Flying just sounds like a dream ! You’re free ,on
your own or with passengers ; in a small aicraft
,possibly at just 15 years old. Yes you’re not crazy, you
can fly with an instructor at just 15 and alone at just 16
(that’s what we call the « brevet de base »). Hasn’t
everyone ever dreamt of having your aircraft license
before your driving one ?
I/Requirements and cost:
In France there are more than 600 flying club and
450 airfields. You should be 15 years old to start flying
,even if you can start before (but if you start soon, you
will have to wait to pass you qualification …). On the one hand it’s an expensive hobby. But for
the price of one packet of cigarettes per day , you can pay for your own private pilot license.
Furthermore, you don’t need to be a CPGE student to pass the qualification : no maths or physics
level is required.
II/ Steps of becoming a private pilot:
You have to accumulate 25 hours of
flight with an instructor (in general ,
instructors are former fighter pilot or
former captain in well-known companies).
Then you have to fly 15 hours solo and pass
the theory test ( there are lots of center in
France : Metz, Dijon, Paris …). But first of all
you have to have fun and be passionate.
During the first lessons you will learn how
to : control the aircraft, take-off safely, land,
speak at the radio ( because aeronautics has
it’s own alphabet : ALPHA, BRAVO,
CHARLIE, DELTA ….). The second big step is
the navigation : you have to learn how to
find your bearings, how to join the circuit
pattern around an airfield …
In general, it takes 1 year to pass the
final exam.
III/ Why the PPL ? What are the goals ? What for ?
If you pass the PPL test with a flight examinator, you can fly over France, and over Europe
only if you pass the english test. ( you have to reach at least level 4 out of level 6). Moreover it
allows you to discover new horizons, to travel, meet passionate pilot like you, meet different
culture. It’s a magical experience just to be the captain of an aircraft and to play with the big
boys. It’s the dream of all people passionate about aeronautics. Furthermore, during the
holidays you can go wherever you want. For instance it’s cheaper to fly by plane from Paris to
Marseille than taking the train.
IV/ Personal experience
I began to pilot after the « brevet des collèges » with a former Air-France pilot. He has
been a model to me since I started to pilot. I started to take class prepping for the theory test. I
got it in 2011 in Metz. Then I have undertaken several air travel with the Cessna 172 ( an
American aircraft my flying club owns) always with my flight instructor : Annecy, Pontsur_yonne, Châlon, Etampes, Dieppe, Auxerres, Dijon...
Then I remember my first flight alone. It was a sunny day, after the preflight check I flew
for 20 minutes with my instuctor and at the end of the flight he told me « I’m outta here, enjoy
that moment». It’s was a significant message to say : « So now it’s you turn to fly alone, you will
remember this moment ». At that moment I was thrilled. I asked the Air Traffic controler for
permission to go to the holding point. He gave me the clearance. And then at the holding point, I
called back the tower :
« Fox Golf Bravo Juliet Yankee, at the holding point, ready for backtrack runway one seven »
« FGBJY, cleared for backtrack runway 17,
report ready for take-off»
« FGBJY, backtracking runway 17, I report
ready for take-off ».
« FGBJY, ready for take-off runway 17, for a
circuit pattern »
« JY cleared for take off ; wind 160 degrees
13 knots ; QNH : 1013 ; report base leg 17 »
« Roger, I report base leg 17 JY »
« JY, base leg »
« JY report on final »
« I report on final 17 »
« JY on final 17 on the ILS glide »
« JY cleared to land number 1 » …
A year latter, I stand to the
practical test. The navigation I had to
realize was : TROYES-REIMS-ETAMPES. I
passed this test, it was the best day of my life. Since that, I have travelled to Clermont Ferrand,
Annecy again (very pretty), Avranches, Ouessant, Gap, Dijon, Last summer I got level 4 at the
english rating.
So now,at just 18 I can fly over Europe wherever I want, and whenever I want ( provided
there are no storms outside). Next summer I plan to go to Jersey and Guernesay and then to
Newcastle.
To put it in a nutshell, flying is the best thing on earth. If you have never flown an
aicraft, go to a flying club to try the feelings a pilot gets every day. Every flying club offers
maiden flights. As Leonardo Da Vinci said : « When once you have tasted flight, you will
walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward for there you have been and there you will
long to return »
My flying club : http://www.aircampustroyes.fr
Short video my brother and I realized :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2T6fVMxPvw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_Eo5e0NhW0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6F6w1jnjCpY