight Training with the rest of the class and get pushed back to the class behind. Not only that, failing an exam would have an impact on future employability.

So you can see why the long faces; most of my exams were fine except one. This has left me with a sinking feeling in my stomach; one which has been with me everyday since the exam. With so much at stake it is difficult to forget. I only just managed to ignore the grating thoughts to allow me to concentrate on the other exams.

So now, we wait..

JAA Exams - Day 1..

Today I start my final set of JAA FCL exams. Today's opening exam in an afternoon one. At the moment I can do nothing but wait for the exam.

The waiting has left me in quite a state, I have had my lunch and am waiting to leave. I woke up fairly early this morning and did a bit of last minute revision of a few things I felt were worth my time. I don't want to revise right up until the starting pistol and find my brain is fried from the morning's prep. Time to rest and let my mind settle.

Now feeling ready to face the exams, slightly anxious but more than anything, fed up of the waiting.

Wish me luck..

Revision Blues..

This revision is so so boring that many of us are struggling to keep at it; today I went for a 2hr walk just to pass time.

I just keep telling myself; only five more days to go..