Getting NOTAMS, Aerodrome Charts, Amendments and other relevant information.

NATS Aeronautical Information Service

"The best source of information for pilots within the UK"

NATS is the mayor provider of aeronautical information around the UK as a specified service under the Air Traffic Services Licence granted to NATS by the Minister of State for Transport. NATS has supported many pilots with all its useful facilities parting from Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) and Aerodrome Charts published with the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP), as well as updates of aeronautical charts, airspace's and other amendments.

If this is the first time you have heard about NATS, this is how the page looks like:

I think we have to go through it! The site is pretty simple and complete, all you need to do is navigate along the top menu. If you are planning a trip towards any airport or aerodrome around the UK, you have to click on IAIP > Aerodrome Index - Specific and you will be directed to a section showing all the aerodromes ordered alphabetically, see the example below:

All you need to do is click on your preferred aerodrome and you will get a list of PDF files showing traffic patterns, SID's, STAR's, Aerodrome Chart and Textual Data. 

For those pilots who have the Pooley's Guide, I would really recommend you to refer to the AIP Charts due to they will have been updated by its scheduled time without spending around £70 for a new revision guide. All the AIP Charts are available for free and delivered in very well detail.

Here is the Elstree Chart below (example):

Other information that we as a pilots concern are potential hazards within our track and the most indicated place to carry out this revision is through the NOTAM section next to the IAIP button. You will have to create an account first and then you will be redirected to this section below: 

You can select your desired option and all the information for each section are disclosed underneath. All you need to do is type your departure and destination aerodrome, flight rules, altitude if requested and finally you will get the actual report for the whole UK or even a zone within a time period you have selected (This is done by selecting "Narrow Route Brief").

Before we end, if you have not heard about this stunning website, I will recommend you to sign up right now and you will get all the information you need in front of you. NATS registrations are not subjected to any monthly memberships, it is absolutely free and useful for all the pilots. 

Click here to visit NATS

And if you have any queries do not hesitate to drop a message to our Facebook page by clicking here. We will answer you as soon as possible.

Medical Certificates for pilot training

 Medical Certificates for pilot training

Handling an aircraft involves a high level of responsibility and is extremely important that the future pilot meets all the medical standard regarding eyesight, hearing, mental health, motion etc for a safe operation of the aircraft and its occupants.

Am I fit to flight?

This is an interrogation you must take in account before undertaking a flight course. Bear in mind that you know yourself, so my advice to you is carry out a self evaluation that includes: 

Diet: Make sure you have a balanced diet, the more fat you consume the higher the increase of maths and along with it your blood vessels can be threatened. Notice that there are weights and blood pressure restrictions for flying.

Movements: There is no much to say about this. Just make sure you haven't got any difficulties when walking.

Psychologically: This is the most important part taken by pilots and airline employers because bad thoughts and negativity can lead to harmful disasters. Since the Germanwings accident has been proven that the first officer has passing through a big depression. He refused to open the cabin door while the captain, desperately, was attempting to open it. No response by the FFO... So, to sum up this if you have though about suicide, homicide or expressing an unsatisfaction of the life, just get rid of those thoughts because it can be harmful for your future career and you will not pass your medical.

All the information above will be reflected on your medical certificate.

EASA Medical Certificates

There are two main types of medical certificates for its own purpose both of them under the CAA which is an organism linked with EASA.

Class 2 Certificate

The Class 2 Certificate allows you to be eligible for a Private Pilots License (PPL), Light Aircraft Pilot Licence (LAPL) and National Private Pilots License (NPPL) all of them pertaining to a Flight Crew License. This is the main requirement for the  licenses listed above. Getting a Class 2 Certificate is pretty straight forward. You have to book and appointment with your preferred AME (Aviation Medical Examiner) and he will carry out an inspection which includes: Hearing, eyesight, movements, breathing, urine test and you will be asked to fill a form with regards the psychological test. The examination last in between 20 to 25 minutes. The fees for the Class 2 Certificate are normally between £120 - £180 (Depending on the centre chosen). 

If you are interested to book an appointment I'll drop the link that redirects you to the CAA webpage (AME section) you will find a list of all the authorized Class 2 AME's with all contact details and address. CAA Medical Examiners Database Search (Click here) 

Your Class 2 Medical will be valid for 5 years if you are under 40 y/o (Otherwise you have to renew it every 24 months and if you are 60+ the renewal will be yearly).

If you want to promote to professional training (CPL onwards) you must apply for a "Class 1 Certificate"

Class 1 Certificate

The Class 1 certificates comprises the same parts as a Class 2 with the difference of the examination is tougher. The main requirement is an optical report in the case you wear glasses to confirm your are within the myopia and astigmatism levels. The examination can take up to 4 hours where you will be asked several questions with regards previous medical examinations and its results, medical history or whether your medical certificate has been revoked due to unfitness. The exam will include the following: Medical history, ECG (Electrocardiogram), Physical Examination, Lung function test, Eyesight, Haemoglobin test and urine test (for more information click here). The certificate issue takes place in the same day and its validity period is 1 year if you are under 40 y/o otherwise your medical must be renewed every 6 months.

