Unfortunately the DA20 Katana aircraft that I'm training on had a problem with its fuel system, and the management of CTC NZ took the only decision available to them, which was to ground the fleet whilst the problem was investigated. This gave all of us training on the aircraft a period of time with just the PPL Exams to do. So as you can guess it's been a little quiet.
However, the fuel system problem has now been completely fixed and both the CTC Staff and Trainees are working hard and making back the lost time - last week was a fairly busy time for me...
Firstly, now we've finished the PPL Exams, it's time to move onto the main event as far as studying goes - the ATPL Exams. ATPL stands for Airline Transport Pilots Licence and it's the bit of paper one needs to get the seat with the best view in an airliner. The exams cover 14 different subject relating to aviation, and as you would expect go into considerably more depth than the PPL exams - I'll be taking the first set of 7 exams when I come back to the UK in April next year. The study is done through Bristol Groundschool distance learning. Most of it is done using Computer Based Training, with the subjects automatically split up into weekly bitesized chunks, making it easier to learn. This week we made a start with Gen Nav and Human Factors - might not mean much to most people, but say 'Gen Nav' to airline pilots and I suspect the conversation would end at that point...
Secondly, I've been back in the air and doing my best to make up for lost time - got 4 flights done this week. My instructor decided that because of my previous flying, we could skip some of the lessons, and so I'm now on circuits. Hoping that by the middle of next week I'll be doing my first powered solo. Enjoying doing the glide circuits as well, it's almost like I've done them before...
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