Timeline

On special request by my missus, I'll try to write my mind here as often possible. Consider this a theraphy or memo for myself in future (if I ever go senile), information portal or pure entertainment for the rest of the world; take it anyway you want it since everyone is unique in their own thinking.

Everyone have their milestone in life. But I'm not sure if dates are remembered as vividly as mine. My path ahead and behind me are always marked by dates more so now than ever. I can't even remember the date I finish my secondary school, when I entered Uni, date of my 1st job etc. It wasn't that significant back then. But this job, this is one different job altogether. I can't remember for life of me how it all happened but the dates are always somehow indicated somewhere to mark my progression in this profession (wow.. it rhymes!). This is just pure work so bear with me! To make things fun, what were you doing during those dates? Do you remember?

Joined the company 19 Jan 2007
ATPL date 24 July 2007 (imagine SPM or O-levels crash course in 3 months)
Left for Jandakot 17 Aug 2007
Left for Maroochydore 17 Nov 2008
Ground school 4-29 May 2009 and repeat 10-26 Mar 2010 (mind you, doing the exam twice doesn't mean you're twice as clever)
1st Wide body Take off and Landing 28 Aug 2010 a.k.a. SO appointment
1st Flight (to Johannesburg) 23rd Sept 2010
Completion of training 10th June 2011.

Feels just like yesterday

No time to study but got time for blog :)

I always have this funny habit. If I'm free, I won't get anything done. But if I'm starting to get busy, then I'll start to be productive and everything will start to fall in place.

I was suppose to study for tomorrow (1st official day in Sim!), but now its lunch time, I started cooking 'nugget de la bruchetta' (nugget with bruchetta?). Anyways, not only did I cook it.. I manage to write it down on my long abandoned blog!! I've been 'free' all this while but no updates here at all ya..

My newly improved study corner.. brightly lit! (3M light you see...). Somehow there's a higher level of organization on this chaotic table

Enjoy the lunch! For your eyes only! Notice the two capsule on the side? That's the fish oil that I left overnight.. now its soggy

A month In Singapore

For a month, its lotsa happenings here.. as compared to a month in Perth. The action started from the time we got the call to leave Jandakot that fateful morning. Anyways, I took photos along the way.. but only manage to get it downloaded now (priority of task.. muahahaha). Well, here they are!! Enjoy!

0. Cleared JDK. Take photo.. play with the 'Gong', play with the Solo bell (waited 9 months to finally ring the bell)

Half in the photo have gone home. We're waiting for the other half to join us!

Bye bye Perth!

Helloooo mama!

1. Parents came over for a week's holiday

2. Bought a house

This is not the photo of the house. Its actually our current rented place. Think might just miss this place.

3. Went to see Airshow in Boon Lay with Bunny (almost as good as Red Bull Air Race)

Singapore's own Peter Besenyei

4. Completed our Learjet ground school (dun play play.. 3 weeks non stop study ok? plus exam some more)

5. Got my CPL licence

6. Had my 1st snow crab to celebrate passing the exam

7. Went for basic theory to convert my driving license (almost!!! Just give me one extra day!)
8. Going to Brisbane (one day before my theory test)

Insomniac

For the last few days my sleeping pattern have been haywired. Nowadays I can't fall asleep after midnight. In fact, my bedtime used to be around midnight. My sleeping time has shifted to about 5 to 6 hours later. I'm now officially on Europe time. And when I sleep, I could sleep up to 12 hours straight and that just messes up my sleep the next night. This morning is no exception. I guess I might as well bore myself to sleep by writing something here.

Just now Nic and myself went to pax Bunny's 1st flight with Dave, an instructor known for his super-duper-high standard in flying. We were surprised how nice he was departing from the various stories we've heard before. So I guess rumours are not exactly correct or it might just be Bunny's charm. I guess on first impression Bunny scored big time tonight.

Unfortunately for him, we were caught unaware of the weather building up in Pingelly, one of our waypoint for tonight. It was kindda scary because we didn't actually know what we're going into and the weather information was rather limited in the air. So we made the most prudent decision of all. Divert back and live to fly another day.

Now, back to imagining that my bed and pillow is just like this fluffy cloud and I might catch a wink or two.

Seriously serious

For once during my flight today, I doubted my ability to fly. Had previous hiccups but this time it seems more real. I need to keep reminding myself that this opportunity is hard to come by but easy to lose. I guess the previous basic flying skills are more important than ever now and that marginal weather is not an excuse not to perform.

After flight was so down that although I'm hungry from my light morning breakfast (that could be a factor I couldn't perform as well), I couldn't bring myself to have lunch and thenafter dinner.

Its time to get serious.

Amazing Albany (Pt 2)

Albany boys aka Nic, Macha and Me planned for the Albany flight during one of the marginal days. To boldly go where no one has gone before... not exactly accurate because many cadets before us went there as part of our requirement. It wasn't exactly the best weather forecast to go down south. But with winter days coming in on us, it was probably worthwhile to give it a shot.

The trip there was uneventful except for the low hanging fluffy cumulus which didn't totally cover the sky. Half of the time the clear blue sky take a peek with the sun shining down to the ground. As we approach Albany, the majestic Stirling Range suddenly appeared to our left looking like one of the scenes from LOTR. Too bad the visibility was quite low but from what I understand from my roommate, during the flight there, the visibility was even worse than that. So I guess I'll have to start counting my blessings.

