AIR PILOT FEB 2019:AIR PILOT MASTER 24/01/2019 14:54 Page 1 2 AirPilot FEBRUARY 2019 ISSUE 31 AIR PILOT FEB 2019:AIR PILOT MASTER 24/01/2019 14:54 Page 2
Diary
FEBRUARY 2019 AIR PILOT 12th Lunch Club RAF Club THE HONOURABLE 14th GP&F Cutlers’ Hall COMPANY OF AIR PILOTS 25th Aptitude Testing RAF Cranwell incorporating 26Cth T Dowgate Hill Air Navigators
MARCH 2019 PATRON: His Royal Highness 7th GP&F Cutlers’ Hall The Prince Philip Court Cutlers’ Hall Duke of Edinburgh KG KT 25th AGM Merchant Taylors’ Hall
GRAND MASTER: 29th United Guilds Service His Royal Highness The Prince Andrew APRIL 2019 Duke of York KG GCVO 4th GP&F Cutlers’ Hall MASTER: 11th ACEC TBA Captain Colin Cox FRAeS 24th Lunch Club RAF Club
CLERK: 24th Cobham Lecture RAF Club Paul J Tacon BA FCIS
Incorporated by Royal Charter. A Livery Company of the City of London. Please note that meetings scheduled for Dowgate Hill may be relocated to our new
PUBLISHED BY: office depending on the date of our move. The Honourable Company of Air Pilots, Dowgate Hill House, 14- 16 Dowgate Hill, London EC4R 2SU.
EDITOR: VISITS PROGRAMME Paul Smiddy BA (Econ), FCA Please see the flyers accompanying this issue of Air Pilot or contact Liveryman David EMAIL: [email protected] Curgenven at [email protected]. These flyers can also be downloaded from the Company's website. FUNCTION PHOTOGRAPHY: Please check on the Company website for visits that are to be confirmed. Gerald Sharp Photography View images and order prints on-line. TELEPHONE: 020 8599 5070 EMAIL: [email protected] WEBSITE: www.sharpphoto.co.uk GOLF CLUB EVENTS Please check on Company website for latest information PRINTED BY: Printed Solutions Ltd 01494 478870 Except where specifically stated, none of the material in this issue is to be taken as expressing the opinion of the Court of the Company. EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS: The copy deadline for the April 2019 edition of Air Pilot is 1 March 2019. The address is: 14-16 Dowgate Hill House, London EC4R 2SU. Our telephone number remains unchanged TELEPHONE: 020 7404 4032 EMAIL: [email protected] Cover photo: The crown jewel of the Shipping & Airlines fleet – DH90A WEBSITE: www.airpilots.org Dragonfly G-AEDU, “The Duchess”, in flight – see article on p8age 1 (photo courtesy of Keith Wilson via Carl Ward) AIR PILOT FEB 2019:AIR PILOT MASTER 24/01/2019 14:54 Page 3
A message from your Editor...
There can be no aviator in Great Britain, and probably no one involved in commercial air transport around the world, who is not aware of the more than 3 days of chaos caused by illegal drone activity at Gatwick in December, and indeed a smaller scale incident at Heathrow in January. These two events raise several questions. First, why have Britain’s major airports, largely owned by overseas sovereign wealth funds (to whom they have been paying large dividends), not invested heavily in counter-drone technology before? Second, why did the Department of Transport not act on BALPA’s request, made last July, to extend the drone exclusion zone from 1 to a much more useful 5 kms around airports? The unsatisfactory answer, it would appear, is that the Department has been ful ly occupied planning for Brexit. Granted, any extension of the exclusion zone does nothing to impede those who harbour malicious intent. Third, Sussex Constabulary later admitted that their own rush to deploy observation drones might have compounded the confusion. At the time of writing no arrests have been made (other than the initial, erroneous, ones). But most worryingly, why did it take the Government so long to react to the Gatwick crisis before bringing in military assistance? It appeared to be 24 hours or so before the Regiment (the RAF one, rather than the Hereford Boys) arrived with some helpful kit. My understanding is that useful technology is widely owned and used by at least one Army regiment, and indeed the Hereford chaps are used to deploying at very short notice. On another issue, the RAF has failed to cover itself in glory in its prolonged failure to provide any gliding for its many Air Cadets. The MoD and its contractors have failed to restore all but a dozen or so of the Viking and Vigilant fleet to airworthiness. Nor have they yet had them re-certified as civil airframes. Nor has the MoD sought to contract the nation’s many, and thriving, gliding clubs to provide air ex perience and tuition for the cadets in its stead (see this edition for evidence of the continued success of our own gliding scholarship programme). The link between these two issues? They both demonstrate a worrying gap in communications and management decision- making between the Government, the world of civil aviation and the Armed Forces. The Honourable Company has members in all camps, fingers in most aviation pies. We should not be shy in speaking truth to power. This Government needs all the help it is proffered. Paul Smiddy - Editor
Contents
News Round Up & Gazette ...... 4
The Master’s Message ...... 6
The Master’s Tour (Part 2) ...... 7
The Master’s Alternative Tour by Tiger Moth ...... 11
From the Desk of the DAA ...... 14
Visit to the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston ...... 16
Gazette ...... 17
Filling My Toy Box ...... 18
PPL & FI Scholarships 2018 ...... 22
Gliding Scholarships ...... 29 3 AIR PILOT FEB 2019:AIR PILOT MASTER 24/01/2019 14:54 Page 4
News Round Up
HERB KELLEHER and the ninth safest in terms of fatalities. demand for something similar for all I hope members will forgive me for The safest year in aviation history was pilots to try to reduce the large number noting the death of a legendary aviation 2017 with 10 accidents and 44 lives lost. of infringements. figure who was not a member of the Looking at that five-year average of 14 Airports in the UK remain under threat Honourable Company. If Freddie Laker accidents and 480 fatalities, last year was and discussions took place about options was the iconoclast of the British airline worse on both accounts. to prevent change of use. industry in the Sixties, Herb Kelleher Twelve accidents involved passenger The need for robust control of Drones, carried the flag from the Seventies flights, three were cargo flights. Three out given their wide availability, with poor onwards – and to global effect. Kelleher, of 15 accident aircraft were operated by advice given at the point of sale. airlines on the EU “blacklist”, up by two who died last month at the ripe age of The use of Lasers attacking any form of compared to 2017. 87, was CEO and co-founder (with a transport; the rules changed in July 2018 client of his law firm, one Rollin King) Given the estimated worldwide air traffic and the first successful conviction has of Southwest Airlines. Created by this of about 37,800,000 flights, the accident taken place, with a jail sentence for the duo in 1971, it grew from servicing just rate is one fatal accident per 2,520,000 person who attacked a Police Helicopter intra-Texan traffic to become the flights. inspiration for the low-cost airline The need to encourage younger industry. Michael O’Leary was but one membership to get more involved - such pupil. GASCo difficult in today’s busy life. The new Stansted college for aviation students He was an innovator for customer service Upper Freeman Steve Hayman (our representa tive on this body) reports on near the Inflight hangar is open for standards and employee relations in the business. industry, and was what one might term a the November council meeting as ‘well-rounded individual’. The UK’s follows. Financial Times chose him as one of its The following subjects were discussed at SCHoLARSHIPS – ADDENDUM 50 leading business pioneers in 2015, length: Following on from the piece in the last noting that he “continues at age 84 to ADS B (the need to develop a cheap low edition of AP: the Nick Davidson smoke and drink enthusiastically, and has powered version compatible for all light Memorial Flying Scholarship has been embraced eye-catching stunts”. Soon aircraft gliders etc. and the various new going at Biggin Hill since 2012, is afterwards, Kelleher replied to the FT: collision avoidance systems). sponsored by Biggin Hill Airport and was “Sir, I was so viscerally and cerebrally The new GASCO winter course is set up as a charity in 2017; Company honoured by my selection … that I smoked nearly ready and will roll out soon. There member Peter Greenyer is one of the three packs of cigarettes and drank a quart of had been over 200 Airspace Infringement founding trustees, Captain Gary bourbon, thereby impairing both my ancient courses completed this ye ar by pilots Merchant is chairman. It awards 2 PPL viscera and cerebrum. No lawsu it is imminent, who had infringed Controlled Airspace scholarships each year. however.” in some way, and there is a growing Southwest is said never to have posted a financial loss, nor laid off an employee – quite some yardstick in the airline The RAF is due to retire its Tornados this Spring. We have a visit scheduled to RAF industry, and a measure of Kelleher’s Marham, the home of the Tornado (and indeed its successor, the F35b) on April 3rd. founding principles: “A motivated employee treats the customer well. The customer is happy so they keep coming back….It’s not one of the enduring green mysteries of all time, it is just the way it works.”
2018 CoMMERCIAL AVIATIoN ACCIDENT STATISTICS According to the Aviation Safety Network, 2018 witnessed a total of 15 fatal airliner accidents, resulting in 556 fatalities. This makes 2018 the third safest year ever by the number of fatal accidents
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TRUSTEES REqUIRED The Air Pilot Benevolent Fund will be recruiting Trustees in 2019. The board consists of 6 trustees and 3 ex officio trustees, the term of office is 3 years. Liverymen, Upper Freemen or Freemen of the Air Pilots may express an interest in the position of Trustee to the Chairman, Warden John Towell, at [email protected] The Air Pilots website has information about the Benevolent 820 NAS returned to RNAS Yeovilton in Fund at – December after deployment on http://www.airpilots.org/about-the- HM Queen Elizabeth company/trusts/the-air-pilots- benevolent-fund/
The Lord Mayor’s Show By Assistant John Denyer
At around 0900 on Saturday 10 anywhere! So we November, this year’s intrepid volunteers eventually set off, and gathered at Cutlers’ Hall to collect the once moving we paraphernalia that is an essential part of proceed at a the Lord Mayor’s Show. Each year a small surprisingly brisk group of Court members volunteers to pace. Winding our represent the Company at this historic way down Gresham event that has been running for more and Princes Streets to than 800 years. Mansion House there long wait while the procession got itself So, now wearing robes, hats, and carrying was the traditional cheering and waving under way again, we made it back along the Company placard, Immediate Past of hats as we paid our respects to the new Victoria Embankment, past Blackfriars, Master Spurrier, Warden Keegan, and Lord Mayor. Then it was towards St Paul’s and along Queen Victoria Street towards Assistants Walkinshaw and Denyer and down Ludgate Hill and Fleet Street Mansion House again. At the Western departed Cutlers’ for nearby London to the Royal Courts of Justice, shortly end of Gresham Street, the procession Wall, the starting place for our segment after which we paused for lunch while disbanded as the participants broke off to of the procession. The Show assembles in the Lord Mayor completed the head to their Company HQs, home, or a number of streets around London Wall formalities in the Courts. wherever. and is martialled meticulously into the As usual, the Master Mariners hosted the So really we were not required to be at all correct sequence at the roundabout Modern Livery Companies for intrepid this year, and the whole event around the Museum of London. The Air sandwiches on board HQS Wellington was a pleasant stroll (albeit a vigorous Pilots walk with the other Modern moored on the Thames at Temple. For one) through warm and sunlit City Livery Companies, accompanied by a the first time in years, the weather was streets to the usual huge applause and London bus; this year a splendid gold- kind to us, which meant that in addition cheering from the thousands who came painted original Routemaster. to being spared the trudging in driving out to watch. But it was close; as we left We had to be in position by 1015 for the rain through slurry filled streets, we were Cutlers’ Hall having dropped off our 1100 start of the procession, but being able to enjoy the splendid view from the robes, the first few ominous heavy drops about halfway through the marching upper deck of Wellington. of a torrential downpour were just order, it was past 1130 before we moved Suitably refreshed, and after a similarly starting!
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pub, a short walk from St Michael's and, have a number of new Assistants joining Master’s Message by all accounts, this was a popular move the Court. The deadline for nominations By Captain Colin Cox from the Counting House. Steak and closed on January 31st and, given the kidney pie followed by sticky toffee composition and rotation of the Court, Well, here we are, my last epistle before pudding does nothing for the waistline and dependent on the Assistant who is my term as Master comes to its inevitable but hey-ho! elected to Warden in January, the total conclusion. It's going to be difficult to let Now I have to put my 'Time Lord' hat number of vacancies will be either four go of that 'gong' around my neck that back on again since I am writing this or five. As a result, this year has all the before copy deadline at the beginning of seems to have a mind of its own; twisting hallmarks of being a very interesting round to the reverse like a recalcitrant January as we enter the New Year, and election indeed. child every time anyone comes near with the invitations for functions are coming With very little (so far) on the calendar a camera. Thank goodness for 'Sticky in thick and fast again. By the time you Fixers'. read this, we will have said 'Goodbye' to for February and, however the elections pan out, one final duty in my year, and As it happens I do get to stay in position Ruth, our stalwart assistant to Paul in the for two more weeks than the norm this office, at a leavi ng 'do' held at the RAF one that I am particularly looking year, as a result of the requirement to Club on the 10th January. Ruth retired at forward to, is leading the move to our dovetail bookings for both St Michael's the end of November but will continue new home - Air Pilots House. This will and Merchant Taylors' Hall. The AGM to do some work for the Company, be the culmination of much work with and installation of the Master Elect is managing the website on an ‘as required’ input from many parties but none more scheduled for March 25th this year so basis and working remotely from home so than our Learned Clerk. Paul has gone please do see if you can come along. An (or wherever), but she will not be above and beyond the call of duty in so AGM always seems to be a bit of a dry coming into the office and all her other many respects in effecting this acquisition old subject, but the Installation Dinner is duties/roles have been subject to a that I'm not sure his efforts have been anything but dry and is one of the few gradual hand-over. We wish her and her fully appreciated. occasions during our year that we can husband, Barry, well but she is, hopefully, One other person to be singled out for bring our wives or partners to a social not 'lost' to us as her nomination for recognition is that of the IPM, Chris function. acceptance to the Livery for services to Spurrier. Chris has doggedly purs ued the And what a year its been! In many ways the Company was to be put forward to formal winding up of 9 Warwick Court much of the same but I've also tried to the January Court. Ltd., the legal entity of our previous HQ put my own stamp on it, as has Denise in Friday 11th January saw the annual City her capacity as Mistress. Since we New Year Service, again at St. Michael's, and, at the time of writing, I believe one returned from the Master's Tour, an attended by the Lord Mayor of London of the Trustees of that particular entity, article about which appears elsewhere in and the Governor of the Bank of Mr Robin Pick, is in the final stages of this magazine, things have been a lot England, both reading a lesson. A concluding the process. It would be nice quieter so far as official Company duties reception was held following the Service to think that this could be completed have been concerned. at Drapers' Hall. before the end of my term as Master. Of course there was the annual A splendid 'White Tie' Banquet for the So, there we are, in less than a couple of Christm as Carol service at St Michael's Woolmens' annual Alms Court Dinner months Malcolm White will have taken and Denise was delighted to discover that was held on the 16th at the Barber over the reins as I step down. I've heard it one of the perks of being the Mistress Surgeons' Hall to which both myself and said by countless Masters before me, "Just was that she got to choose the carols. Her Denise were invited. We made good where has the time gone?" It must surely first thought was 'O Holy Night' and I friends with the Master of the Woolmen be a function of how one busy a year the said that was such an impossible carol to and his Mistress, Andrew and Gillian Master's year is. The job would be sing well. OK for Johnny Mathis or Bing Dawson, over the year and this invitation impossible without the help and support Crosby but Master Elect? IPM? Our was a reciprocal gesture for our personal of the team in the office and of course, in Learned Clerk? Myself? Much better the support of the sheep drive over London most cases, the unstinting support of a choir sing it, and what a magnificient job Bridge last September, entering our they did! Jonath an Rennert and his team family team of 'shepherds'. Mistress/Consort, in my case Denise. of choristers are really the unsung heroes The usual round of meetings occurred She, like me, will look back on our (excuse me for that) of our two services throughout January and, of course, the experience as a never-to-be-repeated a year. Denise has sent a letter of thanks annual election of the new Warden privilege and I sincerely hope that I've expressing our appreciation for their occurred at the January Court meeting. honoured my promise when first elected efforts. By now the name of the successful as Warden to serve the Company to the The carol service was followed this year candidate is known and many best of my ability. Thank you for the by a return to the George and Vulture congratulations are in order. We also will opportunity.
