<p>Hello from the West Coast of Australia!</p>
<p>Having completed the Ground School phase of my training (the classroom-based theory of 14 Air Transport Pilot Licence subjects), I’ve headed Down Under to undertake the Core Flying stage. </p>
<p><img alt="Jieun Kwon Diary 5: Core Flying in Australia" src="/getasset/53f07c45-9adc-4596-a224-19baa4bc951d/" /></p>
<p>For those that aren’t aware, Core Flying is the first stage of training that involves flying a plane - in my case, 70 hours of training (over about three months) on a Cessna 172.</p>
<p>The first stage of Core Flying is – slightly ironically - a three to four day ground school. We’re introduced to the Cessna, told how the Core Flying training will work and consider exactly what we need to think about before a flight.</p>
<p>Prior to flying, we had a quick familiarisation with the plane and the landing and take-off areas; once all this was complete, I was finally ready to fly.</p>
<p>I was hugely excited (and a little bit nervous) the first time I got in the cockpit of the plane. You can study in the classroom all you like, but nothing is going to compare to getting behind the controls and airborne. Until you are actually in the plane, even basics like taxiing and taking off are just in your imagination.</p>
<p>I have been flying in Australia for nearly two weeks now, and as expected we have started with the basics – taking off, landing and level flight (in which a constant heading and altitude are maintained). After this we move onto climbing and descent.</p>
<p>Next week I’ll be learning about stalling, turning and circuits, before our first solo assessment. At the moment I am flying with the assistance of an instructor, but the solo flights will start in a few weeks. It all comes around very quickly.</p>
<p>On the note of the trainers, they have been amazing. We have five instructors, with twenty other students from my Alpha Aviation Academy batch training with me.</p>
<p>Before each flight the instructors give us a full briefing, showing us how to manage everything, and then continue to give us more details while we’re in the air. They give us freedom to try things ourselves, which is great for our confidence. Taking off so far has been fairly easy but landing less so…I’m sure it will get easier!</p>
<p>With regards to the plane itself, I mentioned before I am training on a Cessna 172. A single engine aircraft, the Cessna 172 is arguably the most successful and widely produced aircraft in history. First produced in 1955, over 44,000 have to date been built, and it feels very special to be flying such an iconic aircraft.</p>
<p>Life in Australia is also hugely enjoyable. During weekdays, training flights take place in four two-hour slots. When I finish a morning flight, I can come down to beach (five minutes from my house) to switch off. I am living with three other Korean girls from my batch and we are all getting on very well. There is lots of nature here, and it is very culturally different to the UAE. In a way, it feels like a new life.</p>
<p>I am in Australia for at least another 9 weeks, and I look forward to keeping you updated with my Core Flying progress.</p>
<hr />
<p>Did you miss out on the other blogs from Jieun Kwon? No worries, you can easily find them below: </p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://jobs.flightglobal.com/article/jieun-kwon-my-journey-to-becoming-a-commercial-airline-pilot-episode-1/" onclick="s_objectID="https://jobs.flightglobal.com/article/jieun-kwon-my-journey-to-becoming-a-commercial-airline-pilo_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true">Jieun Kwon - My journey to becoming a commercial airline pilot - Episode 1</a></li>
<li><a href="https://jobs.flightglobal.com/article/jieun-kwon-diary-2-the-application-process-/" onclick="s_objectID="https://jobs.flightglobal.com/article/jieun-kwon-diary-2-the-application-process-/_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true">Jieun Kwon Diary #2: The Application Process</a></li>
<li><a href="https://jobs.flightglobal.com/article/jieun-kwon-diary-3-ground-school-/">Jieun Kwon Diary #3: Ground School</a></li>
<li><a href="https://jobs.flightglobal.com/article/jieun-kwon-diary-4-life-as-a-cadet/">Jieun Kwon Diary #4: Life as a Cadet</a></li>
</ul>
<p>Having completed the Ground School phase of my training (the classroom-based theory of 14 Air Transport Pilot Licence subjects), I’ve headed Down Under to undertake the Core Flying stage. </p>
<p><img alt="Jieun Kwon Diary 5: Core Flying in Australia" src="/getasset/53f07c45-9adc-4596-a224-19baa4bc951d/" /></p>
<p>For those that aren’t aware, Core Flying is the first stage of training that involves flying a plane - in my case, 70 hours of training (over about three months) on a Cessna 172.</p>
<p>The first stage of Core Flying is – slightly ironically - a three to four day ground school. We’re introduced to the Cessna, told how the Core Flying training will work and consider exactly what we need to think about before a flight.</p>
<p>Prior to flying, we had a quick familiarisation with the plane and the landing and take-off areas; once all this was complete, I was finally ready to fly.</p>
<p>I was hugely excited (and a little bit nervous) the first time I got in the cockpit of the plane. You can study in the classroom all you like, but nothing is going to compare to getting behind the controls and airborne. Until you are actually in the plane, even basics like taxiing and taking off are just in your imagination.</p>
<p>I have been flying in Australia for nearly two weeks now, and as expected we have started with the basics – taking off, landing and level flight (in which a constant heading and altitude are maintained). After this we move onto climbing and descent.</p>
<p>Next week I’ll be learning about stalling, turning and circuits, before our first solo assessment. At the moment I am flying with the assistance of an instructor, but the solo flights will start in a few weeks. It all comes around very quickly.</p>
<p>On the note of the trainers, they have been amazing. We have five instructors, with twenty other students from my Alpha Aviation Academy batch training with me.</p>
<p>Before each flight the instructors give us a full briefing, showing us how to manage everything, and then continue to give us more details while we’re in the air. They give us freedom to try things ourselves, which is great for our confidence. Taking off so far has been fairly easy but landing less so…I’m sure it will get easier!</p>
<p>With regards to the plane itself, I mentioned before I am training on a Cessna 172. A single engine aircraft, the Cessna 172 is arguably the most successful and widely produced aircraft in history. First produced in 1955, over 44,000 have to date been built, and it feels very special to be flying such an iconic aircraft.</p>
<p>Life in Australia is also hugely enjoyable. During weekdays, training flights take place in four two-hour slots. When I finish a morning flight, I can come down to beach (five minutes from my house) to switch off. I am living with three other Korean girls from my batch and we are all getting on very well. There is lots of nature here, and it is very culturally different to the UAE. In a way, it feels like a new life.</p>
<p>I am in Australia for at least another 9 weeks, and I look forward to keeping you updated with my Core Flying progress.</p>
<hr />
<p>Did you miss out on the other blogs from Jieun Kwon? No worries, you can easily find them below: </p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://jobs.flightglobal.com/article/jieun-kwon-my-journey-to-becoming-a-commercial-airline-pilot-episode-1/" onclick="s_objectID="https://jobs.flightglobal.com/article/jieun-kwon-my-journey-to-becoming-a-commercial-airline-pilo_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true">Jieun Kwon - My journey to becoming a commercial airline pilot - Episode 1</a></li>
<li><a href="https://jobs.flightglobal.com/article/jieun-kwon-diary-2-the-application-process-/" onclick="s_objectID="https://jobs.flightglobal.com/article/jieun-kwon-diary-2-the-application-process-/_1";return this.s_oc?this.s_oc(e):true">Jieun Kwon Diary #2: The Application Process</a></li>
<li><a href="https://jobs.flightglobal.com/article/jieun-kwon-diary-3-ground-school-/">Jieun Kwon Diary #3: Ground School</a></li>
<li><a href="https://jobs.flightglobal.com/article/jieun-kwon-diary-4-life-as-a-cadet/">Jieun Kwon Diary #4: Life as a Cadet</a></li>
</ul>