Stirling Range from two different point of view. Top one looks better but the bottom one has the overall view

The weather was much better at Albany itself. The sun is everywhere with some patches of clouds. The airport itself was quite busy with aircrafts coming in and out of the airport. Initially what we imagine as a relaxing one hour break there turned out to be at most 15 minutes break with the remaining time used up to refuel and for necessary planning to go back.

The wind turbine (or wind farm) overlooking Southern Ocean

Does this look like Rio to you Jim? View of King George Sound.

As predicted, the weather was closing in on us and therefore on our leg back, the cold fronts was pouring its heart out. Lucky for us again that its in patches and therefore we could maneuver our way around to get back. It was somewhat of a different experience because normally we'd only fly in good weather. This being our last navigation, it was truly an adventure of its own to experience the marginal weather. To feel the excitement of flying again. It also enforces the need that safety always comes first when it comes to flying and the appreciation of life (here's looking at ya babe!).

What a way to end the visual navigation chapter!

Margaret River

Normally I drive to a destination. Never had I imagined that I'd be sightseeing (that's not exactly the technical term to use when you're undergoing a flight training) on a plane!

Margaret River and its vineyards- birds eye view

But last week I did just that to Margaret River. All I know of the place is that its full of vineyards. What I didn't know is that there's a place called Cape Leeuwin just south west of Margaret River where Indian Ocean meets Southern Ocean. According to Darren, the latest south WA tourist attraction expert, the cape is marked by a historical lighthouse which is a must go destination if you're driving there. So now you know too!

To the left of the cape is Indian Ocean and Southern Ocean on the right

Navigation Flights

From general handling, its on to another chapter of flying.. navigation. It wasn't exactly the way I'd thought about going from one place to the other since there's no signboards saying where you are or which direction to go to the destination.

The way to go is Time-Ground-Map. Kindda new and againts my habits to go as we're so used to looking at features around us then looking at map to see if it matches. And time? What time? The views in WA ranges from ocean and salt lakes near the coast to mounts further inland passing the escarpment. Dams (which I never get to see in my previous company although there's couple of dam projects that were were doing) and reservoirs are a common sight inland and a good landmarks for navigation.

Must say its quite an experience and I underestimated the workload during navigation flying. My initial perception of navigation flights would be looking out for features (aka sight seeing) to reach a destination. Did I get that so wrong! There's still other things to do and it does demand quite a lot of your attention. I've often do a lot of things when I drive and I do it with ease. While driving a car, I can (Kids don't try this at home.. leave it to professionals):

1. Take photos

2. Eat dinner/lunch/breakfast
3. Find my way with road maps

4. Read

Don't get me wrong, I'm a safe driver. And whenever I don't feel comfortable I can always stop the car anytime. With planes, its a totally gameplan all together. Stopping the plane at the roadside? That happens only when I ran out of fuel and forgot to top up the plane. One common trouble for me when flying and driving would actually be thinking of mathematical sum and talking. Well, guess I do get too engrossed with what I'm doing sometimes.

However, practice does makes perfect and I can't wait to go on solo navigations on my own to brush up on the technique and hopefully it'll all come to me like second nature like driving a car.

I guess next time if I own a small plane, I can cut down travelling time from Kuching to Sarikei to just one hour! For guys and gals traveling back to Kuching and Sarikei, Happy Chinese New Year!

My 1st Solo

Finally after much waiting, sleeping, more waiting.. finally the day came! Good sunny weather (minus the strong wind), instructor is available, I'm alert and wide awake and there's available slots in Jandakot (by the way I think I've mentioned that Jandakot is the Southern Hemisphere's busiest airport but I can't stress enough of it)... and then I'm off!!

My solo bird is VH-LTM. Instructor is Andrew Spencer - a cool guy who bikes and keeps fit for hobby. Don't think there's a better instructor for my solo check than him though he's busy most of the time. I first did few circuits with him until he thinks that I'm competent to do a flight safely on my own - have to work for his trust!

Then he'd get out of the plane (of course after we landed! No, he didn't take a parachute with him and jump out mid air if that's what you're thinking of). He'd then gave me some last minute instruction and wished me luck. With my taxi lights on so that he can recognize which is me, he'd stand at an open location to see my 1st flight. I then take off, do a circuit and then land. Then I picked him up and then we headed back.

Anyways, only after I landed did Andrew tell me that its more stressful to be out of the plane watching me taking to flight and land on my own than be in the plane cause there's nothing that he can do to help me if anything goes wrong. Luckily (actually its more of skills and talent and practice.. ahem.. ahem.. ok, I'll stop with the bragging here...) I landed safe and sound and manage to post this online...

Route to the Skies

Every achievement comes from small little steps. To proceed on with this flying career, every person (politically correct compared to 'man') has to take the step of clearing his solo. I've done almost 18 hrs of flight and now its the next big step. Big for me because it will be significant in getting that confidence 'boost' to proceed on with the next training.

Most people says that going solo is the most memorable part of the training. It is so simply because you'd put your life on the line. But of course, proper instruction was given prior to that to build confidence with proper technique. Suddenly I realize it is similar with our life as well. Literally, how we want our life to be lies in our own hands as well!

With few more flights, I hope to have achieve something here before I return to see the loved ones soon....