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The Master's Tour (Part 2) By Captain Colin Cox
In the last edition of Air Pilot we left the the Harbour Bridge, with members of story in Auckland, about to depart across the Region who would not be able to the Tasman for Sydney. We had given make the Formal Dinner. Lunch s wa ourselves a couple of days after the followed by Sandy whisking us off to the Formal Dinner to catch up with some PACDEFF conference at the Crowne old Cathay friends in the Auckland area. Plaza Hotel at Coogee Beach where we Staying in the magnificent Victorian-era met up with the current Australian Northern Club for the first weekend of Regional Chairman, Mike Cleaver (aka November, with it unstaffed, was a surreal Wombat). You might appreciate, if you experience as we had the whole building didn't already know, that a lot of people to oursel ves, with the exception, we were in the Antipodes seem to have a told, of one other couple who we never nickname! As opposed to a nickname, did see. With its ivy-covered exterior PACDEFF is obviously an acronym, but The Master and his Lady at the Aldinga club house facade it could easily have earned a don't ask me what it means. Nobody else reputation as a haunted house, other than seemed to know either, but it's TV in April 1966. Hopefully, as seen in the fact that it is a superb old building something to do with CRM, NTS and the accompanying photo. and we were very comfortable there. Aviation Human Factors and it's the The following afternoon Sandy, with his Monday November 5th saw us catch the largest conference of its type in the wife Marj, drove us to the Australian QF144 flight to Sydney where we were world. Club, again a most prestigious venue, met at the airport by Upper Freeman I wasn't even aware what NTS meant where we checked in ahead of the 50th Craig Wells, with whom we were to until Google came to the rescue - Anniversary Dinner of the Australian spend a most pleasant couple of days, apparently it's 'Non Technical Skills', but Region. We were welcomed to our room along with his wife, Julia, in the suburb of you, the intelligent reader, would have with a bottle of 'bubbly', a very generous Collaroy Plateau, ahead of the formal known that. Anyway, the Air Pilots had a gift from Mr Peter Lloyd, the visit. That kicked off on the 8th when the promotional stand there and I found nonagenarian previous recipient of the Immediate Past Chairman of the myself behind the desk sandwiched Region's 'Master's Trophy and facilitator Australian Region, Captain Sandy between Sandy and Wombat in a passable of the evening's event. I had thought that Howard, picked us up to take us for representation of the 'Class Sketch' from I could get away with making just one lunch at the prestigious Kirribilli Club by the Frost Report, as broadcast on BBC speech for all five Formal Dinners we
C172 hits the spot Members enjoying the sunshine while they chat and watch the landings
Winners are Grinners YM Nick Arman
Members enjoying the Aviation High School BBQ with Steve Nelson's presentation RV7 in the background 7 AIR PILOT FEB 2019:AIR PILOT MASTER 24/01/2019 14:54 Page 8
Armistice Day and, fortuitously, in the had a quick chat in passing but couldn't year of the 100th anniversary of the tarry as we were to be treated for dinner cessation of hostilities after the First at Pete and Jane Norford's house, ahead World War, it fell on Sunday November of an Australian Council conference call. 11th. Denise and I were introduced to The next day our chauffeur (Mike Murray Kear, CEO of the Temora Cleav er/Wombat) put his tourist guide Aviation Museum and it was to Murray hat on and drove us round Canberra and that I presented the certificate of out to the Deep Space Communication affiliation on the airfield's apron in front Complex, also known as the Tidbinbilla of a crowd of spectators gathered to see a Tracking Station, in the valley of the display of iconic warbirds, both static and same name. This complex forms part of flying. It was a beautifully warm Aussie NASA's Deep Space Network that spans spring day and the crowd were out in the globe and was an absolutely their shorts and thongs asking, "And just fascinating visit. Our tour was rounded who exactly is that bloody Pom out there off by Mike taking us up to the National dressed up to the nines in his jacket and Arboretum where 44,000 trees from over tie with a gong around his neck?" Well at 100 countries are growing across the Past Regional Chairman and the day’s Judge Harold Walton perusing the scoresheets least this couple of overdressed 'Poms' huge 618-acre site, and which afforded us knew the words to Advance Australia were to attend during the tour, but it a spectacular view of Canberra and its Fair, the Aussie national anthem, which rapidly dawned on me that this was not environs. We would never have seen any surprised a lot of those present. going to prove possible. After being of this if it wasn't for our new 'mate' introduced by the Regional Chairman Mid-afternoon, after the flying display Wombat, so, at this point in the narrative, and delivering my 'Sydney' speech, I was (which included a poppy drop over the I would formally like to thank Mike for delighted to be able to present Wing town's war memorial from the world's everything he did for Denise and myself Commander (Ret'd) Ian Mallett with the only airworthy Lockheed Hudson), we from Sydney through Temora to upped sticks from Temora for the 2½ Canberra. This is not to diminish in any Australian Bi-Centennial Award as well hour drive to Canberra, again courtesy of way our gratitude to Pete Norford and as Jim Thurstan with the Grand Master's 'Wombat', our designated chauffeur. At his wife Jane for their hospitality in Australian Medal. the hotel, which was to be our home for Canberra too. The following day we were up with the the next four nights, we were met by Having made our farewells at an informal larks to be driven to Temora, home of the Group Captain (Ret'd) Pete Norford evening out with members at a Temora Aviation Museum, where I was (Norfs), Secretary of the Australian Vietnamese BYO the previous night, to present a certificate commemorating Region. Pete had arranged meetings over Denise and I were driven to the airport the museum being granted affiliation the Monday and Tuesday with Air by Pete/Norfs for our Virgin Australia with the Region. I will apologise now, Services Australia who look after the flight to Adelaide with, what ended up as, but with Denise and myself being ATC infrastructure, the Australian a three-hour connection at Melbourne. somewhat ignorant of Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and This was more than a little frustrating geography, we struggled to differentiate CASA, Australia's Civil Aviation Safety knowing we were to return to between exactly where and when we Authority. Finally we met with the Chief Me lbourne for our visit there anyway on were going. Was it Temora tomorrow, the of the Air Force, Air Marshal Leo Davies. the following Monday (it was now the next day, or was it tomorrow that we Discussions touched on a number of 15th). However, the tour had to be were goi ng to Temora? All was revealed subjects but inevitably involved drones, scheduled this way since a Formal when we eventually arrived there after a which was certainly prescient Dinner had been planned for Friday 16th five-hour drive in Wombat's Subaru, considering the disruption occasioned by in Adelaide where I was to present the stopping for a break in a sleepy little the closure of Gatwick just prior to the Australian Region's 'Master's Trophy' for town called Yass, NSW. Temora itself is Christmas holiday. 2018 to Rob Moore, Chairman of the about 50 miles or so north of Wagga Once the meetings had all been South Australian Region. Said gentleman Wagga, affectionally known as Wagga. concluded, Denise and I were taken to met us at Adelaide airport along with our This begs the question, "If Wagga Wagga the Australian War Memorial for the Last host, Denise's cousin Michael O'Connell. is known as Wagga, why is Woy Woy, to Post ceremony which, in this centenary Michael and his wife, Anne, were to put the north of Sydney, not known as Woy?" year, obviously add ed an extra note of us up for the four nights we spent in I can't remember who posed the poignancy. Whilst we were there one of Adelaide. Prior to the Formal Dinner at question, but it seemed a perfectly those crazy coincidences occurred when the Military, Naval and Air Force Club reasonable question and caused us all I just happened to recognise ex-CX we were shown around the facilities at quite a degree of amusement. Captain Peter Yates and his wife Joan Flight Training Adelaide, one of the The Temora visit coincided with who were visiting from Perth, WA. We foremost flying training schools in the
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region and which took me back to my winery experi ence in itself, a description were in the vicinity. They were initially own flying training days at the College of of which must be left for another time. mystified as to why it was raining tomato Air Training, Hamble. The dinner saw me The next day was a 'free day' (finally) ketchup. I didn't know where to put give my third speech of the Tour and which we were able to spend with myself. Denise pretended it hadn't present, not only Rob's 'Master's Trophy' members of Denise's family before happened. I ran off to get a cloth from but also a 'Letter of Recognition' to Mr departing on the Monday for the service counter and offered to help John Pope for his contribution to Melbourne. An uneventful quick flight wipe the ladies' down. My effort was country aviation and the building of the with VA had us met at the airport by our politely declined. In the end all I could Southern Cross replica. This was the good friend, Carolyn, from our Hong do was give up and say, "Sorry, you Fokker F.VIIb/3m aircraft that in 1928 Kong past, who, with her husband, Nigel, Aussies are very forgiving"- which they was flown by Austra lian aviator, Charles were to be our Melbourne hosts. were. They're response was, "That's Kingsford-Smith, in the first-ever trans- Melbourne is a bit of a backwater so far alright love, we're Kiwis!" Pacific flight to Australia from the United as Company activity is concerned but Day 27 and we arrived in Brisbane. States. John Whittington, along with his wife Captain John Howie, an old Dragonair Altogether 65 guests were present, which Shirley, arranged a luncheon at the Royal mate from HK days met us and took us matched exactly with Hong Kong to Automobile Club of Victoria. No home, where he and his wife Gael had make this one of the most highly speeches this time and no presentations. offered to put us up for our time there. A attended dinners of the Tour. Interesting Just a good old chin-wag with members quick change and an hour later we were that those Downunder always referred to who included, from my old CX days, off to a supposedly 'informal' get- the Master's Tour as the Master's Visit but Capt Mike Killingsworth (Killer) and together with a few old HK pals. Not understandable really because, to any one Captain Ken Patton (no nickname to my quite! Jacket and tie we're told and off we city, it would alwa ys be a visit to that knowledge but let's take a stab at Patto). went to another top c lub in town, the particular city. T hursday November 22nd and off to United Service Club. Well it was a very On Saturday 17th November, the day Brizzie. Not much had gone wrong so good evening although I can't help but after the Formal Dinner, our Adelaide far on the trip but things were about to feel it was all a bit of a practice for the hosts, Michael and Anne, drove us down change. Weather problems along the East Formal Dinner arranged for the Saturday, to a little airfield south of Adelaide called coast earlier in the week contrived to 48 hours hence. Mostly the same people, Aldinga. Apparently I had been entered make check-in a nightmare with people similar format, different venue. into a spot landing competition in a everywhere. I waved my arms around a It's not all beer and skittles though! I still C172. Past Master Spurrier had also been lot, pleaded insanity, and was rescued by a had a function to perform and the involved with this 'game' the year before very nice lady saying, "Anyone for Queensland Working Group had and I had no illusion of improving upon, Brisbane, come and see Amy". I found a arranged a visit to the Royal Flying by Chris's own admission, his unenviable gap in the queue for check-i n desks and Doctor Service facilitated by Captain performance. Needless to say, I didn't! said, "Are you Amy?" And hey presto! Tony Alder, Chairman of the Queensland What I did, however, was receive a Once we were through, all was calm, and Region and another old CX colleague. consolation prize of a fine bottle of a we even found time to sit down and I Shown around the RFDS operation by McLaren Vale red. Of course we had to ordered a 'Full English' (or should be a Chief Pilot Shane Lawrey, who has since finish the day off with a visit to one of 'Full Australian'?) Either way I needed become a member of the Honourable the wineries where the contents are tomato ketchup and, as I squeezed the Company, this was a visit that was a produced and it came to pass that a recalcitrant container, it shot up a spray of privilege to undertake. After lunch, and goodly number of members decamped the stuff which descended in a myriad of thanking Shane for his hospitality, Denise from Aldinga Airfield to the d'Arenberg small red dollops which settled on the and I were taken to a school called Estate and the Cube; a most unusual white T-shirts of a group of ladies who Aviation High, specialising in preparing The Formal Dinner
Kirribilli Club
