Heres a litte update on my flying carrer, that started with flightsimming, and by the good feedback on my last post, I thought some might be interested in what is going on.
Two weeks ago, I was invited to Klatovy in the Czech Republic for a Class/Type Rating course, following an online application. Turned out the people there liked me and had the impression that I am able to fly. So I started my training with PINK Aviation Services. After a few system knowledge classrooms, tests, traffic patterns, quizzes and simulator rides, I got told that I was to commence training. On a one week mission to 69°N, Bardufoss in Norway to be precise. The mission was to help some soldiers who were on an exercise there get their parajumps done.
So on Sunday, 24.03., at 0500 hours we fuelled one of our planes, an SC7 Skyvan, up to the brim with JET-A1.
The pink party side and the grey business side of the Skyvan. You can take it for granted, that always the pink side gets presented.
The crew consisted of two trainees and our very experienced instructor. The first flight was from Klatovy, CZ to Linköping, SE (LKKT-ESSL) for a refuelling stop. Then on to Evenes (ENEV). The following days we always departed, very early from there to Bardufoss (ENDU) to conduct the mission. All flights were quality hand flying flights, since we do not have an A/P installed. On Friday, 02.03., we flew to Stavanger (ENZV) and left our Skyvan, with which I already fell in love with, there (for our next mission to Iceland next week) and continued on to Prag with Norwegian Air Shuttle.
To have this as a first aviation job is to me like hitting the jackpot. And also this mission to the north of Europe was simply breathtaking. But enough reading, see for yourself. I'll try to think of a small caption for each picture. Ask me anything you want to know.
This is a shot of the cockpit of one of our SC7. On the lower left, you can see the tiller, to steer the A/C on the ground. Seeing our PAX/Cargo compartment, I always have to think of the video, where Scott shows how spacious the Comanche is because of its rectangular cross section. Here you can even fit a car.
A selfie after my very first flight. Damn, it was cold. We couldn't turn on the heat, since we needed the range.
I know, the picture is pretty blurred, but I suck big time at taking pictures. Especially whilst flying.
Stunning Norwegian Fjordsca...ähm...landscape, enroute to ENEV.
Some more of this breathtaking scenery. I've had Orbx' Norway region since it came out, but I have never flown there so far. I think I should, njust to compare and check if they did a good job.
Mandatory, pokerface pilot picture.
Last PAX to exit the plane. Our passengers are even worse than the regular airline passengers who get up once the aircraft is taxying. Our don't even wait for that!!!!
Sunset on Friday, when we flew to Stavanger. I didn't even capture the best moments and scenes. I just enjoyed the breathtaking and awe-inspiring views I got.
Phillip, the instructor always had a watchful eye on me during the mission. We used all flights also as training flights for the rating.
I hope you have enjoyed my post - let me know what you think!
Greetings from Austria,
Max
There have been two Skyvans around here, OH-SBA and OH-SBB, I understand with common origins for their time here. Bravo-Alpha is nowadays owned and operated by Aalto University (ex-Helsinki University of Technology), and at least was used to collect air samples to analyze pollution caused by marine traffic or something that sort of prop hat stuff. I've met that one in person several times. Bravo-Bravo was lost back in 1989 when doing their original job here: carrying mail. How I understand the story, it was usually refueled after the last flight of the day to be fully prepared for the morning, but due to delays or something in that specific occasion it was not. Undetected by the early morning flight crew, I think themselves behind the schedule if I recall, it ran out of fuel and ditched near Mariehamn. In a miracle bigger than that of Hudson's, there was no loss of life, but the airplane was total loss. Like any Skyvan having any sort of immersion damage will likely be, due to construction.