There are very few centres that undergo a Class 1 examination, the main one is located at the CAA building at Gatwick Airport. You must arrange your appointment in advance and send your application form (which can be found by clicking here) its fees hangs around £300-£360.

Notice that if you have not started a PPL course you can decide whether applying for a Class 1 straight away or a Class 2 then proceeding to the Class 1 before starting your Night Rating and ATPL Theory.

If you have any queries do not hesitate to drop a message via the Facebook Page.

Qantas flight grounded due to suspicious WI-FI Hotspot

Breaking News!! 

"Qantas flight threatened by a WI-Fi hotspot"

Greetings everyone. How would you feel if you find a network that can represent a threat for your entire flight? That is what happened recently in Perth, Australia.

A Qantas flight scheduled to depart from Perth to Melbourne has been grounded and delayed after 40 passengers refused to board the aircraft due to a mobile hotspot named "Mobile Detonation Device". One of the passengers reported to the cabin crew affirming that is a sort of "threatening game". 

Apparently the person responsible of this "joke" did not want anyone to connect to his network in order to save his data, but on the attempt of making people away of the hotspot the things went too far out.

Plenty of people give their WiFi network a scary-sounding name to ward off potential free-loaders. Normally, it’s not any big deal. But if you’re getting ready to board a plane you may want to temporarily change it or just leave your hotspot shut off… unless you’re cool risking a one-on-one visit with a disgruntled airport security staffs with a pair of rubber gloves.

How would you feel if you encounter this sort of threatening games when boarding an aeroplane? You can leave your comments and opinions on the Facebook page (Click here).

Stapleford Flight Centre (My own review)

Greetings everyone! If you are from London and still undecided on which ATO (Air Training Organization) is worth to apply, this post may help you a lot!

On the 23rd of April 2016 I had the opportunity to attend to "Stapleford flight centre" Open day taken place at Stapleford Aerodrome which is linked with the M25 motorway. Today I would like to show all the pilot wannabes my own review of what were the pros and cons, as well as my first impressions with regards courses, aircraft fleet, fees and accommodation. If you were interested in find out more about this ATO, I will be liable to provide you the most recent version right now. Lets check it out!

What courses do SFC offers?

As many of the major training organisations around the UK, SFC gives you the freedom to undertake your Zero to fATPL by either Integrated or Modular Training (To find out more about this types of training have a look around to my previous post by clicking here). During the presentation the senior instructor focused mostly on Modular training which is known as the traditional way of getting licenses due to is certainly cheaper compared to the Integrated way. This was truthfully a very kind gesture of the staff for the simple reason that they were realistic. Some major training organizations such as Oxford Aviation Academy and CTC (most recognized within the UK and the world) will try to bear you towards the Integrated option because that will lead you to a job straight after the training and the airlines are not interested in modular students anymore, which is completely "False". SFC is linked with Ryanair. Most of the modular students ended up flying with Ryanair no matter which training did you get into. Instructors point that regardless doing Integrated of Modular, the key for success is on you. Make sure you place yourself up, be professional, be competitive, expensive training do not lead to a job often.

Fees

I fully remember that my flight instructor said that if a training organisations offer prices that do not look realistic is better to stay away. This is a fact, but is SFC cheap? none of the ATOs are cheap, that is how aviation is, however I will guarantee you will not find a best offer than SFC can offer to us. It is affordable and also you are open to request a loan from "ATPL Finance" which is an organisation linked to them. Thus integrated training is expensive, ATPL finance offers a secured loan of up to £100,000 (or the full cost of the training) but you have to secure the entire loan over a property in the UK. This is a very risky decision, however that is not all, modular students are  also welcome to request a personal loan of up to £15,000 (high interests). If you want to find out what the fees are, I will drop the links to the brochures below:

SFC Integrated training brochure: click here

SFC Modular training brochure: click here

Aircraft fleet

SFC operates with a variation of modern aircraft. I had the chance to jump into the DA42 which is used for the Multi-Engine/Instrument Rating and the Tecnam P2002 for PPL (amongst the C152 and PA28 Archer) which ensures a high level of comfort for a pleasurable flight.

Diamond DA42

Tecnam P2002

Cirrus SR22

Accommodation

Stapleford Flight Centre offers to all students from UK and overseas a high loft dorms with the specific commodities all within the aerodrome. The cost is £175 per week plus expenses and is not included within the course fees.

Conclusion

After a thorough walk around the aerodrome plus the information provided and the commodities that SFC offers, I am glad to recommend this place for the pilots of the next generation. The flight instructors as I said were really professional on deliver the entire information which makes us confident that their quality of work are high standards. SFC statistics shows that the grading average in the exam during the last months were 100%!! you cannot do better than that which confirms that the material, teaching and feedbacks given are outstanding!. Even though none of the flying schools are cheap, SFC offers really economic prices for each course/rating as well as you are open to request funds without re mortgaging your house hold through ATPL Finance. I had the chance to meet some of the students and instructors and they were really open to answer any query I had and they provided me some hints and feedbacks for my future pilot career. To sum up, If be a pilot is what you really want to be and without worrying about high costs, SFC is the place for you!.