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50 THISDAY • MONDAY, MAY 18, 2015 CITYSTRINGS Features Editor Adeola Akinremi Email adeola.akinremi@thisdaylive.com High Flyers Chiemelie Ezeobi writes on a new breed of young, budding high flyers whose passions know no bounds The time was 3.14pm on a certain Monday. The venue was the hangar of International Helicopter Flying School (IHFS), Emene, Enugu. Under the blistering sun was the maestro, Group Captain Ayo Jolasinmi and his student- Edet Okon. No, they were not part of the new order that worships the sun. The reason for their outdoor presence was not far-fetched. It was time for practice. And so they boarded the helicopter as co-pilot and pilot. The student alongside his instructor after following the ground safety rules took off from the runway of the Enugu International Airport, with this reporter as a passenger. Round and round the helicopter flew, circling the airport three times. The silence in the helicopter was intermittently broken by the static and air waves emanating from the earpiece and interjection of soft corrections from the teacher to the student. Soon enough, both the rector and this journalist got down and the student took off on his solo flight. With arms of steel sharpened by his desire to be the best he can, he steered the helicopter and was soon soaring in the skies. Okon is merely one of the numerous students (presently 23 students and 43 past grandaunts) that attend the IHFS to harness and nurture their dreams of soaring the skies as a helicopter pilot. For such students, their attraction to flying borders in between soaring with the elements and enjoying the abundant opportunity flying offers. Jolasinmi, who also doubles as the rector of the school, totally agrees with this. With a smile playing on his lips he said: “Flying is a magnificent job. It’s one job that brings out the real you and demands all from you. “Especially flying helicopters brings you close to nature. It’s a versatile flying unlike the fixed wings (aircrafts and aeroplanes). “With the helicopters, you can save soul, rescue people on the seas and mountains. You bring firing power to bear in every facet of human endeavour. Flying the helicopter is a passion. “If you have the desire, you can never regret it. It’s fulfilling and satisfying. However, it’s demanding. It’s demands in depth search for knowledge, right attitude and safety consciousness.” For him, IHFS, a private-public partnership initiative, was borne out of the need to help anyone else with a passion for flying to realise that ambition. He believes that this unique partnership is a versatile tool for the enhancement of civil-military cooperation, thereby harnessing available resources to stimulate the development of the aviation industry in line with the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. Thus, he said the IHFS is positioned to infuse impeccable and dogged military flying experience into the robust and versatile civil aviation world through its enriched knowledge base training. In the Beginning It all started as a dream of the former Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Mohammed Umar, but has over the years evolved under the administration of the successive Air Force Chiefs. With its fully-integrated training program designed towards making students become safety conscious, skilled and professional pilots, IHFS believes that the trainees would be competent in operating at all levels in the commercial, military and corporate aviation sectors. Indeed, the school’s selling point lies not only in providing its students with a solid foundation in all critical areas of aviation theory and flight skills, but also teaching them how to work effectively in the constantly changing environment of the skies. Thus at its inception ceremony held in Lagos two years ago, when the school was officially accredited and certified, the then Director General (DG) of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Fola Akinkuotu, had urged them to strictly adhere to safety procedures. Flying School IHFS was set up by TRIAX Nigeria Limited and Aeronautical Engineering & Technical Services Limited (AETSL), a subsidiary of NAF Holding Company, which formed AETSL-TRIAX Limited through joint venture arrangement. With a staff strength of 50, including 25 civilians and 25 Air Force personnel, It’s vision is to harness a formidable helicopter flying school that trains and grooms youngsters into professional pilots. With the fees are as high as 197, 980 dollars (approximately N16million) for each student, the idea to start the school in 2010 have attracted students with the passion for flying across all sectors. Already, the services including the police have had some of their students pass through the school. Also, some states like Yobe and Enugu have sponsored some of their brilliant students to the school. Not left out are government personnels and few private individuals. However, having the passion to fly is not all it entails. The aspiring student must not be less than 17 years of age and must have five credits in O’level including Maths and English. THISDAY gathered that the school however runs three types of training programmes which It all started as a dream of the former Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Mohammed Umar, but has over the years evolved under the administration of the successive Air Force Chiefs Squadron Leader Doyin Komolafe (L) instructing the pilots for take off An Air Force instructor with some students includes the private pilot license, instrument rating and commercial pilot license. While the private pilot license programme that leads to the award of Private Pilot License (PPL) is intended for student pilots learning to fly as a hobby or those planning to purchase their own helicopters, it is also the first step on the path to Commercial Pilot License (CPL). Accordingly, the total flight training consists of an average of 24 to 47 flight hours on the R66 helicopter and Fly it simulator. The course is inclusive of training in basic flying instrument to ensure that the trainees have the capabilities to safely operate under Special VFR conditions and improve their instrument scanning techniques. For the instrument rating, it gives a pilot the ability to cope with unstable weather conditions in which he/she might operate from time to time. Thus, the instrument rating is essential for both career and safety reasons and affords the holder of the rating more versatility than a non-instrument rated pilot and ultimately makes the holder safer and more confident in the air. For those who desire the license for commercial purposes, the school designed a syllabus to prepare them for the practical demands of professional flying through the total flight training which consists of an average of 55 to 120 flight hours (PPL inclusive) on the R66 helicopter and Fly it simulator respectively. For eligibility at the end of the course, the student’s course encompasses advanced maneuvers and additional cross country flights to meet the requirements for Commercial Pilot License. Growing the Dream That was the dream at its inception but the school has grown beyond what it started with. With more instructors, additional helicopters, all turbine-engine, the school has certainly come to stay, especially with its toga of being the first helicopter training school in the sub-region. According to Jolasinmi, since the school is built on the tripod of professionalism, experience and safety, they have experienced proficient and dedicated flight and ground instructors who
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