Monday, January 26, 2009

Aviation for Captaincy


It was THAT particular day that I officially declared myself as a future pilot. The 5th of January 2009 marked a history in my book of life, one that shall be remembered and well reserved in my psyche. Often people ask me about the sensation of being among the white milky clouds since the day they knew I was undergoing my training as a pilot. But seldom could I answer or give the exact elaboration of the emotions that the hormones release when being up there due to the fact that I haven’t started my flying yet. So I would just tell them the same story my seniors have been telling me, carrying on the sequence chain of stories or I would just simply say that I haven’t flown the craft yet not bothering to share the experience as it isn’t even my own.

Well that day changed it all. I have completed my first sortie and finally taste the air up there. Maybe I am a little bit exaggerating here. The air tastes the same but the feeling is remarkably different, I KID YOU NOT.

That morning around 11 am, I went outside the hangar (it's like a garage for aircrafts) and looked up. The sky was clear with a few milky puffs of cumulus here and there. Indeed, a definition of a great day for flying! Without hesitation, I went to Captain Fauzi, the pilot instructor in charge to conduct my first sortie today and greeted him..

“Assalamualaikum and morning sir. I’m cadet pilot Mohd Aiman Md Isa and today I’m scheduled to fly with you sir.” I said starting the conversation.

“At what time?” he replied.

“It’s supposed to be now sir. Whenever you’re ready.” I replied back.

“Whenever I’m ready? It’s whenever you are ready.” He laughed and continued,” Your first sortie? Are you ready? Scared?”

“Yes sir, my first sortie. I think I’m ready sir. I’m not that scared sir coz I’m flying with you sir.” I wasn’t trying to make a joke but that it was came out of my mouth.

“Hahahaha. We’ll see about that later. Wait for me at 9M-TAT (the pronunciation is niner mike tango alpha tango)”

“Yes sir!”


I can’t believe it!! My first flight!! I mean my first flight that I'm in control of the aircraft!! I don’t know what to feel at that moment. But I was really looking forward to fly.

I strived hastily towards the flight operation room to take my headset, took my checklist and went to the aircraft. In 5 minutes time, I was already there with him. Captain Fauzi taught me how to do a quick check since the engine was already hot and we went around the aircraft to do the external checks. Later on the aircraft, he asked me if I wanted do the radio calls and I said yes. So there I was, in a Piper Cheerokee Warrior 2 registered number 9M-TAT with my headset around my head, my hands on the control column ready for my first sortie.



Me: Kota Bharu Ground, this is APAC 16 (the call sign I was using)

ATC(Air Traffic Control): APAC 16, Go ahead

Me: APAC 16, Request start for Bachok, POB 2, Endurance 6 hours in 9M-TAT

ATC: APAC 16, Wind 130/50 knots, Temperature 32, QNH 1009, Runway 10, Cleared to start

Me: QNH 1009, Runway 10, Cleared to start, APAC 16


And then I started the aircraft, taxied it to the holding point to take-off. I was kind of nervous but I did a few rehearsals in front of the mirror at home so I wouldn’t say unnecessary words. Before the take-off, I did my departure brief to Captain Fauzi:

Me:

This will be a normal take-off.
The rotating speed is 65 knots.
I will climb out at 80 knots, thereafter 90 knots.

Any malfunctions while on the roll; I will abort the take-off.

If the engine fails after take-off, I will select attitude for 75 knots and carry out the EFATO drill.

Any questions sir?

CAPT FAUZI: No, Aiman. You have control.

Me: I have control

So I was ready at the holding point on the runway to do the take-off.



ATC: APAC 16, Cleared Bachok training area, 1000 feet, Right turn, Cleared for take-off.

Me: Cleared Bachok training area, 1000 feet, Right turn, Cleared for take-off!!!


I put full throttle power. The aircraft was accelerating like lightning. 65 knots!!! I pulled the control column gently. And there I was. Rising high towards the sky and leaving the ground. Woohooo! I did it. My first take-off. But honestly, I didn’t do the landing. The Captain did it.



That was my first flying experience!!

And that's that.
Noktah.
Me>aiman

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

whoooo..i'm d 1st 2 comment on dis entry...nothin' else but CONGRATS!!!! pasni..bley bwk sab fly plak hehe nway sori again huhu~~

Anonymous said...

whoooo..i'm d 1st 2 comment on dis entry...nothin' else but CONGRATS!!!! pasni..bley bwk sab fly plak hehe nway sori again huhu~~

Only Kye said...

"I was kind of nervous but I did a few rehearsals in front of the mirror at home so I wouldn’t say unnecessary words"

Hilarious!

Hey, I really like this post. Especially the exchange between you and Capt Fauzi. It's like listening in on Obi Wan and Luke Skywalker... only they're flying to Bachok instead of the Death Star.

