I absolutely love flying, and that’s one reason I want to be a pilot.
The main reason why I want to become a pilot is that when I am up in the sky, I feel happy, calm, excited, and free. I enjoy seeing the ground from a bird’s-eye view and experiencing how large our Earth is from a perspective different from that of the ground. I appreciate knowing I will not have to rely on cars, buses, trains, and other ground transportation to get around when I’m older. I realize how fortunate I am to have this opportunity to fly an airplane.
I’ve been learning how to fly airplanes, what it takes to fly, and how to take care of aircrafts. I have been getting all my knowledge from my instructors and the Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course. Some things I’ve learned from my instructors include performing the pre-flight inspection, such as testing the fuel before the flight, and checking to ensure that the ailerons, rudder, and flaps are functioning correctly, among other tasks. They also taught me how to maintain the airplanes. Some aspects I’ve learned during the course are that you should taxi at the pace of a brisk walk when in a Cessna 172 Skyhawk, Piper Archer, Piper Cherokee, Cirrus SR20, and other small aircrafts, while at small airports. I’ve also learned that there will be times when I have to decide whether it is safe to fly or when I should take a break. The best time to fly is in the winter when it’s chilly outside because the weather patterns are smoother for the pilot, the passengers, and the aircraft.
In addition, I’ve learned that pilots, military personnel, air traffic controllers, and emergency services like police and 911 operators use the phonetic alphabet (also called the NATO Phonetic Alphabet). They communicate this way, particularly over the radio, to ensure that the people they are speaking to clearly understand what they are saying. For example, if I am a pilot talking to someone over the radio and I say my plane numbers like “five three nine j s p,” it might sound like I’m saying “nine thirty ten g z b or d.” So instead, I would say “fife tree niner juliet sierra papa” to enhance clarity, which is crucial when communicating, especially if that instance is the only time to convey the message.
Those are some of the things that I have learned from my instructors and the Sporty’s Learn to Fly course. I enjoy knowing that my instructors like and trust me enough to let me help them with the pre-flight inspection and flying their airplanes. I have just started learning a little about aerobatics, and so far, I love it. The experience when I’m up in the sky is beyond what I can even begin to explain.