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The Master and Rob Moore (SA Chairman and Australian Region Master’s Trophy Winner) RFDS presentation RFDS teenagers for careers in aviation. This is in Philip Helicopter Award on behalf of the facilities at the HK Observatory. I had addition to a regular school curriculum; GFS for their exemplary rescue effort never been before and it was truly a most innovative approach and we were during Typhoon Hato on 23rd August fascinating, not only to be appraised of given a tour of the facilities by the 2017. The intention was to be flown by the history of the observatory but also to school's Principal, David Munn. helicopter back to Central Hong Kong have described the relevance of its And so it came time to leave Australia for in one of the Service's brand-new Airbus integration with regards to aviation Hong Kong. Memories of the hospitality H175 Guépard aircraft. That's a bit of a meteorological reporting (METARS, Denise and I experienced and the mouthful so they call it the 'Cheetah'. TAFs and the like) and the technology friendly welcome we received from Unfortunately the weather had other employed in integration with aircraft everyone; those we already knew and the ideas. It was a foul day with rain lashing systems through satellite and digital new friends we found will stay with us down and visibility severely restricted. interface. Very many thanks indeed to the forever. A special mention in despatches Despite the heroic effort of the crew in Director of the HKO, Mr. Shun Chi- here must go to the QWG Chairman getting us airborne and making the effort ming and his Assistant Director who and his wife, Tony and Merryn (Meg) to accomplish the mission we soon found facilitated the visit, Ms. Sharon Lau Sum- Alder, most ably assisted in putting the ourselves back on the ground at CLK yee. Brisbane visit together by John and Gael with a minibus transfer into town. By now, if you've managed to read this Howie. They, in particular, went the extra The evening was set aside for a two hour far, it won't have escaped your attention mile in making us feel most welcome in 'party' tram ride through the streets of that no evening in Hong Kong would be their home. Thank you all. Central which, despite the weather, can complete without recourse to some form A flight through the night in Business best be described as a 'fun' event. of social interaction and Thursday Class on Cathay Pacific saw us arrive No rest for the wicked though and evening was no exception. It was billed as reasonably well rested into Chek Lap Wednesday saw appropriate members of an informal get-together at the old Kok Airport, Hong Kong and met by the HK General Committee back at the 'Weinstube' restaurant in Ashley Road, HK Regional Chairman, Captain airport for a visit with the HK Civil Tsim Sha Tsui, now renamed 'Prosit'. Lachlan (Locky) Lawford - an Australian, Aviation Department to be met by Either way it was the same old fun-filled hence the nickname. Upper Freeman Ian Quinn of the CAD establishment and, needless to say, a good Locky and the HK Treasurer, Patrick and his team. A long and healthy time was had by all, as they say. Voigt, known as 'PV' (there's an discussion ensued followed by a most Friday was a day clear of meetings but exception to every rule - he's a Brit), had sumptuous Chinese lunch. involved preparations for the final Formal put together a week of visits and A visit to Hong Kong wouldn't be Dinner of the tour and it was billed as a meetings interspersed with social junkets complete without an evening out at the spectacular event at a new venue for the that can best be described as 'full on'. The Races though and so it was that the HK Region, the ICON hotel in Tsim first evening saw a cocktail rec eption for evening saw many members gathered at Sha Tsui East. I have to say, the organisers, members in the splendid Clipper Lounge Happy Valley Racecourse in one of the namely Locky and PV, assisted by of the Peninsula Hotel. I will warn the private 'boxes'. A HK 'box' is actually a colleagues on the Regional Committee Master Elect now that this is unlikely to restaurant in itself and, as usual, the buffet pulled out all the stops. The hotel itself be repeated next year as I am informed mix of western and Asian dishes was ensured that sufficient staff were on hand that the budget overran by HK$4,000. absolutely superb. And of course there at all times to ensure the event ran The next day, Tuesday 27th, involved a was the racing but perhaps the less said seamlessly. During the formalities, it was visit to the Government Flying Service about that the better as the majority of my particular pleasure to present Captain (GFS) HQ, where our 'team' was met by punters came away considerably the Graham Forbes with the Master's Hong the Controller, Upper Freeman Captain poorer. Kong Regional Award 2018 and I'm sure Michael Chan. Michael was present at It has also become a traditional part of that the 65 members and their guests the T&A this year to collect the Prince the Master 's Visit to be shown around the who attended had a thoroughly
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marvellous evening. I know that Denise and I most certainly did. It was a fitting finale to a tremendous trip for us and one that we will remember for the rest of our lives. We were allowed a day to ourselves after the dinner so that we could pack our suitcases one last time. After ten flight sectors and two car trips, with just one Formal Dinner ‘wrap up’ flight to go, I don't think that either of us could say we were sorry thi s particular Master and Wombat in Yass aspect of the Tour was coming to an end. I took Denise out for a last evening meal Michael & Anne O’Connell with the Master & his Lady in Hong Kong together and to an old favourite of ours, a Swiss restaurant his wife, Nicci, joined us in an Uber to named, appropriately enough, The Swiss the airport just to make sure we left. One Chalet. It was then back to 'our' last FaceTime call en-route to the HK apartment and it is here that I must make Chairman, Locky, pretty well concluded one final massive 'Thank You' and that it the farewell process although PV and is to Captain Mike MacCulloch of Nicci were absolutely determined to see Cathay Pacific Airways for allowing us to us go by waving us off right until the last stay with him for the week that we were as we processed through immigration at there. departures. Then it was a leisurely start to our And then we were here home, 5 weeks journey home with a 15:05 departure to after we'd left, being greeted with...... LHR - Cathay Pacific naturally. PV and "Did you have a nice holiday?" The Master’s Alternative Tour by Tiger Moth
By Liveryman Richie Piper
It is well known that the Master and his of the 100th anniversary of flight and has “Mistress” (the term Colin uses) run every year since, apart from when the undertake a Tour of the regions both to floods in eastern England caused its promote the Company and to strengthen cancellation. Its true purpose is to get the the bonds with our overseas members. owners out in their aircraft and hopefully This year's tour was split into two have a couple of days flying around segments rather than one single big England’s green pastures. However, the journey. However, many may not know VAT has not always limited itself to that the Master was involved in another England but has been to France twice: to tour, the Vintage Air Tour (VAT) which Compiegne, with nearly 30 aircraft on Enjoying the ambience of Charlton Park took place one weekend in the middle of the last occasion, which was a four-day September. tour. There was also a very successful VAT runways together with one hard strip. The Master is well known for his raid on the Dams on the 70th Therefore it caters admirably for commercial flying background but has anniversary that was also the subject of an tailwheel and tailskid aircraft (a tailskid not been active in the general aviation article in Air Pilot. and no brakes means grass is pretty scene for some years. Approaching This year’s VAT involved 17 vintage essential). The Aviator Hotel at the retirement from commercial flying, the aircraft and was centred on Sywell where airfield offers great convenience and is in Master became a member of the most entrants met up on the Friday keeping with the event since, although it Frensham Tiger Flying group and evening, the remainder arriving on is essentially a 60s s tyle hotel, it has been undertook the Vintage Aircraft Tour Saturday morning before the official tastefully refurbished in the Art Deco (VAT) together with the author, in Tiger start. As an airfield, Sywell is ideal for style. Indeed, so well has this been done, Moth G-AOZH. vintage aircraft as it is basically a large new guests struggle to find their room as The VAT started in 2003 as a celebration smooth grass area with three marked the numbering is more focused on
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On the approach to Charlton Park
A glorious Friday evening crossing the M4 enroute to Sywell
sun chased away the shadows. A proper Haddenham was originally an RAF aviators’ breakfast followed by the WW2 airfield called RAF Thame and morning briefing set us up for the day. was used for glider training. It was Amazingly, the wind was straight down therefore appropriate that when it the strip at all 5 airfields that were transferred to civilian use this included Tigers returning to Sywell planned for the Saturday (Haddenham, gliding, and from 1965 the charity Charlton Park, Oaksey Park – for fuel, Upward Bound Trust (UBT) operated authenticity than information! It also Bidford and back to Sywell). The radio from here, inspired by Sir Frederick includes a 1930s Art Deco bar and was still non-operational, so we partnered Hoare, the then Lord Mayor of London, restaurant, which was formerly a with a shepherd aircraft (another Tiger and his “Youth and Leadership” initiative. Clubhouse and Officers’ Mess, together Moth, thank you to Willie and Anne They have a similar objective to the Air with much fascinating memorabilia from Geddes) to follow, having spoken to the Pilots of introducing young people to the vintage age of flying. airfields by phone. flight, for as little £2 a flight, and have Returning to our participation, the The aircraft on the VAT include d 6 Tiger trained hundreds of youngsters, many intrepid crew met up at Frensham to get Moths, 3 Chipmunks, a Leopard Moth, 3 going on to a career in aviation. Sadly the Tiger Moth out of the hangar, which Hornet Moths and a Miles Messenger. this all came to end on 20th December involved moving four other aircraft. The Tiger Moths were nearly all still after the landowner gave them notice to Preparing for flight included refitting the tailskid-equipped so had the most limited quit, in order to develop the land. They r adio battery which had been removed capability in terms of airfield operations. are still looking for a new home. Despite for charging. Unfortunately a quick test The VAT is designed to take into the impending closure looming, the showed the radio was u/s and a solution consideration the limiting characteristics UBT provided a very hospitable could not be found in the time available. of vintage aircraft as well as looking for welcome with tea, coffee, biscuits and A brief call to Sywell arranged a non- enjoyable places to visit. cakes. This was clearly a tour where the radio arrival, and an uneventful flight in The VAT set sail for Haddenham in a weight and balance would need careful the usual headwind (!) provided a stream of departures in glorious monitoring! delightful start to the weekend in bright conditions with the wind on our It was then time to saddle up ready for sunshine. The radio-inspired delay meant starboard beam. As is the case, the aircraft the next leg, which was officially with we were the last to arrive and after quickly spread and disappeared from the Master as P1, since the idea was the picketing down the aircraft for the night, view except our shepherd, which we flying would be shared on each leg. we joined the others in the bar for a loosely formated on, although with the Colin’s smooth take-off kept us close to drink and then evening meal. The Master Tiger’s limited overtaking performance the shepherd and we took a few air-to- and I were on the Chippy table and we could not let separation build too air photos of them as, remarkably, they enjoyed talking to these “modern” much. As we approached Haddenham had not had their picture taken in the air aircraft crew! and closed up to follow them for the before. Charlton Park is well known to The morning broke to a bright but cool join, all the other aircraft appeared ahead Air Pilots as a recent Garden Party was day and the various aircraft looked in the circuit and we trundled round to held there thanks to the Earl and beautiful in the early morning dew as the land and park up. Countess of Suffolk. It is a delightful
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destination and head to Sywe ll but after a discussion, an arrival time and joining procedure was agreed. We landed as planned and the only traffic was an aerotow that launched as we were on base leg. This turned out to be in contrast with the rest of the VAT arrivals which were very busy; non-radio again had some advantage! After the normal period of chat and a cuppa with some delicious homemade cakes, plans were made to depart and it was decided it would be best for the three Tigers to launch together and fly back in formation. It was the Master’s The ‘Shepherd’ Tiger departure again and I took a few shots in loose formation before I took over and parkland site in the grounds of the the ITV serie s Piece of Cake, Charlton closed up, and Colin took a nice shot of Manor House, which itself is very close Park featured as the French Chateau St. Tiger Moth G-ADJJ on his phone. Apart to the threshold of the runway 25. It was Pierre; this provides an added interest, from the few that joined in only for the only after we had landed that we especially as one of my aircraft was day, the remainder arrived back at Sywell understood the benefits of being non- involved in the filming. to secure their aircraft and enjoy well- radio. The A/G radio did not have a After lunch we departed on our own for strong and clear signal for some reason a pre-arranged time of landing at Oaksey earned d rinks before (and after!) dinner. and there were many others flying into Park to uplift fuel. Andrew does a great Despite the “leisurely” service this was Charlton Park for the day, so it was very job of looking after us and it is a another very social dinner. busy! However we were unaware of this delightful airfield to visit. The Air Pilots In reviewing the weather for the Sunday, as we dutifully followed our shepherd Flying Club includes it in their it was clear the wind would be strong round the circuit keeping a good look program me every year if you would like and 90 degrees across all the runways bar out for traffic and were only cut up once, to experience this scenic airfield. After one. After discussing this as a crew, and on finals, by someone joining from the tea & biscuits and settling payment for having had such an enjoyable day, it was “wrong” base. This was easily fuel (cheque only, no credit cards), we decided it was better to run away bravely accommodated, and the Master landed were now on our own for the next leg, and quit whilst we were ahead in the smoothly before we taxied to parking. A flying along the ridge looking down to morning. Getting back in to our strip barbeque lunch was available in the Gloucester and Cheltenham. Bidford would also be a problem, so we arranged hangar and tour members could chat to were initially nervous of us coming non- to fly to Popham and see how things each other as well as the other flyers who radio as another event was also taking panned out. We did launch back to had arrived. For those that can remember place. We offered to happily skip this Frensham strip when the conditions The steed of the Master and Richie Piper picketed safely at Sywell for the night were at their most favourable but on short finals it was clear conditions were not suitable, so we returned to Popham where they were very helpful in helping us secure the aircraft (even providing a golf cart as a further tie down point) until conditions improved. So for us the VAT had concluded after some excellent flights, glorious airstrips, and good company and fellowship from those who enjoy and understand the challenge of vintage aircraft flying. It is always a pleasure to experience the way everyone helps each other and of course provided the Master with an additional Tour for his year. Thank you to the Master for his company despite the demands of his busy year, and especially Ron and Valery Gammons for arranging the VAT.
