Week 2 in the West - My First Professional Flight

The Calgary Flying Club Hanger (and Clubhouse)
on a cloudy Monday Morning

We'll, I must admit, I haven't updated this as frequently as I would have liked to, however there really hasn't been all that much going on until yesterday (Monday 28).



My first week at the Calgary Flying Club has been very uneventful. I settled into Calgary just before the weekend, but that weekend and for the next 9 days, we had a low-pressure system sitting over the American west, which pushed up some very very moist air from the gulf, right along the Rockies, creating extremely low level clouds, freezing fog and freezing drizzle! Below are a few screen-shots of the aviation weather forecast for both Calgary International Airport and Springbank Airport - For those of you non-aviators, it is telling us that at the airport its Overcast with a 500 foot ceiling and light snow, calling for lots of freezing drizzle and freezing fog with Vertical Visibility of 100-200 feet in the short-term forecasts (FZDZ FZFG). This weather also put a fair amount of strain on the International airports with their flights Arriving and Departing with the weather at some of the airlines 'bare minimums.'

I went in for my first day to write some aircraft exams, ensuring I know all the different systems on the different aircrafts that the Calgary flying Club flies. Doing that administrative work was good for me - one of the few things I got paid for around here! Now the money is nothing to hee and haw about, but who said Instructing for that! We are only paid for the time we spend with students briefing on the ground, or instructing with the engine running. - Apart from that, its really just a bit of waiting, until the next student, or until someone shows up that says 'I want to fly!'

Tuesday (26th) I was introduced to the DA-20 Diamond Eclipse, a light and sleek training aircraft which is built in London, ON. I went up with another one of the instructors, when we saw a slight break in the clouds - just to get familiarized with it. I haven't got any pictures of flying it, or even of the aircraft itself, however that will be soon to come! Apart from that, most of the time was spent at home, going over my briefing and ground-school instruction notes; trying to be as prepared as I possibly can.


Throughout that week, I was introduced to two of my new students. Both are looking to join the Mount Royal University Aviation Program in the fall, and one of the requirements is a private pilot's licence. One has started with me full time and the other will be starting with me full-time once he finishes his university courses in April. It will surely be a great opportunity for more learning, both for my student AND myself.




With Pilot training, what we try and do, is as much teaching as possible on the ground, then go demonstrate that exercise and allow the student to practice it in the air. The more they grasp and understand the concept on the ground, the easier it becomes in the air (and the less expensive it becomes for their bank accounts at the end of the day). It is a lot easier to teach something on the ground, as opposed to the loud environment of the aircraft where there are many more things going on, all at once.

The Springbank airport - an Aerial shot from the circuit

This week has sure brought some better weather (and I hope it sticks around for a LONG, LONG while!) Yesterday, I was taken up by Tom, the Chief Flight Instructor when the week long fog finally started to dissipate. We flew south, to a small town called Bragg Creek: A place we take most of our Introductory flights, where we allow them to have control of the aircraft and get a sense of what flying is really all about. This flight allowed me to be 'checked out' to take Intro students up, allowing the dispatchers to put prospective students into my day, giving me the opportunity to fly more.


Today also marks a very monumental day - my first professional flight as a pilot, where I was paid to fly the aircraft, not paying to fly! Sure was a magnificent feeling! I took my first student go up for his first lesson 'Attitudes and Movements' - teaching him the very basics. It also happened to be his first flight in a small aircraft. It went great, he was very receptive to the coaching and sure got a lot out of it. Once we landed I asked him how he liked it - to quote him 'It was like driving a Ferrari.... but better!' I guess that means it was pretty good!

I have a few flights booked for tomorrow now, so I'm off to prepare! I will update with more pictures as more good weather comes our way!

View of the Foothills, which have been immersed in fog
and low level cloud for the last week and a half