Continuing the ATPLs, the months roll on we keep hacking away with the study. We have just completed our second module and we have only just received our results. Like any exams, it’s the not knowing that’s sometimes the hardest part. Up until receiving them, every time I got an email notification there’s that split second of anxiety until you see it’s just a Groupon email or some useless junk. So, I am delighted to have finally received the results, be it with slightly frayed nerves. After what was a very difficult module I am delighted with the results I have achieved, anyone who has sat their ATPLs knows that first time passes in these exams are definitely not the easiest thing to achieve.
Of course now as we move on to the last module, the light at the end of the ATPL tunnel is starting to appear. Still off in the distance but at least we can see it. The time has definitely gone a lot faster than I had imagined. That being said, it helps when you’re occupied most hours of the day, no time for boredom! It’s amazing to think just how much information we have covered since starting back in October. What I’ve found as we progress through the course, there is a certain amount of over-lap with the subjects. When you begin the first module a lot of the information is completely unfamiliar and brand new. Now in the third module much of the material is reinforcing what you have already learnt. It kind of feels like bringing it all together, slowly but surely. Actually the main advantage is with family and friends. Now that our knowledge of aviation has increased a fair bit, when somebody asks you a technical question, you’re no longer using educated guesswork and you can give detailed technical explanations. You probably know the correct answer…………probably.
Thinking now beyond the exams to the next stage of training, getting back into an aircraft is becoming more and more appealing every day. As the weather starts to improve moving from spring closer to the summer months I find myself walking into the classroom in the mornings, looking to the increasingly blue sky thinking “nice day to fly”. I’m definitely interested to see how rusty we are after such a break away from flying, even the lads who have more hours flying than me. I’m of course keen to get back flying too as it means we’re progressing on to the next stage in the course and getting closer to the finishing line. There has been a lot of movement and excitement in the jobs market in the last few months. Having gone from being relatively flat and stagnant in the last few months it really seems to have taken off (shameless aviation pun intended). Me and all the students currently training are only too aware of it with many of us knowing people directly who are getting snapped up into fantastic pilot jobs. It’s exciting to think of the opportunities out there at the moment and we all want to take advantage of the demand. All in good time though. Back to the books for now.