Instructor's renewal

I can't believe it's been a year since obtaining my National Flight Instructor rating and this morning I did my renewal skills test with Brad. I have not been that busy with students for the year as I run the admin for the whole flight school too, but I have notched up 45 hours instruction and a total of almost 500 flying hours in the short couple of years since getting my licence.

Brad and I in the skyye over Durban

Durban Stadium off the wing of my Sling ZDL

Instructor's Rating

On my arrival back from South Korea, where I visited my daughter the last week, I was chuffed to receive my Raasa Instructor's update to my licence. Looking forward to my first students.

National Flight Instructor

I passed my flight test today for my National Flight Instructor Rating Grade C, so I will now be able to train my own students.. very chuffed and looking forward to this next phase of my aviation life. Thanks to my Instructor and flight school partner Brad for the hours he spent with me having as much fun as I was in my plane teaching me some of the more advanced techniques the Sling is capable of. Thanks also to Johnny our airline pilot who handled the flight test. Looking forward to working more with you. I am the first student of Durban Skyye Flight School to commence and complete training at the fledgling flight school.. many more to follow!! 

Johnny (right) with Dave during the flight test

It's a thumbs-up from Dave enjoying his flight test

About to go 

The view of the beachfront homeward bound on a poor weather day finishing off the flight test

Johnny completes the skills test assessment for submission to Raasa

Last day of Instructor's training

I did my last training flight with our Flight School A Grade Instructor and CFI Brad today in preparation for my Instructor's Rating Skills test during the week. It is going to be a bit of a crazy week as I have registered for two Commercial Pilot exams on Wednesday and Thursday and hope to do my Instructor's Flight Test on Friday. Today we had a bit of fun in the skyye, avoiding some clouds and practising some simulated emergency landing on some ploughed sugarcane fields and the beach. We also did turning stalls and some advanced manoeuvres, getting really comfortable with the aeroplane n various unusual attitudes.

In the skyye and taking a selfie on the last training flight of my Instructor's rating with Brad

Taking off from Virginia for our adventure in the skyye. Isn't is great to have aviation aficionados to capture these special moments on camera!! Thanks Brian.

Banking away to the left cutting our own path through the skyye away from the clouds

The coastline around Amanzimtoti seen from the Virginia General Flying area

I also had a chance to jump on the back of Brad's microlight just to help him put the plane away in the hangar. With gusting winds someone needs to hold the wing (which moves in the wind) whilst the other handles the hangar doors.

Completing Instructor's

I'm in the last throws of completing my NPL Instructor's course and today we spent 2 hours in the air north of Durban around the Tugela River mouth and Isithebe. We practiced a few simulated forced landings on the beach - the pics look like we were walking on the beach but the photo was taken a few seconds from a possible landing on the beach, then gave the engine full power and took off before a touch-down on the sand. We practiced this from several angles to ensure that I was comfortable making an emergency landing from any approach and would be able to successfully train a student to do the same.

We completed today's training doing similar "glide approaches" simulating engine failures around Isithebe airfield at random times.. closing my eyes whilst Brad manouvered the plane and then cut the power, then opened them to bring the plane down to a safe landing.

This could be a good landing. The wind was pumping up to 30 kts which means we could get the ground speed down to 30 kts before being in danger of connecting with the beach sand.

Brad (right) and I in the sky over Isithebe

Tugela River mouth and lighthouse up the north coast from Durban.

Brad has cut the power and we are floating down aiming for the stretch of sand on the other side of the river as it breaches the coastline

The glide takes us down close to the Lighthouse

Isithebe runway - an asphalt runway inland of the Tugela River mouth and suitable for practising emergency landings

On the way home past the Umhlanga Lighthouse

Coming in to land back at Virginia we tried an "Initial" - an approach towards and over the runway, taking a steep left turn and over to the beach then returning to land.

Sunday training

Great pic of me flying in the right seat, taking off from Virginia Airport to go to Ballito and Isithebe up the North Coast where I did some circuit training for my Instrcutor's rating today. Thanks Trevor Viljoen for the photo. 

Cockpit view of the north coast

The Tugela River Mouth as we turned to go inland to Isithebe

The view back to the Tugela Mouth with the Lighthouse just in from the shore

Instructor Brad (right) with me at the controls having "patter" training simulating my giving a student pilot instruction

What stunning weather and beautiful coastline to be following

Umhlanga coastline comes into view as we return to Durban

Left and Right

I am feeling confident flying from the right as well as the left seat now and yesterday evening before sunset our CFI Brad and I did a few more manoeuvres over Durban skyye as the sun was setting including banking stalls, simulated engine failures on take-off and precautionary landings and how one would take this through with a student. Coming in to land on the beach I was thinking the plane needs a loud warning hooter and it was looking like the plane would have to be ditched in the sea if the beachgoers didn't move in time.

ZDL cockpit seen from the right side

Dave left with Brad right

Instructors and Night flight

A whirlwind day today with a sudden ad hoc inspection of the Flight School by Raasa, the administrative body delegated by the Civil Aviation Authority that looks after Part 62 aviation training organisations. That all went well, along with a decision in favour of my completing my Instructor's training in our own plane ZDL for my National Flight Instructor rating.

The Durban skyline was clear after the cold front and rain which washed away the smog

 The Raasa inspection was followed by my third Instructor's "patter" training flight, raking up 3,5 hours towards the 15 needed for the licence as well as exams.

The sun was setting over Durban as my Instructor Brad and I returned to Virginia

Feeling slightly strange sitting in the left seat but flying the plane as Brad gives me instructor "patter" training

ZDL cockpit by day

My day flight was followed by a bite to eat then a short night flight from Virginia to King Shaka International where we did a touch and go, this time with me back in the left seat

Llewellyn and I with our night lights on

The Umhlanga beachfront, pier and lighthouse by night

Approaching King Shaka runway 24 by night

Instructor's Rating started

I have had my first Instructor's lesson in "patter" - learning how to instruct students once I qualify. This would give me a Grade C National Flight Instructor rating. My instructor of course is my flight school partner, Brad and we flew in our newly approved flight school training aircraft Sling "Yankee" ZU-FYA.

Winter and early evening as the sun sets, a beautiful time to fly. The air was a bit choppy though as a south-wester was coming through with the wind gusting over 20 kts

Dave learning to fly from the right seat while Brad, an A Grade Instructor gives him "patter"