A lifelong passion for aviation

Ever since I was a kid, I've been fascinated by aviation. I remember staring up at the sky, watching planes carve their way through the clouds, and dreaming of one day being in the cockpit myself. Back then, I wanted to be a commercial pilot. But when I left school, the aviation industry was in recession, and opportunities were scarce. So, I took a different path and moved into journalism instead.

But that love for flying never left me. It was always there, in the background, waiting for the right moment to resurface. And one day, it did-quite dramatically, in fact. I was driving past a small airfield outside of Manchester when I spotted a light aircraft. Without thinking, I swerved the car into the airfield, walked in, and asked about the cost of a flying lesson. The next morning, I was in the air for the first time as a student pilot. That was the moment everything changed.

The road to a private pilot's license

Once I took that first lesson, I was hooked. I knew I had to see it through and get my private pilot's license. But it wasn't an easy journey. It took me 18 months to complete my training, and there were plenty of frustrations along the way. I booked lessons almost every weekend, but at least half of them were cancelled due to bad weather or aircraft availability. It was a test of patience as much as skill.

Despite the setbacks, I kept going. My passion for flying was stronger than any frustration I faced. I studied hard, practiced relentlessly, and gradually built up the skills and confidence I needed. The day I passed my skills test and received my license was one of the proudest moments of my life.

The passion for flying was stronger than any frustration I faced, and that's what kept me going through the toughest moments.

A license to learn

After I passed my test, my chief flying instructor handed me my license and said something that stuck with me:

You've been given a license to learn.

He was absolutely right. Getting a private pilot's license isn't the end of the journey-it's just the beginning.

Since then, I've continued to develop my skills as a pilot. Over the winter, I completed my night flying rating, which allows me to fly after dark. That was an incredible experience in itself-there's something magical about flying at night, with the lights of the city twinkling below. But there's always more to learn. Next on my list is an instrument rating, which will enable me to fly in low visibility and poor weather conditions.

Getting a private pilot's license isn't the end of the journey-it's just the beginning of a lifetime of learning.

Why flying matters to me

Flying isn't just a hobby for me-it's a passion that brings a unique sense of freedom and perspective. There's nothing quite like taking off into the sky, leaving the world behind, and seeing everything from a different angle. It's a challenge, a responsibility, and an incredible privilege all at once.

More than anything, my journey into aviation has taught me the value of perseverance. If you're passionate about something, setbacks don't have to be the end of the road. They're just part of the process. And when you finally achieve what you set out to do, the feeling is indescribable.

So, what's next? More flying, more learning, and maybe even new adventures in the sky. Because once you've experienced the joy of flight, you never stop wanting to go higher.