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Upset Training v Keeping Control. From the Desk of the The Air France 477 and similar accidents Director Aviation Affairs have prompted many aviation Liveryman John Turner organisations and regulators to look at issues such as the potentially debilitating A new year has started so once again it is believe that if they issue a roster within impact of flight deck automation, pilot time to reflect – and to look forward. the maximum limits, it will be impossible skill fade, arousal levels and startle effect. Unfortunately, perhaps almost inevitably, for an individual to become fatigued. We were no different. We also recognised 2018 did not match up to the 2017 This is clearly nonsense and totally that, regardless of experience, many of us precedent of zero accidents and zero contrary to the expressed regulator intent felt our ability to fly well on instruments passenger deaths in commercial jet passenger behind ‘relaxed’ limits that were was a skill that could quickly atrophy operations1. Although not all the 2018 introduced to allow the airlines more and, if so for us, then presumably for accidents have been fully analysed, flexibility in scheduling, while a FRMS others. Of all these considerations, the preliminary reports show (perhaps provided a fatigue-controlling safety emerging remedy of choice appears to be equally inevitably) that Loss of Control backstop and the ability continuously to upset recovery training in simulators or and Controlled Flight into Terrain improve scheduling effectiveness. As we light aircraft but there has been a fairly featured amongst the causes. Looking contemplate the issues surrounding flight constant line of thought running in the to the future a number of issues, none of crews, we should remember that ground Technical Committee throughout all of which are really new, begin to feature staff who also play a vital role in the this: If you can’t keep control of the either in the media and/or in the topics safety and efficiency of airline operations aircraft in the first place, why would you of concern to our Technical Committee. face similar challenges of early starts and expect to be able to regain control? late finishes. Surely prevention is better than cure in
TECHNICAL CoMMITTEE UPDATE Satellite Navigation. Aviation relies this instance.
Fatigue. It is no secret that we all react increasingly on satellite-based navigation; MAG2TRU. We hope to have a short differently to stress and disturbed it is highly accurate and allows improved (30 minute) presentation on the safety circadian rhythms. Similarly, the effects flight efficiency and operating economy. and cost benefits the transitions issues in of an extended number of late finishes or Meanwhile, traditional ground-based changing from magnetic to true north- an extended number of early starts has navigation aids are being withdrawn r eferenced navigation and on fatigue later been known for a long time; the ICAO across the globe. Mariners also rely this year. These will be made available to Fatigue Management Guide for Airline increasingly on satel lite-based navigation all members in due course Operators (2nd Edition) includes a graph systems but the maritime world is also of results from 20002 research showing embarking on providing complementary how the reaction time of subjects ground-based solutions such as eLoran as DRoNES afforded less than 8 hours ‘time in bed’ a back-up. For an aircraft descending on Drones became the lead news item in (TIB) degrades progressively – and that a GNSS approach, disruption of the UK when, just six days before Christmas, after 7 days of limited TIB even three satellite signals - whether by a lorry- London Gatwick was forced by reported nights of 8 hours is not enough to restore driver’s GPS-jammer or a malicious drone activity to close repeatedly over a normal reaction tim e. Yet we continue to agent’s deliberate act – would prevent 30 hour period. The incident is thought hear of failures in Fatigue Risk landing in poor weather and spread that to have started when a security officer Management System (FRMS) disruption into the air traffic network. finishing his shift at about 21:00 saw implementation, including flight crews Aviation safety is a continual exercise in something unusu al, in the form of two coming under pressure with threats of risk management; an industry that needs flying objects, each in the shape of a cross dismissal if they report being fatigued sustained operations in poor weather with sharply flashing lights, flying over a while following their planned roster. might be wise not to place all its eggs in perimeter road. By the conclusion of the This approach suggests that some airlines one basket. event, over 1,000 flights and 140,000
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passengers were affected, with many recalcitrant drone operator? The Federal security minister Ben Wallace warned people travelling for the holidays. Air Aviation Authority (FAA) has launched a that “terrorists continue to explore new ways traffic control (ATC) suddenly became drone identification test program that is to kill us on our streets: chemical and biological unexpectedly busy at a time when financed by the drone industry and weapons are marching in closer. They have activity is usually winding down. There aimed at speeding up the drone developed and worked on a better arsenal. We is a good illustration of the knock-on identification process to open up swathes have to be prepared for the day that might effect available on-line; Gatwick had of airspace currently blocked to come to our streets here.” previously experienced a much shorter commercial drone operators. The UK Hopefully, once Sussex Police and others ‘drone’ incident in July after-which Civil aviation A uthority (CAA) has been have completed their investigations into NATS, the air traffic services provider championing low power miniaturised the whole Gatwick event, lessons will across all of the UK’s air way structure and ADS-B that every drone (and light emerge to drive the behaviours, many of its aerodromes, produced a video aircraft and glider, etc.) could carry. legislation, operational preparedness and to show how even that relative short However, as the Gatwick experience equipment needed to ensure swift and closure impacted the nation’s air shows, in addition to handling effective resolution of any future similar network. We should also remember the cooperative air vehicles, it is absolutely incident. The response to terrorist threats flight crews for whom each disrupted or vital to be able to detect, track and then will always be intelligence-led but a diverted flight changed and added further identify (or knock-down safely) non- system that secures our airport security in uncertainty to their planned schedules. cooperative drones, which is a challenge future could also protect our streets. One (It would be interesting to know the military have been facing on lesson is evident, even before the whether/how the airlines’ FRMS operations for some time. Research investigation is complete; you cannot fix recorded and coped with those changes!) work quantifying the effects of drone every aviation issue through aviation As the closure co ntinued, the Royal Air strike already shows that bird-strike rules because those who strive to follow Force Regiment deployed with UK- resistance may be no protection against a the rules are not the issue – it is the designed specialist counter-drone drone-strike; the male Kori Bustard, others that pose the threat to us all. equipment (not the ‘army’ or the Israeli which is native to Africa and the heaviest Best wishes for 2019 Drone Dome system as originally flying bird in the world can weighs 18 kg reported). but it does not comprise localised lumps The whole event highlighted many of of high density battery or camera the things that aviation has been equipment. struggling with since the advent of While we have a particular interest in the smaller and cheaper drones into the ‘drone threat’ it ex tends well beyond civilian market: How do you ensure aviation. In October 2018, FBI Director drones do not adversely impact manned Christopher Wray told the US Senate aviation? How do stop a drone that is Homeland Security Committee that the threatening your airfield? How do you terrorist threat from a drone attack was identify (then catch and punish) a escalating. That same month, UK
1Aviation Safety Network statistics based on all worldwide fatal commercial aircraft accidents (passenger and cargo flights) involving civil aircraft certified to carry 14 or more passengers. If military transport aircraft and non-commercial flights of this category are included, total fatalities would be 230 in 24 fatal accidents, which is still the lowest numbers in modern aviation history. 2Figure provided by Dr N. Wesensen, adapted from Figure 2-24, U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Report No. DOT-MC-00-133, May 2000 3https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0rfFFZ332k (accessed 5 Jan 19)
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Visit to the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston by Liveryman Alan Jackson
On the morning of the tenth of October, fission reaction in its plutonium core. twenty-two members arrived at the main Almost next to Blue Danube stood a entrance of the Atomic Weapons much larger, roughly rectangular steel Establishment at Aldermaston for our box. This was Blue Peacock, a prototype visit to the AWE museum. Security for a nuclear landmine intended for use matters having largely been dealt with in in Germany. It contained a physics advance, our host, Richard Moore, was package similar to Blue Danube and soon able to conduct the party on the could be triggered by a wire connection short walk to the AWE museum. Richard or by timer. To prevent some Soviet is AWE’s historian, and a visiting senior James Bond type from attempting to research fellow at the Centre for Science defuse it, there were anti-tamper devices; and Security Studies at King’s College the weapon would detonate ten seconds London. aft er being moved, filling with water, or After coffee, Richard gave us an in the event of a pressure drop in the introduction to the history of the AWE container. Although two prototypes were site at Aldermaston. AWE was originally built, Blue Peacock was, thankfully established as the Atomic Weapons perhaps not least for its operators, never Research Establishment in 1950, on the operationally deployed. former Second World War airfield of Blue Danube was succeeded in RAF Aldermaston. Originally intended production by Red Beard, another fission as a bomber base, wartime use of the bomb. This was a smaller weapon, which Chevaline station was mainly by United States enabled it to be carried by several Army Air Force units; among other tasks, additional types of aircraft; these included of its predecessors, it was capable of being C-47s and Hadrian gliders based there the Canberra, Buccaneer, Sea Vixen, carried by a range of types, from Vulcan took part in D-Day operations. Post-war, Scimitar and Javelin, though it was never to Harrier, and in its depth-charge the airfield was used briefly by BEA and operationally deployed on Sea Vixen or version, from RN helicopters. In service BOAC for training. Javelin. The reduction in size resulted from 1966 to 1998, the weapon was In the museum’s galleries we were from various miniaturisation steps, British-designed but with American introduced first to Blue Danube, some including smaller high explosive lenses. inputs. In 1969, delivery of Britain’s five feet in diameter and twenty-four feet As well as equipping UK-based aircraft, strategic deterrent passed to the long, the first British atomic bomb Red Beard was also deployed to submarine-launched Polaris missile, an design; its size is truly impressive. The Singapore (meeting a UK commitment example of which we saw in the need for an independent British weapon to the South East Asia Treaty museum. The submarines carried sixteen had arisen because the United States had Organisation), and to Cyprus (for the of these missiles, each originally cut off all nuclear co-operation with Cen tral Treaty Organisation). equipped with three warheads aimed to allies by means of the Atomic Energy Act By the time of Britain’s first successful fall in a triangular pattern and bet ween (the ‘McMahon’ Act) in 1946. Produced demonstration of a thermonuclear them having a one megaton yield. by a team led by Sir William Penney, Blue (fusion) bomb, the Flagpole device in the Richard described how the Royal Navy Danube was the resulting ‘special Grapple Z trial, nuclear co-operation (apart perhaps from Earl Mountbatten) weapon’ which the Valiant, Vulcan and with the United States had resumed. had not been keen to take the task on, Victor were designed to carry, and had a Britain having thus demonstrated its H- but, following the 1962 Nassau similar yield (10-12 kilotons) and broadly bomb credentials to America, the first agreement, had saluted smartly and similar design to the ‘Fat Man’ bomb operationally deployed British fusion carried on. In the event the weapon used at Nagasaki. Richard told us that the bomb, Red Snow, was based on a US system was delivered on time and on work to produce Blue Danube was design. This we were shown in a cut- cost. widely contracted out among British away example of the Yellow Sun bomb Increasingly sophisticated anti-ballistic- manufacturers. These included a hot casing, originally designed to missile defences around Moscow led to water bottle maker, who may have accommodate the much larger British the recognition that the deterrent va lue wondered what were the curiously Green Grass 400 kiloton yield fission of Polaris might be diminished or shaped rubber items that were so weapon, with its blunt nose to slow its obviated. To meet this challenge, the urgently required; he probably never fall. decision was made to replace the original knew that they were the moulds for the Next on our agenda was the WE177, the three-warhead Polaris weapon load with crucial segments of high explosive (the last British aircraft-delivered nuclear two weapons accompanied by multiple ‘lenses’) which initiated the weapon’s weapon. A much smaller device than any penetration aids, including decoys. This
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Polaris - at RAF Museum Cosford Yellow Sun
resulted in the politically troubled but programmes, spanning the era from the Atmospheric testing continued for a successful Chevaline programme, original Hurricane test in 1952 until decade, but went underground (in delivered in 1982, and it was particularly 1991. Richard explained the reason for Nevada) in 1962, and ceased in 1991. interesting to see an example in the the Hurricane test having been carried Since then, testing has been simulated. museum, albeit absent its penetration out in a ship (HMS Plym) in shallow After th is most interesting and unusual aids, and samples of its three-dimensional water. The fear was that the USSR might visit, and with many thanks to Richard quartz-phenolic heatshield. prefer to launch a nuclear attack on Moore for making it possible, our group Moving on to another gallery, we learnt Britain by delivering weapons in adjourned to the nearby Calleva Arms in about the various nuclear test merchant ships to British ports. Silchester for a buffet lunch.