I'm glad your dream is taking off.

the aimless said...

impossible is nothing :)

--dont stop to inspire others.

Fara Fatihah said...

aiman,u layan blues ke atas langit tu?
mcm sedih je muka.haha

The Spasmodic Scribbler said...

Are you training to be a pilot with MAS or what?

But yeah, fara was right. You look rather sad (or maybe scared haha!) up there.

aiman said...

sab: hey hey.. u want me to bwk u flying? can can. if i have my private plane la. if not, when ur on a plane and the pilot in command is me, then come to the cockpit. u can sit in the jumpsit in the cockpit. hehe

kye: mcm dlm filem la ni? hoho. i prefer bachok than the death star though. make a movie to bachok pon okay what! hehe. and i have to rehearse the radio calls la kye. nanti tebelit2 lidah.

basyirah: i inspire others? are you sure? hehe. i hope i do inspire others in my own way..

fara: bukan layan blues la. itu muke mcm tekejut sbb cantik tp mcm cover2 sket supaya mcm ta jakun..and kne focus gak bwk the plane. if jatuh nanti how kan? hoho

nawar: manede scared. im brave okaaayy! hehe. honestly, ade cuak sketla. a tiny winy bit. hehe. im undergoing training for commercial pilot licence btw..

lubnaaa said...

You know, one of my ambitions masa kecik dulu was to be a pilot.

But now cannot.

Why?

Because I wear glasses. Sheesh.

Congratulations Aiman!
Alhamdulillah on your first flight.

Siapa yang tolong jadi paparazzi ni?

monday173 said...

Sempat camwhore jugak.

Hahaha

Glad to know your sortie worked out well.

aiman said...

lubna: who told you people who wears glasses cant become a pilot? can la! hurry up n register. and most of the pictures were taken by myself. some by a friend who's backsitting the aircraft.

elyna: hey you!! of course sempat! my first flight tu. and i even recorded my first landing. tadela teruk sgt. hehe..

monday173 said...

Then you better upload the video on this blog la

Najia said...

elyna is all about recording ppl's first time (referring to fazlia's climb up and down tangga b.caves nusaibah) hehe.
tahniah on ur first flight! awesome! or as azim would spell it, osem!

aiman said...

elyna: will do so.. tp mcm malu la plak. akan dipertimbangkan. hehe

najia: osem?haha. azim azim.. thanks. and elyna mmg salu mau tgk people's first everything yeh? hehe

PEYHAN said...

wow3X!it's look like in "GOOD LUCK" but it was real!haha..the dialogue looked familiar to me and it happened to u!cayalah aiman! congrats!gile x saba tgu flight ko..haha!aku request nk tgk cockpit!

aiman said...

farihan: request to tgk the cockpit je? tgk je? hehe. if im the pilot in command at that time, you can even fly in the cockpit. hehe

Anonymous said...

hey, bro! =) damn so proud of you!! nk fly dlm cockpit gak, it's a must, okay!!

aiman said...

Anonymous: hey you! can can. the only problem i have is...
I DONT KNOW WHO U ARE!! u didnt write ur name in the name box. hehe

Anonymous said...

haish!~ gmane sih, tidak kenalin gue..

aiman said...

lho siapa neyh? bg clue! hehe

Azim Rosli said...

hullamak! cool man! bile nak bwk aku round2 msia nek kapal tebang ko yg bwk? hak2 weih aku ngn din redi nak g lawat ko sket mase lagi, redi ah kedatangan ktorang!! hak2 sambut ngn bunge api sume tau kui2

aiman said...

bungapi? ko ingat ni putrajaya ke sambut ngn bungapi? ko ngn din sampai je kelantan, aku sambut ngn gajah 3 ekor. sorang satu. kte berarak keliling kelantan meliat pantai2, jeram2, air tejun sume. brla terasa hampir kpd nature sket kan? hehe. asek2 sibuk dgn hingar bingar kl je watpe? tekejar sane, tekejar sini. hehe

Azim Rosli said...

hak2 nek gajah wat pe man lambat kui2 hehe ok2 nanti kalau de rezeki sampai la aku ke sane hehe

Anonymous said...

aku ingat lagi ko semangat gi pinjam joystick ghafur pastu kte men flight simulator masa 1st yr dulu.. tp ape barang flight sim skang kan? paling jauh aku pnah pun try mas pnye simulator 777 da best gile.. ko plak boleh bawak betul2 nye nnt.. taniah le..

p.s: pengalaman ktorang crashkan kapal mase practical dlu, wpun simulator tapi amat menyeramkan.. jd byk2kanla berdoa sebelum, semase n selepas terbang. hati2 wuwuwu..

Ren said...

Salam..

nice successful story... kagum arr.

Anonymous said...

terus rsa nk tukar profession haish..