<p>In my last blog post I shared my experience of my first solo flight and the training I received in the lead up to this significant milestone. Now, I will be focusing on my overall core flight training and what I am doing now during the coronavirus pandemic.</p>
<p><img alt="Matt Landridge" src="/getasset/7f2be4bc-30d8-4e7b-8d38-bb238dad183b/" /></p>
<p>Completing my first solo flight is an experience I certainly will not forget. To find out more about my first flight, you can read my previous blog post <strong><a href="https://jobs.flightglobal.com/article/matt-langridge-mbe-my-big-career-change-3-my-first-solo-flight/">here.</a></strong> Once I had successfully landed my first solo flight, the following day I was back in the cockpit with my instructor for a further 30 minutes of dual flying, before being sent out on a solo flight again. After this, I completed a mixture of solo flights and flights with an instructor, which is all designed to help gradually build you up to your first solo navigational flight.</p>
<p>When I was flying within the circuit, I was never too far away from the airfield, which made me feel at ease. Knowing I had the safety net of the airport at the tip of my wing was comforting, as up until this point I hadn’t quite appreciated that I was flying alone. It was only until I completed my first navigation flight away from the airport and had left the busy circuit, that I finally appreciated I was alone and I had successfully learnt to fly a plane solo.</p>
<p>I really enjoyed the instrument phase of my core flight training. Instrument flying is more focused on procedural than visual flying, which appeals to me as I enjoy structure and following a process. I enjoyed the challenge and demands that came with required accuracy of instrument flying, but also the quick thinking needed when ATC changed a clearance at the last minute. As you are required to fly in the airways while instrument flying, the views at 10,000ft are breath taking, so when you do get a brief moment to peer out of the cockpit window it’s a great reminder of what the hard work is all about.</p>
<p>I am now familiarising myself with the Diamond DA42 and working towards my Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL). I completed my basic flight training in a Diamond DA40 so I have been learning the differences between flying the two aircraft. Although the cockpit layout is almost identical, the step up in performance due to the additional engine and retractable gear makes flying a lot more fun. As we receive our base training on a DA40, it makes the transition to the DA42 very smooth.</p>
<p>Before COVID-19, I was only a couple of flights away from taking my CPL, but due to government advice all flights were grounded in late March. This downtime has allowed me to learn as much as I can about the UK airspace and revise for my upcoming exams. Skyborne acted very quickly following the announcement made by the UK Prime Minster to cease flying operations and ensured we could continue our ATPL ground school training virtually. I have been joining a few of these online classes to refresh my knowledge and found them to be extremely useful.</p>
<p>Skyborne recently announced its Skills Continuation Training promise, which supports graduates after April 2020 who may experience delays in securing an airline placement due to coronavirus. I think this is a great initiative and has definitely helped to relieve some stress due to the current situation. For my fellow cadets this initiative has proven how committed Skyborne is to supporting us and our future.</p>
<p>The world of aviation has changed dramatically over the past few weeks. At the beginning of the year it was looking very promising for an airline placement, but currently we are in unknown territory. Skyborne has been great during this time. We’ve had access to extra support and one-to-one meetings with our flight instructors. For now, all I can do is focus on qualifying with the best results that I can and consider an airline placement further down the line.</p>
<p><strong>Did you miss out on the previous blogs from Matt Langridge? Please see below.</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://jobs.flightglobal.com/article/matt-langridge-mbe-my-big-career-change-3-my-first-solo-flight/">Matt Langridge MBE "my big career change" #3 - my first solo flight</a></li>
<li><u><a href="https://jobs.flightglobal.com/article/matt-langridge-mbe-my-big-career-change-2-back-to-the-classroom/" target="_blank">Matt Langridge MBE ‘My big career change’ #2 - Back to the Classroom</a></u> </li>
</ul>
<p><img alt="Matt Landridge" src="/getasset/7f2be4bc-30d8-4e7b-8d38-bb238dad183b/" /></p>
<p>Completing my first solo flight is an experience I certainly will not forget. To find out more about my first flight, you can read my previous blog post <strong><a href="https://jobs.flightglobal.com/article/matt-langridge-mbe-my-big-career-change-3-my-first-solo-flight/">here.</a></strong> Once I had successfully landed my first solo flight, the following day I was back in the cockpit with my instructor for a further 30 minutes of dual flying, before being sent out on a solo flight again. After this, I completed a mixture of solo flights and flights with an instructor, which is all designed to help gradually build you up to your first solo navigational flight.</p>
<p>When I was flying within the circuit, I was never too far away from the airfield, which made me feel at ease. Knowing I had the safety net of the airport at the tip of my wing was comforting, as up until this point I hadn’t quite appreciated that I was flying alone. It was only until I completed my first navigation flight away from the airport and had left the busy circuit, that I finally appreciated I was alone and I had successfully learnt to fly a plane solo.</p>
<p>I really enjoyed the instrument phase of my core flight training. Instrument flying is more focused on procedural than visual flying, which appeals to me as I enjoy structure and following a process. I enjoyed the challenge and demands that came with required accuracy of instrument flying, but also the quick thinking needed when ATC changed a clearance at the last minute. As you are required to fly in the airways while instrument flying, the views at 10,000ft are breath taking, so when you do get a brief moment to peer out of the cockpit window it’s a great reminder of what the hard work is all about.</p>
<p>I am now familiarising myself with the Diamond DA42 and working towards my Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL). I completed my basic flight training in a Diamond DA40 so I have been learning the differences between flying the two aircraft. Although the cockpit layout is almost identical, the step up in performance due to the additional engine and retractable gear makes flying a lot more fun. As we receive our base training on a DA40, it makes the transition to the DA42 very smooth.</p>
<p>Before COVID-19, I was only a couple of flights away from taking my CPL, but due to government advice all flights were grounded in late March. This downtime has allowed me to learn as much as I can about the UK airspace and revise for my upcoming exams. Skyborne acted very quickly following the announcement made by the UK Prime Minster to cease flying operations and ensured we could continue our ATPL ground school training virtually. I have been joining a few of these online classes to refresh my knowledge and found them to be extremely useful.</p>
<p>Skyborne recently announced its Skills Continuation Training promise, which supports graduates after April 2020 who may experience delays in securing an airline placement due to coronavirus. I think this is a great initiative and has definitely helped to relieve some stress due to the current situation. For my fellow cadets this initiative has proven how committed Skyborne is to supporting us and our future.</p>
<p>The world of aviation has changed dramatically over the past few weeks. At the beginning of the year it was looking very promising for an airline placement, but currently we are in unknown territory. Skyborne has been great during this time. We’ve had access to extra support and one-to-one meetings with our flight instructors. For now, all I can do is focus on qualifying with the best results that I can and consider an airline placement further down the line.</p>
<p><strong>Did you miss out on the previous blogs from Matt Langridge? Please see below.</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://jobs.flightglobal.com/article/matt-langridge-mbe-my-big-career-change-3-my-first-solo-flight/">Matt Langridge MBE "my big career change" #3 - my first solo flight</a></li>
<li><u><a href="https://jobs.flightglobal.com/article/matt-langridge-mbe-my-big-career-change-2-back-to-the-classroom/" target="_blank">Matt Langridge MBE ‘My big career change’ #2 - Back to the Classroom</a></u> </li>
</ul>