GAZETTE APPRoVED BY THE CoURT 24 January 2019
ADMISSIONS ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE COURT RESIGNATIONS As Upper Freeman Mark Alexander BENNISON (OS) 24 JANUARY 2019 Glen HARRISON Reginald Alfred BRINDLEY Pierre Mark CADORET (HK) Matthew HINDES (AUS) Julian FENTON (OS) REINSTATEMENT Andrew HUNT (OS) Michael Charles GINN Desmond James Michael HOWARD As Upper Freeman Richard JONES Gregory John HUNKA (HK) Louis John Colman BEARDSWORTH (OS) Shane LAWREY (AUS) James LEAVER Peter Donald LEES (HK) Ryan Edward MANNERING Geoffrey LEDGER (AUS) Lydia Jane MILLS (HK) REGRADE Fjell Thomassen NORRBLOM (OS) Ian MARTIN (NA) As Freeman Ross PARKER (AUS) Christopher PALMER (NA) Marcus John TOMBLIN (HK) John Joseph DEECKE (AUS) Richard Anthony Joseph TOULMAN (NA) Mark SWAN
Jennifer THOMPSON (AUS) As Freeman Pavel AST ASHKIN (NA) DECEASED Douglas WHITFIELD (AUS) Michael Walter FLECKNEY Bruce ANDREWS (AUS) Adrian Raye THOMSON-HAYES Cornelius WILSON Douglas EVANS
As Associate Philip LAMB Annabelle Victoria CLEVE Samson Chun Wai KWOK (HK) Travis Jon LUDLOW FORFEIT ALL BENEFITS Daniel Andrew NARRAMORE (HK) Hillary PANG (AUS) Cameron ALEXANDER
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way above my existing level, and which I considered myself by then to be a Filling my toy box would ultimately pay huge dividends reasonably proficient light aircraft By Liveryman Peter Greenyer when handling a real-life engine failure, aeroplane driver - this was all to change whilst flying IMC inside Russian airspace as I was reduced to a quivering sweating I first became involved with Biggin Hill- - but that’s another story for another day. mass by this small but seemingly based Shipping & Airlines as a private uncontrollable beast that I was now pilot customer way back in 1988 - my trying without success to control. The first impressions were of an aviator- Cub is a great taildragger trainer and friendly hangar with an odd name. The with time, patience, and quite some staff went out of their way to make bravery, Richard Elles slowly coaxed me strangers welcome - a company ethos towards an adequate standard in the maintained, then as now, under the seemingly impossible and black art of tail leadership of our long-serving hangar dragging. Then one day it just happened manager Tony Habgood. Up until then I - a genuine light bulb moment - my had never had any ambition to onwn a hands and feet got together with my aeroplane - let alone an aircraft brain a little further behind and I soloed collection - and I have often wondered the Piper Cub - a fantastic moment. how it came to be, well here’s how. We are still using the same Piper L4 Cub I learnt to fly at Southend and considered to this day to convert nosewheel pilots myself to be a reasonably balanced into tail dragger folk, and for me it individual with an expensive habit. remains one of the very best things I do Flying for me then represented hiring a with my time to get someone with no club PA23 Apache and having fun Richard Elles – the man who really started the story tailwheel experience checked out and touring the UK and Europe - leaving the – expert multi engine pilot also a master of stick and away on a new aviation path. The joys of complexities of aircraft ownership to rudder flying. flying a taildragger over the Kent other more experienced types. As the years passed I became an ever countryside and being able to smell the Unfortunately for me, the poor old more frequent visitor to the Shipping & cut grass are second to none and I believe Apache went permanently u/s and the Airlines hangar at Biggin Hill - and as I should be on every pilot's aviation bucket search was on for a replacement - one passed through I could only wonder at list. was quickly located at the famous Kent the magnificent vintage aeroplanes airfield of Biggin Hill. Over the next couple of years Tony which always seemed to hide at the back Habgood introduced me to the delights of the hangar. It was that man again - of the vintage aircraft collection owned Richard Elles - who one day asked me by the company - which at that stage "have you ever considered tail was owned by ex-barrister and aviator, dragging?". A statement which found me Michael Dunkerly, who although rarely shortly thereafter sitting in a little Piper present, nevertheless very graciously Cub L4 owned by S & A, then having my allowed me to fly the hangar's aircraft first instruction in a very different mode collection under Tony Habgood’s of aviation. supervision. We started with the Rearwin Early days at Biggin Hill Sportster - a 1936 high wing monoplane Touring in PA23 – Piper Apache “JU”
My check-out on the Biggin based PA23 was carried out by one Richard Elles, a great Biggin Hill aviation personality and freelance instructor (Editor’s note – I agree!) and, although I didn’t realise at the time, a huge influence on the future direction of my growing aviation habit. It was Richard who insisted on a standard 1936 Rearwin Sportster – rebuilt by the team at of flying accuracy and aircraft handling Piper L4 Cub. A great recce aircraft -built in 1943 Shipping and Airlines – a real challenge on rudder and still in use today control. 18 AIR PILOT FEB 2019:AIR PILOT MASTER 24/01/2019 14:54 Page 19
similar in appearance to a large Cub and IR . At this point, I had the good fortune This aeroplane we believe to have been not too difficult to fly. This machine was to meet one John Keates - a famous heart the first side by side configuration light great fun to fly - the challenge was to surgeon who owned a very beautiful aircraft registered in the UK and we have keep the beast in balance as its rudder is PA39 Twin Comanche. Joint ownership extensive records of her history before oversized, and this kept my feet dancing followed shortly afterwards and as a WW2 when she toured Europe – many the whole time. bonus, I had also found a fellow of her hand written journey log pages So everything was just about aviation instrument rated touring pilot who was contain custom stamps from many far perfect - I had access to a well-equipped single and enjoyed life and travelling to away airports, some of which sadly no if venerable twin for touring and two the fullest extent. longer exist. taildraggers for fun flying whenever the She avoided being impressed into the weather gods played ball. In those days RAF for WW2 by being hidden away by we had few flying restrictions at Biggin, her then owners above a shop in Wales - and a crosswind runway to boot! We and there she remained until needed no excuse to wheel an old rediscovered in the Seventies and bought machine out of the hangar, and go for a at auction for restoration by another bumble before retiring to Joe's (one of former owner of Shipping and Airlines – the most infamous of the seven bars Phillip Mann. which then existed at the airfield - sadly PA39 Twin Comanche – a great touring twin with all now gone) for some refreshments and range and economy second to none in its class to hear the latest aviation tales from fellow addicts. A perfect aviation partner had been Sadly, no such perfect state of affairs lasts found - so now my aircraft ownership forever and so it was for me. A moment count was only two shares – not too bad! of stark reality came for me when in After I had convinced John Keates to 1994 Michael Dunkerly announced that move the PA39 to the care of Shipping & he intended to sell the, by now, beloved Airlines I felt I had averted aviation Cub. Michael had not reached the disaster on both tail-dragging and exalted position of barrister without touring twin fronts, and come out fairly Civilian Coupé in company with her sisters – unscathed if a little financially wounded. DH87 Hornet Moth G-AHBL and Curtiss some smarts - and we quickly settled on Wright Travel Air G-AAOK a solution - I would buy a half share in Over the next few years I continued my the Cub and save it from disposal! Finally, aviation journey by becoming I also discovered the delights of learning my long-held principle that aircraft acquainted with the remainder of the to fly the beautiful and quirky Miles ownersh ip made no financial sense was Shipping & Airlines fleet of vintage Messenger - an aircraft without doubt broken in pieces by my love of an aircraft - including the beautiful and possessed of the worst ground handling aeroplane that I was not prepared to be unique Civilian Coupe - built in 1931 characteristics I had come across to date! parted from - a stronger man would have and so easy to fly - with its 105hp Like all Messengers, Victor Zulu, despite instantly sought the assistance of mental Armstrong Siddeley Genet Major engine her three rudders had no directional health professionals, but the deed was giving her a remarkable turn of speed. We control below 28mph except for her very done, and henceforth I could not return didn’t know it then but part of her secret venerable cable operated brakes - overuse to my previous happy state of gentleman was an internal gear driven supercharger of these repaying the hapless driver with hirer and non-owner. - this we would find out about later complete disappearance of same at the t about the same time I was busy following an engine failure and a forced most vital moment. Crosswind landings struggling through the instrument rating landing incident. were a real challenge - but of course, like course with Bournemouth-based SFT, any precocious and beautiful women it flying Aztecs – as my much loved only deepened our enchantment with Apache ‘JU decamped to live at her and she became a firm favourite. Andrewsfield. Not an impossible distance Sadly, it was in this machine in which I but a painful drive if undertaken on a would many years later have a take-off regular basis. So, once again the hunt was accident entirely caused by my own on for another replacement twin to stupidity that has brought about a long- 1931 Civilian Coupé – lots of history and very exercise the privilege of my brand new easy to fly term rebuild of the aircraft and severely
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dented my aviation pride. Tony Habgood, a fellow aviator and Sadly, nothing stays the same forever and engineer; our chief engineer Chris Bond my long-term aviation friend and partner - a man with an encyclopaedic in the Twin Comanche John Keates got knowledge of light aircraft; Gary Duncan married, and decided to stop flying - so - an engineer who is an artist with pieces after a few more twin flying partner of wood and fabric; and our other two changes that didn’t work long term, I equally talented engineers, David and became the sole owner of the PA39 twin. Dick, who have joined our team more The good news is that by this stage I had recently. also been introduced into a great touring 1944 Miles Messenger – lovely to fly but very bad In between looking after our really great aviation club - the International manners on the ground and in a cross wind from the Comanche Society - a type club that right hand side. This may be the only genuine band of customers’ aeroplanes the team military Messenger still extant – although she saw maintains the company’s fleet of vintage really likes to travel. With this great group no military service – three fins but still hopeless aircraft. At that stage Shipping & Airlines of aviation enthusiasts, we have made directional control!! also owned an aircraft project which had flying visits all over Europe - travelling as So by the late nineties, and after many lain untouched at the back of the hangar far afield as Russia, North Africa and happy hours of flying at Biggin, Michael for many years - a 1931 Curtis Wright even across the Atlantic to Canada. All Dunkerly announced his wish to sell the Travel Air biplane. I was keen to see this great fun - and definitely the type of entire business of Shipping & Airlines to fly, and if this meant a bit of arm twisting flying for which the Twin Comanche was the highest bidder. My mind went into and some cash - what could be the ha rm? designed. overdrive - perhaps it would be sold to So, it was that over the next five years our In the meantime, we had also joined the some commercially orientated outfit team tracked down the engine at the prestigious Mo th Club - which was who would be unfriendly and we would repairers and rebuilt the machine from a somewhat odd as we didn’t own one at lose our old machines and our aviation bare frame, reinventing most of the wings that stage! They were all very kind and home - something had to be done! and tail plane until on one bitterly cold invited our Miles Messenger with its de I approached the owner and came away February afternoon in 2005 I took her Havilland engine along as an honorary somewhat dejected that the asking price flying again for the first time in many Moth to their wonderful gatherings of was well beyond my means. However, years. It was a great moment to bring an magnificent machines; we tried to repay with the help of Messrs Dunkerly and aircraft back to life, but for me it was also their kindness by providing charity rides John Keats a deal was done that found us an education in just how much work and in the Messenger which we hope made three as business partners. This lasted for time is involved in such a project. some tiny contribution to their overall a short while but over the next few years success. I bought the partners out to become the It was at one of these meetings that we sole owner of the company. first came across that massive aviation As with all businesses the heart of the personality, engineer and talented aviator Shipping & Airlines en terprise was, and - Henry Labouchère, and more remains, the staff. Our long serving and importantly one of the machines he had loyal team consist of our hangar manager in his care - the DH90 De Havilland Dragonfly - they say beauty is in the eye of the beholder but I would defy any During the long 10 year restoration – at last we aviation minded person not to be taken have an engine complete and running. by the lines and presence of this lady - she is simply stunning It was Henry who sold me our first proper Moth - he convinced myself and Tony to travel up to his emporium in Norfolk to view a little Hornet Moth he just happened to have for sale. I flew up with my leg in plaster (another story) and had a hair-raising Hornet test flight with Henry in the left hand seat chasing A very full hangar at Shipping & Airlines – Biggin 1931 Curtiss Wright Travel Air Hill. Post-restoration - 2005 rabbits by air! Needless to say, we brought
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the little Hornet Moth home and so our current chapter in her very long aviation 1935 Miles Falcon – lovely to fly and lots vintage collection had now grown to career. of history. seven aircraft - why did we need another The Falcon is lovely to fly and she aircraft you may ask? Well, all I can say is attracts lots of deserved attention she needed a proper home, she is awfully wherever she goes. She has also come to British, and we were able at last to attend us with a very extensive library of Moth club rallies with our own Moth documents regarding her very interesting and our heads up! life - all courtesy of Peter Holloway who decided they belonged with the aircraft.
