Page 23 - Cadet Review Autumn 2023

PRIVATE PILOT’S
LICENCE ACHIEVEMENT
By Flight Sergeant Mollie Wadsworth
This summer has been incredibly special to me, allowing me to complete something I have been dreaming about since I was about 8 years old - a Private Pilot’s Licence (PPL).
In February this year, I applied for a PPL scholarship through the Honourable Company of Air Pilots, a Livery Company of the City of London, who promote aviation around the world. I truly wasn’t expecting to get as far as I did, as it was my first time applying, at the youngest possible age, with very little flying experience (which is important in this case as you only have 4 months to do it, so the more experience beforehand the better!). The application process starts with a simple, handwritten application form asking a few questions about yourself, why you’re applying, what you want to get out of it, and
so on. If you get through that, you have to send a 60 second video telling them about yourself, and the final stage includes an aptitude test and an interview of about 40 minutes carried out in London! Finally,
if you’re one of the 9 or 10 selected, you get a fully funded PPL. Mine was sponsored by Air BP.
I started my training on July 17th this year, and managed to complete the licence in just under 2 months, passing my PPL Skills Test on September 14th. At my flight school, Yorkshire Aviation Academy (who are AMAZING, by the way) training is split into 4 Phases: general handling and circuit introduction; circuits to first solo; circuits, advanced turning, general handling revision and PFLs (which are simulated engine failures), and navigation, leading to the Qualifying Cross Country (QXC). I cannot emphasise enough how amazing the whole experience was, but I have to put the first solo and the QXC up there as the best two days of my life. I completed my first solo on July 28th - taking control of an aircraft, without anyone sitting with you, is the most surreal feeling ever, and one I will never forget. The QXC involved me departing from Leeds East Airport and landing at two other aerodromes with
a journey of at least 150 nautical miles. I flew from Leeds East Airport, landed at Teesside International
Alongside the flying, I had to complete 9 ground exams
Airport, landed at Retford/Gamston Airport, and then went back home to Leeds East. Doing that, all by myself, was absolutely incredible. I completed this on September 13th, after 3 cancellations due to technical issues and weather, and it took about 4 hours in total.
Alongside the flying, I had to complete 9 ground exams to complete the licence. These were probably the hardest part of the course, leading to a fair bit of stress and many late nights of revision. Often, taking these exams were what allowed me to progress
to the next stage, for example, I couldn’t do any
solo navigation before taking the navigation exam,
so there was a lot of pressure to pass these to keep up with the daily progression in
flying. I recommend EasyPPL to study for the ground exams; they provide
PowerPoints and really helpful practice exams to prepare you, in addition to the Pooleys Air Pilot’s
Manuals.
So, if you have a passion for
aviation, definitely give it a shot. My top tips for anyone looking to apply
for the scholarship next January/ February would be to emphasise
your passion for aviation, know where you want to take it in the future,
and show that you have the dedication for such an intense
course.
It is impossible to put into
words how great a feeling it is to complete something
you have been dreaming of for so long, and I’m so
grateful to everyone who has supported me. I still don’t think
it has properly hit me yet that I have a pilot’s licence!
CADET REVIEW AUTUMN 2023 23