How to learn how to fly a plane in Russia
Motivation A Life / / December 19, 2019
Editor's note: This material was written by Ilya Naumov. Ilia is in love with the small aircraft, which is so lacking in Russia for the country's connectivity. We are pleased to publish the story about Elijah, how he began to fly on their own, if only because he has turned a hobby into a job, and today the company employs "ChelAviaยป.
Many office workers familiar coming at the end of the week a strong desire to switch my brain for something other than work in progress. People have different solve this problem: someone goes to a bar, somebody - joggingAnd someone is trying to escape from the routine to extreme sports.
I suggest to you another interesting alternative - learn to fly a plane. I'll talk about a few reasons why you will be worth it to try, and try to dispel some popular myths about small aircraft.
So why do you like to fly?
A new degree of freedom
Flights - this is probably one of the best ways to know our country. A couple of hours flight from the airfield near Moscow - and you're in Lipetsk, Voronezh, Nizhny Novgorod and Tver region. In the summer, in slow mode during daylight hours it is possible to fly to the south of Russia. In much less tedious, and at the same time much more spectacle unlike road trips to such distances on a plane flight.
Even flying near the "native" of the aerodrome may be very interested in - the local natural and architectural attractions is practically everywhere.
no boredom
Aviation is interesting, first of all, the fact that the possibility of self-improvement and development of it are almost limitless. Night flying, flying on instruments, new aircraft types, different types of avionics (airborne equipment), flying from the water, aerobatics, jet aircraft, helicopters and gliders - list can be infinite. Throughout his life flight pilot studies - and is still an amateur in many fields - so immense knowledge of this area. If you're curious, attracted to new things and love to get to the bottom of things and strain your brain a variety of non-trivial task - most likely, you will enjoy flying.
Aviation is never boring - at least because of two identical flight does not happen. Weather, time of day and year, the behavior of a particular aircraft, wind landing, even it different controllers - each flight has a lot of its features. At the initial stage of even simple flying range of airfield (training of takeoffs and landings) will be for you is very exciting and gambling pastime.
Finally, flight - it's just beautiful. It is difficult to compare with something spectacular views of the golden autumn from the aircraft or the riot of colors of the sunset sky at the end of a clear day. It is impossible to describe the feeling of the words - but those who once experienced them himself, tends to rise into the air again and again.
People and chat
Russian pilots and instructors get-together quite small (when compared with such "aviation" countries such as the US), but sufficiently cohesive and active. It includes people of different professions, but most of them are united sociability, friendliness, willingness to share their experience and help his brother-pilot. The atmosphere at many aerodromes of small aircraft - almost a family (as always, without exception - people are people - but in general it is).
Summer - time for the various air shows and gatherings of small aircraft, which are going to private pilots from across the country. This is a great opportunity both to practice long-distance cross-country flights, and to meet interesting people, to take a look at the technology, listen to other people's "hunting stories" and share.
In general, if you love the cheerful companies, where you can not only have a good time, but also learn a lot - you will definitely enjoy the get-together of aviators.
The popularity of "urban legends"
Learn to pilot long and expensive.
Indeed, the aircraft can not be called cheap hobby and piloting aircraft - still somewhat more sophisticated skills than the control vehicle (no matter how you tried to dissuade the advertising some flight schools), so training takes a lot of time.
However, novice pilots, flying on weekends, usually have time to go all the initial training course (40 hours of flight experience and 300 hours of theory) for about six months, and the cost of training is not often exceed 350-450 thousand. rub. (Depending on the type of training aircraft). This amount is quite able to "master" of almost any middle manager - after all, we are talking about 100 dinner for two, or about half the cost of the Ford Focus!
And is it possible to compare the possession of a modest machine with a sense of when the whole sky is yours?
To become a pilot you need to astronaut health.
Pilots are different. For private pilots (private pilots), flying for fun, legislation imposes far less stringent requirements than for commercial and airline transport pilots, working in airlines. For a private pilot insurmountable obstacle to the sky are usually only really serious disease.
Flights - it is dangerous and extreme!
It's not like that at all. Even purely statistical probability of an accident in the air is much lower than when traveling by car - if only because of the much smaller number of participants in the movement.
In addition, the flight - this is not some kind of magic is not subject to man, but only the result of certain physical forces that a pilot is quite able to control. Flying with well-trained and prudent pilot who is not prone to self-confidence and is able to adequately assess their skills, has nothing to do with any extreme.
Equipment failures in practice are very rare, especially if the aircraft is a relatively new and serviced by qualified engineers. However, contrary to popular stereotype, even with engine failure (which in itself - an exceptional phenomenon) the aircraft is not a stone falls to the ground and turns into a glider - it is controlled. Landing speeds are low small planes, so under favorable circumstances even without the engine is quite possible a forced landing on a road or machine compacted field, which resulted in not only a pilot with passengers, but the plane remains intact and unharmed. And, of course, act in emergency situations is given special attention during the initial training.
I personally know several people who have suffered the strongest aerophobia, and completely get rid of it, the beginning of summer at the flying club on their own.
In Russia it is practically impossible to fly officially - to collect permission for the flight, and of other bureaucracy.
Some time ago, all was well, but in 2010, significant changes were made to the aviation legislation. In particular, it allowed the so-called notification airspace - this means that for an hour before the flight is enough to submit to the zone center of your flight plan (eg via the Internet), and you can safely fly.
Gradually developing and airfield infrastructure: open new private landing sites, reconstructed and restored old. Also, there is no problem in order to fly a small plane in any "big" airport.
In short, despite the fact that the Russian aviation law still difficult to call especially loyal to private pilots, some positive trends, no doubt, there is. Competent approach to mission planning, aircraft even in Russia can be considered as a complete vehicle.
How to choose a flight school (Aero Club)
When choosing a school, pay attention to the fleet of training aircraft - their age, condition and quantity. If the school has 1-2 older aircraft, most likely, they will often have to be repaired, and at this time you will not fly on anything (and ten students per aircraft - not the most attractive prospect).
It is desirable that in the Navy Flying Club attended different types of equipment - this will allow you to grow as a pilot after finishing basic training.
Ask theoretical training - whether real theoretical lessons in study groups, or this kind conducted training is purely formal ( "yes then there is prepared - to read a book, and it is unclear - ask instructor "). The "theory" when she taught a competent lecturer, is no less important than the practical flight. Neglect it just not worth it.
Find out what the school is based on the airfield. Will every weekend for several months if convenient to you to go there?
It is worth to personally visit the Flying Club and make it 20-30 minute familiarization flight, to take a closer get acquainted with the aircraft, and with the future of the instructor (in an environment as close as possible to the real employment).
Pay attention to the living conditions in the representation of the school. If there is some semblance of a classroom? Will you have the opportunity to quietly prepare for the flight? Is it possible to eat there? How comfortable will be in the winter?
Specify which document you get after graduation. This should be a certificate of the state sample private pilot license (Federal Air Transport Agency, FATA, it is the Russian Federation).
High flying you and see you in the sky!