1937 DH90 – De Havilland Dragonfly - one of We do get a number of visitors to the two surviving examples still flying and surely one of hangar who are always welcome - the most beautiful machines ever to fly. however, we were recently very pleased All aeroplanes need support and I have to host a hangar visit from the illustrious already mentioned our engineering Honourable Company all courtesy of team. However, we are also extremely liveryman Graham Powell in collusion fortunate to have a loyal group of friends with Biggin’s marketing manager - Andy Expert Moth Pilot – Henry Labouchère who assist with operating the aircraft - Patsalides. With an unknown American actor person!!! including all the many mundane tasks of We have made it to 2018 with our cleaning and ground handling which are collection of eight vintage aircraft - and absolutely essential to presenting them in what of the future? Biggin Hill is a very top condition to their many admirers. different place these days and we have to Amongst the many are two that stand out work quite hard to fit our operations into - Carl Ward - our webmaster and chief the increasingly busy infrastructure of jet scribe, talented photographer and loyal dominated aircraft movements. However, friend of the collection who works with the goodwill of all concerned we constantly on keeping their appearance are still having fun and my personal in order and also Graham “The Hat” 1935 DH87B Hornet Moth – our first real Moth ambition is to get our Miles Messenger Playford who is constantly present in all flying once more so that we have the We had a whole lot of fun flying the weathers to assist with the fettling of the complete fleet serviceable at one time - it Hornet and after a few more years Henry machines - thank you both. has happened in the past but it was much obviously decided that we were just You will be pleased to know that I am smaller then. about competent aviators because he close to the end of these ramblings Thank you for taking the time to read approached me with the news that the (Editor – No!) but before I leave you in these scribblings and should you happen DH90 Dragonfly that he maintained for peace I must mention the very latest to know where there might be an old Sir Torquil Norman, was to be sold and vintage lady who has come to stay with British aeroplane that needs saving - an American collector had already us only this past year. The Miles Falcon please don’t call me! Unless it is offered a substantial sum! G-AEEG is another almost unique something really interesting of course! I never ever considered owning such a British aircraft which its present owner glorious and beautiful machine and I had decided to part with to a foreign simply could not let such a part of our collector- and well you know how this flying heritage be taken from us. She goes. I just couldn’t let it happen and we arrived at our hangar in 2014 and has are all very pleased to have her. remained the star of our collection ever since. We have christened her the “Duchess” because she is very aristocratic, she doesn’t come out very often and when she does she doesn’t spend her own money! She is an absolute joy to fly and Photos by Keith Wilson, Carl Ward, C.V. Grinsven, Graham Playford, it is difficult not to feel a little bit of 1935 Miles Falcon – lovely to fly and lots of Peter Greenyer, Henry Labouchère and personal pride in being part of the history. North Weald Fire Crew 21 AIR PILOT FEB 2019:AIR PILOT MASTER 24/01/2019 14:54 Page 22
DANIEL DEDMAN PPL & FI Scholarships 2018 The Foyle Scholarship 2018 AMY PALMER get when you can take off and land an My passion for aviation started at a very aircraft singlehandedly is something I young age, and like many, one of my first believe everyone should experience. ever flights was with the Royal Air Force I have done 2 short solo navigations Air Cadets. Once I got the ‘bug’, there was no looking back. round Northern Ireland and one long one which was my qualifying cross country. Seeing Northern Ireland from above proved to me how truly beautiful my country is. I built confidence and felt relaxed throughout these flights. On my first attempt at my qualifying cross country, after taking off from Aldergrove (the International Airport), I realised that I couldn’t see my next waypoint due to bad weather. I requested to Aldergrove Radar that I track directly to Enniskillen Airport from my current position to avoid the bad weather and low cloud. They allowed me to do so, but after readjusting my track due to this diversion, I realised I couldn’t get round the cloud at all. I had to make the sole decision to turn back and return to Newtownards Airport, aborting my flight. This proved to be difficult to make a diversion in the controlled airspace of an international airport, however I remained calm and followed their instructions. It was an unplanned but worthwhile experience in my training as I know what to expect if I ever have to do it again. I re-sat my Qualifying Cross After being awarded the scholarship from Country about a week later and the Air Pilots Benevolent Fund, I started completed it with no weather troubles. my PPL training eagerly at the Ulster After passing my skills test, my examiner Flying club in Northern Ireland. The guided me on using my licence as a Manager (Rodney Pritchard) and I sat licence to learn. I have never felt more at down and block booked lessons to ensure ho me than when I am in the air. Looking I would complete the Skills test before to the future, I plan to apply for the deadline of 2nd October 2018 - I Commercial Airline Scholarships in the booked my lessons around my part time hope that I can fly for an airline someday. job in a pharmacy. I sincerely want to thank The At the Ulster Flying Club, I was lucky Honourable Company of Air Pilots for enough to fly with a range of instructors giving me this opportunity and allowing which enabled me to hear and learn from me to achieve a life-long goal of having a their experiences through their flying pilot’s licence. To me, this would only careers. have been possible in the distant future My motivation for wanting to become My first solo was one of the best and yet you have given me the ability to an instructor was after completing my experiences of my life. The sensation you gain my wings so soon. Commercial Pilots Licence and hour 22 AIR PILOT FEB 2019:AIR PILOT MASTER 24/01/2019 14:54 Page 23
building out in Phoenix, Arizona back in giving me practice in actually flying that RÉSHÉ HARRISoN 2016. After that experience, my next exercise, something I hadn’t done since I TAG Farnborough Airport Scholar focus was always going to be attempting completed my PPL. As the course went I was six years old and halfway through to obtain my Flight Instructor Rating. on, as did the exercises, to a point in the my leukaemia treatment, and a children’s Having obtained a 12 hour flying second week where I would give my first cancer charity offered my family and I, scholarship in 2015 towards my PPL (A) the opportunity of a holiday to with RAFA, I knew there were lesson back to my instructor, who was Disneyworld in Florida. After landing organisations out there offering these pretending to be a student for the whole and getting off, I said to the Captain of fantastic opportunies, and I applied for duration of the flight. As the course went the Boeing 747 aeroplane, “one day, I the FI (R) rating scholarship in Feburary on, almost all PPL exercises were covered want to be just like you” to which the 2018. In April I was informe d I had been in preparation for the flight test, which Captain responded: “Work hard, be the short listed and invited to London for an could include any of them. I tested on best and one day I hope to see you in the interview on 16th May 2018. This started 22nd September after a weather related cockpit”. with a presentation of my choice, and was then followed by some technical cancellation the week before, and it questions and then questions regarding contained no surprises at all. I can only my motivations and future plans by the say that was purely down to the high panel of 3 interviewers. The day after, level of standardised training from both coincidentally my 22nd birthday, I had Carol and Paul. found out my application and interview In general, the course itself was very was sucessful pending the completion of the FIC pre-entry flight test – to which I interesting, informative and enjoyable. couldn’t have asked for a better birthday Initally, getting used to flying the C-152 present. was my initial worry, as most of my After a few weeks with my head in the training beforehand was completed in theory books, It was surprising how single and multi-engined Piper aircraft, much very basic knowledge I had but after a few flights it became very forgotten since completing my PPL, and familiar. The course was fantastic for in late summer 2018, I managed to book renewing the basic theoretical 3 consecutive weeks off my full time job knowledge required for PPL students, at Stansted Airport, and began the Fl especially if it has been some time since course at Andrewsfield Aviation. you had completed your exams. And it Chosing Andewsfield was an easy also allowed me to do spinning, which decision after meeting with Carol was a great experience, especially as I Cooper (CFI) and Mike Rowland hadn’t done it before prior to the course, (Airfield Manager) prior to my interview, and now I feel confident in remaining and if you are unsure where to go for the calm and recovering from the FIC, I couldn’t recommend Andrewsfield manoeuvre. enough. My training started on Monday If you are reading this, and considering if 20th August with 1 of 2 of my instructors you should apply for the scholarship, I - Paul Slater – a previous winner of a FI couldn’t recommend it enough. Not scholarship. We had a long chat about the only has it helped me out beyond belief content of the course and some financially, it has developed me as a pilot foundation theory knowlegde, and without any hesitation, we started our in ways I didn’t think were possible. I first lesson together. It began with him would like to thank the Honourable showing me the standard preflight brief Company in giving me this fantastic for the first lesson – Effects of the opportunity and I look forward to the controls part 1, then we went out and rewarding role of teaching aviators their flew it. It was flown with us both taking firs t few steps in what can only be turns as student and instructor, bringing described as the best industry around the out the relevant teaching points, whilst world!
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Those words have been the driving force tests and brushing up with Finian Salter, selected as one of the 24 applicants for in my journey to becoming an airline who was also training at RAFC (for the interview. Following the news, I eagerly pilot. flight instructor scholarship), he began my preparation for the big When I was 13, I researched flying recomm ended me for my skills test. The occasion. I knew I had one chance to scholarships and came across the fact that Finian was the one who guided make a good impression, so it was vital to Honourable Company of Air Pilots and I me in the run up to the last hurdle, was attend prepared. As I’m from south-west was impressed by the work they have unprecedented considering he had only Ireland, you might wonder how I done since their founding. After waiting received his certification a few weeks planned to carry out my training at a UK 4 years so that I was the minimum age, I before my recommendation. flying school. At the time of writing my submitted my application. Through a After his recommendation, it was time application, I spoke to my sister (who competitive selection process and for the skills test. I arrived within plenty lives in Yorkshire), asking her would it be interview at Dowgate Hill Housen i of time to give the aircraft it’s “A” check, possible to stay at her place if I was successful. The proposed journey to and London, I was very delighted to hear that calculate my mass and balance, fuel from Sherburn Aero Club would consist I was awarded one of the 2018 PPL calculations and plan my navigation of 2 trains and a bicycle ride, totalling 4 Scholarships the following day whilst at route. hours of commuting every day. college. I was constantly telling myself the worst I undertook my training at Redhill thing that could happen is the examiner Aviation Flight Centre (RAFC) based at not saying anything (a quiet cockpit is a Redhill Aerodrome (just outside of the boring cockpit!). After 2 hours of flying Gatwick Control zone). I completed my and having landed and shut down the PPL training in a Cessna 152. engine. I endured an agonising wait I have been spoiled by the spectacular before I eventually found out that I had views of the South East coast and passed! watching the countless air crafts taking off All my hard work and study over the 3 and landing at Gatwick. All the while months was for this very moment receiving excellent training from Dirk hearing the words “Congratulations, my instructor, who guided me carefully you’ve passed”. throughout the training to develop great airmanship, aviation industry knowledge and flying skills. STEPHEN DALY Completing a PPL in three months took Air BP Sterling Scholarship a lot of hard work and dedication, For as long as I can remember, becoming coming in every day and making sure I a pilot was always my ambition. I want to had enough money to take the taxi from elaborate on the best Summer of my life, the station to the aerodrome. obtaining my PPL! I encountered the I wasn’t able to do anything else except Honourable Company of Air Pilots a eat, sleep and drink everything to do year prior to the PPL Scholarship. I was with aviation. This was rather fortuitous extremely fortunate to be awarded a because it led to me completing all 9 Gliding Scholarship, with the financial exams in 6 weeks with an overall pass assistance of the Air Safety Trust. That average of 97%. week at Portsmouth re-affirmed my After completing the exams, I went intentions of becoming a pilot. While at straight into the solo cross country which Cobham House for the Gliding was from Redhill to Earls Colne airfield, Scholarship interview, Angie brought to then to Lydd-Ashford Airport and back my attention that I would be eligible to to Redhill. This was the most fun I have apply for a PPL Scholarship the ever had whilst flying. I was captivated to following year. see the views of the London skyline in By January, the applications were the distance to the west, to flying over available on the website. I must’ve drafted Southend airport to seeing France in the close to 20 applications, before I distance whilst flying towards Lydd hesitantly sent the final one during the Airport. I thoroughly enjoyed that flight. month of March. A month later, I was After more revision, a few mock skills ecstatic to be informed that I was
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The day finally came – May 1st. My orientated around general handling and aircraft, so I prioritised flying above all mum said that she had to come to upper air work, flying the aircraft else. After I landed, the objectives of The London for moral support - I couldn’t accurately in all configurations. Next, I Honourable Company of Air Pilots object! After breakfast in a nearby progressed to the circuit phase of the entered my min d once more, and I hope restaurant, I proceeded towards Dowgate training. I thoroughly enjoyed this this circumstance is an example of good Hill House. To say I was nervous, was a portion as Sherburn has 3 runways, and airmanship, aligning to the beliefs of the drastic understatement! Waiting in each circuit is slightly unconventional, company. reception, I had the opportunity to due to noise abatement procedures. I Another vivid memory of my solo converse with other applicants. Within a executed glide, flapless and normal navigation flights was acquiring a zone few moments, our nerves slowly approaches, while also coping with an transit through Leeds Class D airspace, subsided, and Angie came to greet us. I EFATO (Engine Failure After Take-Off) while receiving traffic information on an then met Tricia, who ushered me to the scenario. On the 25th of June I inbound 757 who was capturing the interview panel – Steve, Ollie and completed my first solo flight! I had the glide slope 1000ft above me! Suzanne. Shortly after the interview, I expectation of soloing on the day, but as The next subsequent milestone was my had to complete a mental dexterity test. we decelerated on our final landing, Paul solo QXC. The route contained 2 land Before long, I was back on the flight (my instructor) assumed controls and I awa ys at Beverley and Nottingham, home with my mum, pondering about relinquished, thinking I blew my consisting of a 153nm journey! Once I the negatives and apprehensive of what opportunity. However, as we taxied past consolidated the route with my result awaited. the vacating point to park, I realized the instructor, it was time to gain PPR, book Walking out of school the following day, anticipation was over! The moment was out and get on my way. Before leaving, I received an email notification. I sheer bliss, yet, I didn’t have time to my instructor Vernon gave me stellar couldn’t believe it! The overwhelming comprehend the whole situation! After advice – “Don’t let them turn over the sense of achieve ment was something I completing my solo consolidation hours, QXC sheet. If they do, you’ve probably cannot explain. it was time to leave the ATZ, and messed up”! The first leg to Beverley was Training commenced in early June. conquer navigation. Simultaneously, I flawless. On arrival, I went in to present Before getting the go-ahead, I took fulfilled the instrument flying training my QXC form and pay the landing fee. several trips to Sherburn Aero Club, to under “foggles”, radio navigation, The gentlemen present was extremely become accustomed with the route and advanced turning, practice forced nice. Although, the dynamic of the to make initial contact with the club. landings (PFLs), precautionary landings, conversation changed drastically when Alastair, the CFI, made no delay in low level navigation and diversions. he turned the page over, to enter integrating me into the environment! In Undoubtedly, navigation was the most something in the remarks. Receiving the retrospect, the club was the most rewarding aspect of the training. The first form off him, I turned the page over to accommodating organisation I had the couple of dual navigation sorties saw us reveal “N/A…. Perfect Landing :)”. pleasure of meeting. Alastair took the track east of the field, with emphasis on Looking back, the abrupt silence for the time out of his busy schedule, to outline flying accurately. Following 3 consecutive last few moments of our conversation a plan of action for the duration of my lessons of dual navigation, it was time to was worth the kind remark! The route to training. I immediately got the do it solo! I arrived in the morning, Nottingham went uneventfull y also, and impression that I was treated like an assuming my route would not alter before long, I was back at Sherburn individual, rather than a number. He significantly, but of course, the weather informing everyone of my escapades! catered to my needs, ensuring that my did not permit! The amended route Once my solo QXC was completed, my time at the club would be extremely resulted in flying a short leg to logbook totalled 32 hours. Having productive. Harrogate, talking to Linton LARS for covered the syllabus, my instructors and I A typical day consisted of waking up at the entirety of the flight. Inbound, I decided to send me on some scenic solo 0600. I would brief and read up on what changed frequency, and immediately navs. The following day involved a flight the day entailed on my commute, arrive became aware of the circuit congestion. to Wickenby via a touch and go at at 0830, and typically fly twice during Nonetheless, I conformed to the pattern, Humberside, with zone transits through the day. By the time I was home it was and became established on final moments Doncaster and Leeds. That trip conjures usually 1900, so I’d attempt to study close later. With another aircraft on the active up many memories, in hindsight. As I to 3 hours, before repeating the process during that time, I elected to go around. approached Humberside I tuned the again! In conjunction with flying, I As I did so, the canopy popped! The ATIS to become acquainted to the completed the 9 CAA exams as I phrase “aviate, navigate, communicate” conditions. The surface wind was right advanced through the training. has never entered my mind so fast! on my crosswind component! The The first flights in the AT3 were Nothing was structurally wrong with the satisfaction of landing as a 737-800 is
