Gavin's First Solo

It’s a weird feeling you get as you hand your boarding card to the staff at the gate in Heathrow Airport . You’re walking down the airbridge into the unknown and you are thinking to yourself “What the hell am I doing?” Twenty hours, and two flights later, I arrived at 43 Air School on Oct 13th 2007.

The guys and girls made me feel welcome, as did the staff, right from the moment I met them all. It was a big relief for me as I had travelled down on my own, which made it an even bigger challenge. That night, and in true Irish fashion, everyone headed to Grahamstown to welcome the new arrival……… Any excuse!!!!

Flying started for me on the Tuesday with an intro flight with my instructor. My first impression of the scenery and coastline was fantastic. It is a sight I will be seeing pretty much every day for the next year or so and I have no complaints with that.

Private Pilot Licence (PPL) Ground School started on the Wednesday and from then on it would be two hours of Ground School each day and maybe two flights depending on the weather. The next five weeks or so promised to be a busy time until Ground School would finish.

As for my first solo flight, well from day one you know its coming and it’s always in the back of your mind. So as my hours started to build, and the exercises got ticked off one by one, that thought started to move towards the front of my mind. I knew it wouldn’t be that far off, but that was for my instructor to decide. It happened fairly suddenly. I had just finished circuits with my instructor and as we taxied off the runway, he said “right you know what to do, off you go”. I didn’t know exactly what I was to say to that, but I think I blurted out something along the lines of “You mean on my own?”. That was exactly what he meant. Out he got and walked down to the tower where he would be watching my one circuit. I taxied back to the holding point, did my run up checks, and reported ready to the tower. I got my take off clearance from the tower and off I went. What a rush!!

I had all different types of emotions running through me as I took off and left the safety of the ground. Most of which were excitement and fear. They sat with me the whole way around the circuit until final approach when they were joined with tears when I realised I had to land this thing!!! But I did, and quite well even if I do say so myself.

So there it was my first solo flight out of the way. All that was left to do was park up the aircraft and be carried to the pool by the guys to get a soaking. It’s a 43 Air School tradition. To put your first solo flight into perspective, it’s only something small to what lies ahead, but to each and every individual, it is an amazing experience. Everyone says the same thing. WOW!!
When I look back to that day in Heathrow Airport when I had some doubts, I realise that I know exactly what I am doing getting on that plane. No Regrets.
Gavin Maher
1st Solo Flight 8/11/2007 (ZS-EOY)