The Private Pilot's License - My Ultimate Dream
Ever since I was a little child, I was extremely interested in flying, and now, there is nothing in the world that can compare to my love of flying. Finally, the summer when i turned 14 was the best summer of my life. This page is dedicated to my path to getting my private pilot's license on the Cessna 150.
My Introductory Flight -The flight that gets you hooked
It was a perfect summer day as i entered the Buttonville municipal airport, and I saw my instructor-to-be waiting anxiously for his new student. We headed for a quick ground briefing before the flight, then out we went to start the walk-around! As soon as we took-off and went into practice area Charlie, Jeff, my instructor, allowed me to fly the plane. THAT GOT ME HOOKED. I will never find another such exciting hobby. For the next 10 or so flights, we worked our way to get me going solo, which included many such procedures such as straight and level flight, turns, climbs and descents, steep turns, take-off and landing, and taming stalls, spins, and spiral dives.
MY FIRST SOLO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Finally, it was the 20th day of July, and i had completed all the training required for me to go on my first solo, which is basically just one circuit around the airport. The only thing i had left to do was to have a supervisory flight because Jeff was a Class 4 instructor. So, I headed up with Francois and he said all my procedures are great and that i could go solo! Then, in the afternoon, Jeff took me up for 3 more circuits before he told me to do a full stop landing and leave the engine running while he got out of the plane. It was time for my first solo! As soon as Jeff got out of the plane, I radioed Buttonville ground and asked for directions to runway 15.
Me: "Buttonville Ground, Cessna 150 G-EYW with information Hotel."
Ground: "EYW, Buttonville Ground. Go Ahead."
Me: "Buttonvile Ground, EYW is on main apron, requesting taxi instructions to runway 15 for a first solo circuit."
Ground: "EYW taxi Delta. Tower 124.8 in the holding bay."
Me: "EYW."
I did my Pre-Takeoff checks, then called tower for takeoff clearance.
Me: "Buttonville Tower, EYW holding short runway 15 ready for takeoff."
Tower: "EYW, cleared for takeoff stay in the circuit."
Me: "Cleared for takeoff, EYW."
I did a normal take off, rotated at 55 knots, and the plane climbed like it never did before! Without the extra weight of Jeff, the plane SOARED into the air!
I did I full circuit and had to extend my downwind due to excess traffic.
As I set up my plane for the approach, I planned for a normal landing.
With 20 degrees of flaps, I brought the Cessna 150 in for a greased landing.
After I landed both the tower and the ground congratulated me for completing my first solo! Also, I got a SPLASH IN THE FACE with a bucket of water as soon as I got out of the plane!
WHAT A DAY!!!
Me: "Buttonville Ground, Cessna 150 G-EYW with information Hotel."
Ground: "EYW, Buttonville Ground. Go Ahead."
Me: "Buttonvile Ground, EYW is on main apron, requesting taxi instructions to runway 15 for a first solo circuit."
Ground: "EYW taxi Delta. Tower 124.8 in the holding bay."
Me: "EYW."
I did my Pre-Takeoff checks, then called tower for takeoff clearance.
Me: "Buttonville Tower, EYW holding short runway 15 ready for takeoff."
Tower: "EYW, cleared for takeoff stay in the circuit."
Me: "Cleared for takeoff, EYW."
I did a normal take off, rotated at 55 knots, and the plane climbed like it never did before! Without the extra weight of Jeff, the plane SOARED into the air!
I did I full circuit and had to extend my downwind due to excess traffic.
As I set up my plane for the approach, I planned for a normal landing.
With 20 degrees of flaps, I brought the Cessna 150 in for a greased landing.
After I landed both the tower and the ground congratulated me for completing my first solo! Also, I got a SPLASH IN THE FACE with a bucket of water as soon as I got out of the plane!
WHAT A DAY!!!
Judgement Day: The Final Flight Test. I DID IT!!
I walked into the airport at Buttonville of the 11th of August 2010 and got ready for my flight test. I had my cross country planned out, the weight and balance completed, and the flight plan form filled in.
Sylvie, my examiner, was a nice lady who had a lot of experience in the past, including two engine failures!
We completed the ground portion in 2 and a half hours, covering aircraft and personal documents, aircraft performance, preflight planning, weight and balance, and 2 emergency situations. As soon as she told me I was good, we headed to the plane.
She graded me on countless things, including the walk-around, taxiing, 2 types of takeoffs, circuits, 2 types of landings, navigation, stalls, spirals, slow flight, steep turns, forced landings, diversions, precautionary landings, and much more!
After we landed, I still did not know if I had passed or not. As expected, my father and sister were waiting for me outside. My young sister came and asked the examiner, "Did my brother pass?" That is when Sylvie turned to me and said, "Yes, you passed!"
YYYEEESSSS!!!!!
Yet again, a bucket of water was poured on my head, and I was awarded my PRIVATE PILOT'S LICENSE AT THE AGE OF 16!!! Also, Sylvie gave me the opportunity to complete two flight tests in one so that I would be able to get my recreational pilot's permit as well!
WHAT A SUCCESSFUL DAY!!
Sylvie, my examiner, was a nice lady who had a lot of experience in the past, including two engine failures!
We completed the ground portion in 2 and a half hours, covering aircraft and personal documents, aircraft performance, preflight planning, weight and balance, and 2 emergency situations. As soon as she told me I was good, we headed to the plane.
She graded me on countless things, including the walk-around, taxiing, 2 types of takeoffs, circuits, 2 types of landings, navigation, stalls, spirals, slow flight, steep turns, forced landings, diversions, precautionary landings, and much more!
After we landed, I still did not know if I had passed or not. As expected, my father and sister were waiting for me outside. My young sister came and asked the examiner, "Did my brother pass?" That is when Sylvie turned to me and said, "Yes, you passed!"
YYYEEESSSS!!!!!
Yet again, a bucket of water was poured on my head, and I was awarded my PRIVATE PILOT'S LICENSE AT THE AGE OF 16!!! Also, Sylvie gave me the opportunity to complete two flight tests in one so that I would be able to get my recreational pilot's permit as well!
WHAT A SUCCESSFUL DAY!!