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holding short, is something I cannot Each one brought their own experience, JAKE KENNY express in words! Additionally, having and Sherburn’s common PPL syllabus Grayburn Scholarship ATC tell me to report visual with a made the transition from one to the My earliest memory of aviation was Cessna Citation on climb out while in other seamless. I liked the fact that each visiting a local airfield cafe as a child with Doncaster’s CTR, was a moment I’ll instructor has their own method of my grandad. Ever since I have longed to cherish for the rest of my career. teaching something, so I could learn the fly, so when the opportunity to apply for Returning home, via a zone transit at best practices from more than one the scholarship arose I couldn’ t be more Leeds, ATC requested me to deviate off source. Without the community at excited. The selection panel were very my track, due to a 737-800 in the circuit. Sherburn, I wouldn’t have advanced friendly but the interview was tough and Inside busy airspace really developed my through the training as well as I did. I went away thinking confidence, aiding me to de velop better More specifically, the operations team. of all the things I wished I had said. To situational awareness as well as giving me They provided me with the best support my utter surprise, I was greeted with experience in relation to future and encouragement, and always asked good news the next day. commercial flying. how I was progressing. Likew ise, the The remainder of my hour building members at Sherburn were always Then it came to the summer, time for the brought many amazing experiences. around to have a chat about anything adventure to begin! I arrived to find a From flying up the east coast to a aviation related. I had the opportunity to fantastic atmosphere, technical up-hill landing at Bagby, and fly a C182, ST67 Firefly, RV7 and a my instructor Carmen was everything even seeing an RAF Tornado descend C150, through the generosity of the you could ask for from a great instructor. into Coningsby! members! Without hesitation, I would We spent the firs t week or so learning Each adventure brought me one step thoroughly recommend Sherburn Aero pre-flight checks, the essential flight closer to the dreaded mock test! I found Club to learn how to fly. Secondly, I manoeuvres and emergency drills. The the exercise extremely beneficial, not would like to thank the Honourable next Wednesday I watched Carmen step only with regards to the actual flying Company of Air Pilots for selecting me out of the cockpit and wave goodbye. My portion, but the ground brief also. Peter for the scholarship. I can’t thank them first solo, just eight days after the start of Jackson, my mock test instructor, ensured enough for their continuous support in training! Around ten minutes after no stone would be left unturned. We the development of my career. I’d takeoff, the wheels of my C152 touched briefed every eventuality, giving me especially like to thank Angie, for the ground once again and it was all over. complete assurance. checking in on my progress for the A cosmic experience I will never forget. ence in my What followed, was the REAL skill test! duration of my training! And finally, After going solo the confid I met my examiner early on the day of thank you to Air BP for funding the ability as an aviator developed greatly, in the test, received the route off him, scholarship. They’ve been incredibly this period I consolidated the skills confirmed our aircraft performance supportive, and interested in my learned pre-solo with myself as the only would be satisfactory for the flight and ambitions for the future. My sincerest tool for evaluation. It gave me a sense of headed off! The route was Selby - thanks again to Air BP and the responsibility I have been yet to find Skegness - OTR VOR - Selby, with a Honourable Company of Air Pilots. elsewhere in life. diversion expected on my second leg. Without them, I would never have a PPL The post-solo fun was over, now came The weather was exceptional, we at 17! the most daunting part, navigation! couldn’t have asked for better conditions! I intend to build hours this year, Although this was the most challenging Over the VOR station I was asked to contributing towards a (F)ATPL, and part of the course it was by far the most divert to Beverley (which was extremely undertaking a modular course while rewarding. From seeing places I’ve never familiar to me!). I produced a track, studying Aeronautical Engineering at noticed in my local area to getting heading and ETA. We then moved onto University. At the same time, I’ll apply to ‘unlost’ over Gloucester. Navigation gave the general handling portion, and headed several cadetship programmes. I implore me a great taste of what flying is like after back to the airfield for 4 circuits. anyone who’s actively pursuing a career achieving the PPL. Being situated very Monitoring the hobbs as we shut down, in aviation to apply! It’s been an immense close to Birmingham Airport, Coventry I couldn’t believe how fast the time catalyst in advancing my career faster Airport is subject to airspace restrictions. elapsed! To hear “congratulations, you’ve than I would have ever anticipated. I’m To practise obtaining and responding to passed”, filled me with elation! eternally grateful to be the recipient of airspace clearances, my instructor and I There are many people I’d like to thank such a scholarship, and take comfort in took the opportunity to fly directly over for making this experience so knowing the gap between the flight deck the Birmingham Airport runway, the memorable. Firstly, I’d like to thank my 8 and I has been bridged closer through UK’s 7th busiest airport! This experience instructors for their continuous support. this scheme. gave a small insight into the aerodromes I
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could be landing at in the future. pursue my dreams to fly as a commercial Higher Mathematics exam so I had to fly With 45 hours exactly, the dreaded skills airline pilot. there and back on the same day. My flight test was finally here. Due to the short Once again I’d like to extend a sincere with Flybe was at 6:30am from time period of my training, I didn’t thank you to the Honourable Company Edinburgh, arriving at London City complete my final exam until the day of Air Pilots. To anyone who is Airport at 8am. I had 6 hours to kill before, only adding to the apprehension. considering whether to apply (as I was before my interview at 2pm so I found a After spending all night preparing I was last year), I couldn’t recommend it Starbucks near the company office and nervous the morning of the skills test. I more. prepared for the quiz and interview. wasn’t looking forward to the fact the Feeling prepared and ready, I headed to route involved crossing a MATZ FAHIM T. AHMED Dowgate Hill House, where I met some (military air traffic zone), nor was the of the other interviewees. After meeting The Cadogan Trust Scholarship weather ideal, despite this it went Angie and Tricia, I sat the test which was suprisingly smoothly. We arrived back at This time last year (October 2017), I problem solving and surprisingly had Coventry Airport to conduct the landing would never have dreamt of having my some Advanced Higher Mechanics stage of the test. Having learned the first pilot licence the following year at content in it. Then came the interview crosswind was too strong this section had the age of 18. A dream from the age of 6, with Steve and Ollie, respectively a First to be done the next day, meaning another my career ambition is airline pilot which Officer with BA Cityflyer and a retired anxious nights sleep. The next morning, would combine my two passions of RAF pilot. At the time, I thought it went three landings later, it was all over. I had aviation and travel. I first became aware great as I was feeling very confident and just become a private pilot! A goal I have of the Honourable Company of Air it felt more like a relaxed conversation dreamed of for years had just turned into Pilots several years ago, when they were about aviation than an interview. After a reality. Just three weeks and two days GAPAN, however I waited patiently for the interview, I walked into the centre of after first arriving, it was already over. several years to apply in 2018 - when I London to meet a friend who lived there Probably the fastest and most exciting would finally be old enough to be to grab a quick dinner and then went three weeks of my life so far, this is an eligible for the PPL scholarship. back to London City Airport to get my experience I will never forget. It was At the same time as applying for this flight back to Edinburgh at 7:20pm. Due made even better by all the amazing scholarship, I was still deciding between to rush hour on the Tube, I turned up to people at Almat Aviation. Especially to the University of Glasgow and the the airport at 7:10pm and I remember Carmen and Glynn for helping to Imperial College London for the M eng thinking I was definitely missing the accommodate my tricky timelines, I can’t Aeronautical Engineering course to start flight but thankfully they had only just thank everyone there enough! I’d also September 2018, but have since decided started boarding at that time. Such a relief like to give a huge thank you to the to take a gap year with a deferred place at that the flight had been delayed. Honourable Company of Air Pilots as the University of Glasgow. I will be using this opportunity would never have been 2 days and an Advanced Higher Maths the next 12 months or so to work full- achievable at this stage of my life without exam later, I got the email saying I had time to fund travels and build my flying your help. What I have been able to got the scholarship as I went for a cheeky hours whilst also exploring and achieve thanks to your organization is Nandos with some mates after sitting the researching the plethora of pilot training unthinkable, I will forever be grateful for exam. programmes offered by airlines and the generosity of Mr Grayburn and the After obtaining my Class 2 Medical in academie, whether that be self- members of the Company. May from an AME in Glasgow, I began sponsored, airline-sponsored, integrated, As for the future, I have my final year of my training at Tayside Aviation in June modular, you name it. Sixth Form to finish. Once I have my A- whilst finishing up my final year (S6) in Levels I hope to enrol on to an integrated The application process consisted of an secondary school. The aircraft I was course with a provider such as L3, if application, interview and mental training in was the Piper PA-28-161 possible to a scheme such as Generation dexterity test. Following many revisions Warrior II. Due to school in June and easyJet. Regardless of the path I take of the application, I finally sent it away a work/holidays in early to mid July, I only towards a career as an airline pilot, this couple days before the deadline in began full-time training in late-July. By scholarship will prove invaluable, not March. this point I had completed Phase 1 of only in terms of technical skills but also A month later, I re ceived an email saying training which consisted of Aircraft with the personal skills I have gained I was one of 24 candidates to have passed Familiarisation, Emergencies, Taxiing, along with a greater confidence in my the application phase and that my Effects of Controls, Slow Flight, Turning, own ability. In all, this scholarship has interview was on May 1st in London. Climbing, Descending, Stall Recovery fuelled me more than ever to further This was 2 days before my final Advanced and Spin Avoidance/Recovery. 27 AIR PILOT FEB 2019:AIR PILOT MASTER 24/01/2019 14:54 Page 28
Phase 2 was touch-and-go circuits over though a helicopter cut in front of me on Scott, Dr Alison Neilson, Mr Joshua the River Tay where I learnt more about my final approach onto runway 26, the Thomson-Smith, Mr Oliver Weall and takeoffs, airmanship, ATPL, pre-landing flight went incredibly well and there was Mr Zahid Khan. Of course, thank you to and CRAP checks, and the different definitely a large sense of my instructor, Mr Iskandar Pedash, kinds of landings such as 2-stage flaps, 3- accomplishment. At that point, I just had whose banter and enthusiasm made the stage flaps, flapless and glide approaches. to fly back from Dundee so after getting flying even more fun and will certainly After circuits, I had begun the dual the QXC certificate signed in the tower miss having him in the right-hand seat. I navigation sorties which meant as soon as and a quick snack in the café I began my met many likeminded people along the I went solo I could do the solo journey back to successfully complete way who I’ll hopefully see on the flight navigation flights straight away. The first the QXC. deck one day, in particular Cecil solo was extremely memorable as I I had a pre-mock revision flight to Carvalho, who came up from Liverpool completed a circuit over the Tay and prepare me for the mock skills test and landed with 3-stage flaps on runway 27 overall that went really good. My to obtain his PPL over the summer; his at Dundee Airport. instructor said I only had to revise company made my training so much By the time of my first solo navigation, general handling as my navigation was more enjoyable and we e nded up staying aside from the dual navigations, I’d flawless so we covered things like slow together while we completed our already done Practice Forced Landings, flight, stalls, spin recovery, steep turns, training. Precautionary Landings, Advanced PFLs, gliding turns and the different My gratitude extends to those who were Turning, Diversions, Basic Radio types of landings. After a successful mock able to give me a place to stay in Dundee skills test, it was time for the final test. Navigation and Instrument Flight. Dual to save me from travelling up from navigation flights consisted of MATZ After nearly 2 weeks of postponed flights Edinburgh everyday by train: Phil penetration over RAF Leuchars and due to 30-40kt gusting winds, I was Cooper and his flatmates, who let Cecil CTZ crossing over Edinburgh. After the finally able to get my skills test donne o solo navigation check flight, my first solo Wednesday 10th October. The route for and I stay in their flat over the summer, nav was Dundee-Brechin-Blairgowrie- the test was Dundee to Stonehaven (near and Alasdair who let me stay in his Dundee, where I spoke to Scottish Aberdeen) and then southwest towards university accommodation in the final Information. The subsequent solo nav Alyth. As we taxied into Tayside Aviation weeks of my training, along with his consolidations were through the after the test, I was told I had achieved a flatmates Jack, Sarah, Nikki, Sophie and Leuchars MATZ and Edinburgh CTZ. really good pass and was one of the best Esra. skills tests the examiner had done. Then came the aerodrome landaways, Final thanks go to Tayside Aviation, for Throughout the PPL flight training, I first a dual to Fife and back with my providing the place and planes for instructor. On the way back we did a also sat the 9 theory exams with an training. With the friendly people and feature-crawling exercise in simulated average pass mark of 96% and also large fleet of aircraft, my training there bad weather conditions. A couple of achieved an “excellent pass” in the was top class and I would highly hours later, I flew to Fife by myself which practical RT exam. recommend it to everybody. Thank you was challenging but extremely fun as the I went back the following day to runway is only 700m long and they only complete some paperwork and submitted to the entire team at the Honourable have an Air/Ground service on the radio, the online PPL application to the CAA. Company of Air Pilots and the Cadogan compared to the 1400m runway and full The same day, I said my goodbyes to Trust for awarding me the scholarship ATC at Dundee. Then I did the dual everyone in Dundee and headed back to and opportunity to gain my private pilots flight to Cumbernauld, followed by the Edinburgh. After 4 months of training, I licence so early on. This is definitely only solo, which meant I was then ready for had finally obtained my PPL. the beginning, and this has certainly the Qualifying Cross Country. The 151 None of this would have been possible jump-started my journey to achieving nautical miles QXC flight wa s Dundee- without the support and motivation of so my dream of being an airline pilot. Fife-Cumbernauld-Dundee and couldn’t many people. First of all, thank you to have gone better. The landing at Fife was Ms. Judith McColgan at George Heriot’s on runway 24 which I had never done School. Without Ms. McColgan’s input before but the A/G radio operator at the and sacrifice of her time, my application time said it was one of the best landings would never have come close to being as he’d ever seen, even though the approach strong and succinct as it was in the end. was extremely bumpy due to gusting Thanks also to those who were able to winds. At Cumbernauld, the overhead provide written character references for join was performed successfully and even my interview. They include Mr Jeremy
