Lesson 01: Effects of Controls
We teach you to fly an aeroplane, not just pass a test
After I decided to learn to fly in New Zealand rather than the UK I spent a lot of time hunting through internet bulletin boards and flying school websites to find the best place to learn. The results were consistent: Wakatipu Aero Club was one of if, not the, best school in the country. Not only were the instructors said to be of a high standard (and wanting to do it, rather than just being young kids wanting to build their hours), but the landscape also makes it more difficult than elsewhere since there is no horizon to help orientate yourself. Plus the mountains can get in the way and make the weather quite, er, interesting.
So the ‘we teach you to fly an aeroplane’ quote was delivered without arrogance, just a statement of fact. Talking with those who completed their commercial pilot licence (CPL) elsewhere, all said that they thought they could fly until they came to Queenstown… I could have gone to a big school but there would have been less consistency in instruction and less interest in my progression. I could have gone to Florida and learnt to fly in 21 days, but looking at the challenges I was to have here I doubt I’d have become a reliable pilot after an intensive course like that. That’s why I ended up in Queenstown. Plus just look at those hills!
Finally, this is it. Two days after arriving in Queenstown I’m all set for my first lesson at Wakatipu Aero Club. I catch the bus out to the airport and head over to the hangers where I’m due at 10am. The cloud has finally lifted and the Remarkables mountain range is visible for the first time. Towering up to 6,000′ over the airport they’re an incredibly sight and hopefully pretty easy to avoid when taking off and landing.
I meet with Blair, my instructor, who delivers my first of many briefings. This first lesson aims to each me about the basics of how to control the aircraft. It moves in three planes, longitudinal, lateral and vertical, each of which is controlled by a different part of the plane – ailerons, elevator and rudder. Trying to make this stick in my head, we walk through the pre-flight inspection of the plane in which I’ll be learning, a Tecnam P2002JF (apparantly).
There’s a lot to take in – checking the engine and fuselage, lowering and raising flaps, making sure the aircraft is ready to fly. Then we pull it out of the hanger to a safe place for starting up. I’m very surprised that it’s so light, just one person can pull it out, even lift the nose to turn it.
All started up, we taxi out to the main runway and prepare for takeoff. My mind is already overloaded with the daunting array of things to be aware of before and during flight, a long list of checks and clearances which thankfully I’m not expected to know yet. At 1122 local time I start my first flight and we’re up and away towards Lake Wakatipu. The scenery is incredible, so beautiful, with most of the flat areas covered by water. On every flight we’ll need to wear lifejackets in case we have to make a forced landing; in several cases, this will only be possible on the lake.
We work through the basic controls and I have trouble remembering which is longitudinal and which is lateral, but we manage to complete this first short lesson without a hitch. Despite the size of the aircraft we’re able to pull some pretty impressive tight turns which feel like a couple of G. Not quite ready to do those myself!
Returning to the airport we join the circuit, dodging the parachute jumpers who operate nearby. I’m amazed at how close we fly to the mountain range, although I realise it’s an optical illusion and we are probably a lot further away than they appear. Taxiing back we talk through what we’ve learnt this morning. My abiding memory is one of complexity and confusion. There is so much to do, not just looking outside the aircraft and flying it but also lots of dial and gauges to be aware of.
How am I ever going to manage this?
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