FINAL eXAms - British Airways Virtual

Airways magazinefeaturebrakes. It feels a lot faster when you’re incontrol of the plane.Once we were in the air, we headedfor Portsdown Hill. We then flew out overPortsmouth and the Isle of Wight. Duringthis stage of the flight we chatted and hetalked me through different bits and bobsabout flying straight and level and turningwhilst maintaining a constant altitude, etc.,.After flying over the Isle of Wight, weheaded east a mile or so off the coast. Atthis point we did turns (30 degree) thenabnormal turns (60 degree). At 60 degreeswe were experiencing +2 G’s. We couldhardly lift our feet off the floor. What wedid was Phil flew the turn and talked methrough it left and right (because the viewout of your side of the window is differentwith left and right turns). Then I would flythe turn. After that he put the plane into astall. I found it as exciting as we stalled, Ishould have been scared but I loved it.After a couple of stalls, we went throughan engine failure procedure. He pickeda field and flew the approach and a bit ofthe final and we then climbed back up to3000ft. I then flew down the coast headingeast back towards Shoreham and Brighton.After flying past Brighton we turned backtowards Shoreham. This was my favouritepart because Phil was receiving instructionsfrom Shoreham Approach and I was carryingout those instructions. We had to holdfor a few minutes. I loved this because itgave me a real test at turning and maintainingaltitude for a long time. I managed it,holding the plane at 1600ft.We were cleared for approach and Iflew it with minimal instruction. We werecleared to land and I flew the final with,again, minimal instruction. Phil’s handswere not even lightly on the control column.They were on his lap.At 50ft he placed his hands on the controlcolumn, but I could feel I still had control.At 40ft he told me to set the engineto idle. I did so and we both pitched theplane up and the wheels kissed the runwaywith a small screech. I slowed the planeand then he took control and taxied off therunway.He reminded me that I was very skilledand a very promising pilot. He told me thatI would sail through the courses and that helooked forward to hopefully flying with mein the future. I shut the aircraft down andwe got out the plane; although, I wanted tostay in and carry on flying!We walked back and he nipped into thereception to get my certificate. I collectedthe certificate and shook his hand, thankinghim for the best day of my life. He said helooked forward to flying with me again.I would also just like to spare a thoughtfor the family of the pilot killed at ShorehamAirport and also a thought for the crew ofthe Diamond DA42, A Flying Time Aviationaircraft.Shaun Mclean