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Gliding Scholarships Derbyshire and Lancashire experience flight in a glider, and that Gliding Club, Camphill flight is something that I’ll never forget. On our first day, we learned how to drive the tractors used to coll ect the gliders EMMA MCNEILL from the air field and bring them back to the launch point. Throughout the week, I was able to get more and more air time, leading up to last flight in the Puchasz with a 1 hour the glider. Once we had mastered the flight in which we reached heights of theory it was time to put it into practice. 4000ft above sea level, with the chance My first winch launch was an experience for aerobatics. that is hard to put into words. The We finished off our week with an acceleration pushes you into your seat as incredible flight in the T-21; an open you zip into the sky quicker than cockpit glider. This was the highlight of anything I have ever experienced before. my week. Not many people get to I am forever grateful for the opportunity experience something as incredible as that I received from both the Air Pilots that. and the Gliding Club. I have since begun This scholarship was an eye-opener and my course in Aviation Management with has led me to join a local gliding club so Pilot Studies at Dublin City University that I can continue flying. My week at and will forever remember the skills that Camphill was so incredible and I would I learned in that week. definitely recommend the scholarship to anyone considering applying for it. HARRY PINK Applying for the Scholarship was easily GAVIN o DWYER Being awarded the scholarship has been the best decision I made. It gave me the one of the greatest achieve ments I have chance to do something I had never experienced, being able to enjoy not done before, whilst meeting some only the gliding but meeting the amazing incredible people. The setting of the club people at the club and the brilliant food itself was so serene, with it being in the provided by Sylvia and John. heart of the Peak District with from the I thoroughly enjoyed being part of the airfield views going on for miles. club, helping with launches, towing Being an air cadet, I have a natural This summer I was lucky enough to gliders back to the launch site, and passion for being up in the air, but found receive a Gliding Scholarships from the logging flight times: something I wasn’t powered aircraft to be inferior to the Honourable Company of Air Pilots. It expecting when I joined the site. glider after the week’s course. Without an consisted of 5 days flying with full board. I found the instructors very helpful at engine, you can feel the wind forcing you I was delighted to receive the scholarship breaking dow n all of the steps to do with in different directions and you can as I had never had the chance to flying, for me to be able to completely control the glider better because of it. experience gliding before in Ireland. understand the process which really The first Saturday evening was spent The Scholarship began with my flight helped me progress further into the getting to know each other, along with from Cork airport, Ireland on a Sunday program. My fellow scholarship winners getting to know John and Sylvia, whom morning and arriving at Manchester. also made the week a thorough were so kind-hearted and welcoming; We met our two instructors Peter Gray enjoyment. essentially our parents for the week. The and Alan Jolly and were shown around Following my activities this summer, I pair of them made our stay so enjoyable the airfield. The next morning, after will be joining a gliding club, to improve and I can’t recommend the hospitality I breakfast we were briefed on the basics of my skills and knowledge further; I received there enough. flight before we set off for our first flight believe this will be a simple transition, Unfortunately, for the first few days, the of the week. We learned about the using what I learnt from the scholarship weather wasn’t on our side, with rain and physics behind flight, the glider and other to contribute to my local club. Overall heavy winds. I did, however, have my first elements that are vital to the operation of the friendly atmosphere as well as helpful
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advice allowed my experience at enjoyed my time flying the Puchacz, and fascinating to understand the different Camphill to be a great pleasure. by the end of the week I had totalled types of soaring that can be achieved at 3hrs 47 minutes and had progressed Camphill. There is never a dull moment sufficiently to be able to f ly from takeoff as even when you weren’t up in the air, through to landing with only verbal there was always something to do inputs from my instructor. whether that being launching more The staff at the club were fantastic, they gliders, retrieving gliders or even logging were all very friendly and the flights from the computer. knowledgeable, and I would like to give Having almost no gliding experience at special thanks to my instructor, Peter, all, I went from being a complete novice who was incredibly encouraging and a to a more competent glider pilot, as I was brilliant teacher. I am very grateful to flying the glider independently and only HCAP who have enabled me to pursue receiving verbal instruction. my dream further, and I would It was an incredible experience that I will thoroughly encourage anyone who wants never forget and I am so grateful to both JJoSH FAGAN to become a pilot in any capacity to Air Pilots and the Derbyshire & In August 2018 I was lucky enough to be apply for this scholarship. Lancashire Gliding Club for giving me given the fantastic opportunity of a this fantastic opportunity. gliding scholarship.On the first day we KIERAN SHINGLER met our instructors and course-mates, After the application and interview stages and we were issued with our log books I was absolutely thrilled to find out that I before being shown around the hangar. had been awarded the Gliding We then were taught how to drive the Scholarship from the Air Pilots. Upon tractors (with varying degrees of success) which was great fun a nd provided us arrival on Sunday 13th August at a with one of the main sources of drizzly Camphill airfield, I met with the amusement over the week as well as other 4 successful candidates. We were enabling to help with recovering the introduced to the staff and were shown gliders. around the facilities. The instructor issued us with our student gliding On Monday flying was unfortunately logbooks and textbooks. We were taught cancelled due to low cloud and rain but MEGAN IP how to drive the tractors that are used to we were instead introduced to the glider In 2018, I was fort unate enough to have tow the gliders, as this would be we would be flying, the Puchacz, and a chance at gliding when the Honourable important during the week. This was filled the time with some valuable Company of Air Pilots kindly awarded very amusing. ground school, before moving onto the me a 5 day residential gliding course, impressive simulator to apply what we On Monday morning very low cloud sponsored by the Air Safety Trust. hung over the airfield which hindered had learnt. On the first evening we were ntroduced our chance to go gliding. To make best to our instructors, Brian and Allen, who use of our time during the poor weather, contributed hugely to the memorable we had some lectures from o ur instructor experience at Camphill. When Brian and then applied that practically on the explained that Camphill is one of the simulator in the clubhouse. In the most interesting gliding sites due to its afternoon, we unpacked the hangar and geogr aphical nature, with the field being got ready for some gliding. The rest of unlevelled and a ridge on one side, we the week brightened up and I completed instantly knew that it was going to be an 12 launches which gave me a total of 3 eventful week. On the first morning, we hours 27 minutes airborne time were taken to the hangar and were throughout the week in the Puchacz. The rest of the week however was kind introduced to the different duties of club The flights were amazing , lasting from to us weather wise, especially Wednesday members . We soon realised that gliding is just 6 minutes to 48 minutes! I enjoyed where the conditions were good enough about team work, with every member for most of us to spend nearly an hour in the responsibil ity as a student pilot by acting like a gear to maximise the the air and get to a safe enough altitude learning hands on and gaining more number of flights possible. to perform stalls and spins and learn how gliding experience. Since the first afternoon was windy and to recover from them. I thoroughly Gliding is pure flying and it was drizzly, we stood on top of the hill 30 AIR PILOT FEB 2019:AIR PILOT MASTER 24/01/2019 14:54 Page 31
waiting for the wind to die down after catering staff who were extremely In August 2018, I was fortunate enough we took the Puchacz gliders out of the friendly. to undertake a 5-day gliding course at hangar. The nervousness of flying in one My instructor was Allan and over the Camhill, as part of a Gliding Scholarship of these tiny unpowered aircraft grew cours e of the week I progressed from awarded to me by the Honourable exponentially as the raindrops started to having never set foot in a glider to flying Company of Air Pilots. I have always get bigger. When it was announced that an unassisted circuit and being able to fly wanted to be a commercial pilot, so it was safe to fly, I honestly did not know to and from selected waypoints. thisscholarship was a brilliant way to what to expect as I tightened the straps of allow me to take my first steps towards a Just after breakfast every day we were my parachute. Minutes later, I was career in aviation. briefed along with a weather report for thrown into the sky via a winch launch. the day. Everybody helped with The members at Camphill were very As we leve lled the glider, the Derbyshire launching and retrieving the landed welcoming and hospitable and the food view was even more breathtaking. gliders, there were also other jobs to do and accommodation was superb; we all such as flight-logging, so the days were looked forward to the delicious meal at always full. Even in bad weather which the end of a tiring day up at the launch luckily was only one afternoon, we used site. During the week, we were initially the indoor simulator to practise some taught the basics of gliding in a classroom flying skills. and then in the club’s simulator, which Completing the scholarship confirmed allowed us to prepare before we got into for me that I wish to pursue aviation and the real thing. since the course I have joined the My first flight was unforgettable, and the Strathclyde flying club at my university. I scenery of the surrounding area is also intend to keep up with gliding amazing to glide in. With the guidance of The nervousness soon turned into although my main aspiration is to learn the two instructors, Peter and Alan, we excitement as the week progressed. Allen, to power fly. There’s quite simply no learnt so much about gliding during the my instructor introduced me to more rush like the launch and being able to week. We started off with straight and actions, such as stalling, climbing up a climb over 3,000 feet without an engine! level flight as well as turning and essential thermal lift, circuit approach etc. I would like to thank Air Pilots again for stick and rudder coordination. As we The course ended on a high note as our awarding me with this excellent progressed, we learnt the different stalls instructors decided to treat us with a experience. I hope to remain close to the experienced on a glider and spinning. flight in the vintage T-21. Not only was company. I feel this course was a vital Circuit planning and executing successful there a striking difference in flying stepping stone for me to get into aviation without a canopy, the control and rudder approa ches came next, with time in the and am extremely keen to apply to the paddles were a lot more sensitive. It was simulator spent consolidating these skills next intake of PPL scholarships in 2019. refreshing experience since it really did if the weather wasn’t great. From the interview to the course to felt like we were floating in the air. As well as the flying part, we all learnt meeting everyone involved, it was an how to prepare a glider for launch, I would like to express my gratitude for unforgettabl e experience and I would retrieve it and pack it away; gliding is as the Honourable Company of Air Pilots encourage anyone interested to apply. and the Air Safety Trust for making this much a team effort as it is an individual incredible opportunity accessible to one. By the end of the week, I had learnt FRASER BARNES young students like myself. Finally, a so much about gliding thanks to the massive thank you to the staff and club instructors and members of the club; it members at DLGC for the encouraging felt a shame to leave! and welcoming atmosphere. T his would never have happened if it wasn’t for the Air Pilots and I can’t thank them enough for the great fun I had. It is a fantastic opportunity for anyone like RoSS BRADLEY me who wishes to learn to glide and I am (Diamond Jubilee (AST) Scholarship) very thankful for the generosity of the Air Pilots for creating these scholarships. I was selected to take part in the gliding I would also like to thank Derbyshire and scholarship week long course at Camphill. As soon as I arrived, both Lancashire Gliding Club for their instructors were extremely welcoming hospitality and the huge effort they put and showed us around the facilities, into the 5 days for making it so rooms and dining area. We also met the successful. 31 AIR PILOT FEB 2019:AIR PILOT MASTER 24/01/2019 14:54 Page 32
At the London Gliding Club 4 days with zero prior experience. introduced to fellow student Ellis and instructor István Tóth. I can only YUGESH SUNDHARAM The afternoon of Day 3 was the hardest, describe István as a gliding God! With Words cannot describe how fortunate I WINCH FAILURES. Something that over 43 years of gliding experience, I have been to be awarded a gliding might sound scary but with enough cannot imagine being in safer hands. scholarship from HCAP. This summer I practice, it becomes second nature. gained valuable skills that I will be able to However, I must confess, low cable Following, a short briefing regarding the transfer to my future career. So before I winch failures are not my favourite with principles of flight, István was keen for us explain how my scholarship went, I a high chance of PIO to occur due to to take to the air. On our first day, we would like to thank the Company for low visibility and tough speed control. used the aerotow, which István controlled providing scholarships and for inspiring Day 4, things start to get tense but I as it’s a very difficult procedure with the future generations about the aviation stayed calm since I had to get my landing dangers for both the tug plane and the industry. a lot smoother to go solo.. By lunch, glider. Once released, I was allowed to HCAP arrived to present my certificate quickly take control; working on straight and I discussed my future plans and it and level flight, as well as turning. With gave me time to calm down and focus the coordination of stick and rudder and more on the evening. Going solo. I was the need for constant observation, there fortunate to meet previous PPL was never a moment to allow your Scholarship winner Liam Bennet who concentration to lapse. gave me some advice on what my Over the following four days, I got to options are if I were to gain the PPL grips with winch launches, basic flight Scholarship the following year. He stayed and landing. When not in the air, there was always something to do at the I was given a 4-day residential course for a while and helped with my last few airfield. Help was needed unpacking, with everything from food to bedding cable launches, so thank you, Liam. launching, retrieving, cleaning and being provided for by the Company. The It was the last 2 cables; I was given packing away the gliders. It really was a chef was top of the line. My first day was thumbs up to go solo. By the radio on team effort. I also met lots of interesting a little taster into what my next few days the ground was an ex- Vulcan bomber people from all walks of life; all with would get me into. On my very first pilot, so the pressure was truly on. The stories to share about a common passion. flight in a glider, ever, my instructor and entire glider felt different, but I loved I went soaring to about 4000 ft using every moment of it. My landing was My thanks must go to all the Dunstable simply thermals and birds. Yes -birds. “excellent”, words that still echo in my team. István is a real inspiration and a István Toth my instructor taught me skills ear to this day. most kind and patient man. Thanks also to chef Trevor for looking after us all and that I would n ot have expected at all, I was given the thumbs up to go solo taking great pleasure in the challenge to including little tricks to keep my glider again and it was the most amazing fill us up! aloft from looking at the thickness and experience of my life, the sun setting in darkness of clouds to looking at where the distance, the calm breeze through the I hope to become a commercial pilot, so the birds fly. vent, the thermals kicking you higher this scholarship was an ideal way to take Day 2 was when the hard part kicked in into the sky. However, I had to adapt to a first step towards this. With no previous since I have never flown a glider before, my situation I was flying too high and I experience at all, I was delighted to be simply rolling the aircraft seemed almost had to decrease altitude quickly or else I offered this opportunity and I am truly impossible. However, unlike how I was would heading toward a hill at 60 knots. grateful to both HCAP and their conventionally taught about the control Not ideal, however, I pulled the airbrakes, generous sponsors. surfaces on an aircraft, the glider needed kept my speed high and altered my Since completing this scholarship, I have way more attention; it needed constant attitude, and my landing was amazing. A taken a pilot aptitude test also organised inputs from both the rudder and control smooth flare and gentle touch; a tad bit by HCAP and have had a first flight in a column. If I was not paying attention for too much rudder pedal though, but you simulator. I am gaining in confidence a second my attitude would change and only learn from your mistakes. that a career in aviation is a possibility for would require a lot more work to bring me and HCAP have helped enormously it back into control. Attitude in putting me on this path. THoMAS BARHAM Day 3 I got the hang of rolling the aircraft smoothly and just after lunch that In July 2018, I completed a 5-day gliding day I was able to climb the glider to course at Dunstable, under a gliding about 3000ft on my own. Something I scholarship award to me by the was truly proud of, but it only made me Honourable Company of Air Pilots want to achieve the next big thing even (HCAP). more. Going solo. That was my mind-set, Arriving on Monday morning, sI wa to achieve something that very few did in welcomed by the team in Dunstable and 32