Flying101: The truth of what it takes to be a pilot & everything about aviation

Lesson 1: Road to the Airline Dream

So, here I am to tell you the basic, or rather, the breakdown kung ano yung mga magiging susunod na chapters/lessons. Let's say that your goal is to be the one everyone deemed to be the esteemed work of being an Airline Pilot. Yung point kung saan natatawag kang-"Captain" ng marami. Yung sa movies and stories ay the pa-cool kids. True, naabot na ang dream. But, a dream with a heavy responsibility. Okay, so below, the ladder. Saan ba talaga nag-start ang lahat-lahat bago maging Airline Pilot. Sabi sa akin ng isa kong FI, "Flying is continuous learning. A pilot never stops learning."

1. So you've finally decided to be a pilot! Of course, number one yun. Sa stage na ito, siguro, desidido ka na talaga. Nasabi mo na sa parents mo or sa sarili mo na gusto mo mag-piloto. Dito pa lang, sasabihin na mahal ang tuition. Totoo, mahal (will get deeper on the subject soon). But, sabi nga nila, kung talagang gusto, may paraan. Sinasabi ko, kung talagang desidido ka na, siguraduhin mo na you have the support of those people who loves you. Hindi magiging madali ang journey.

2. Nakapag-inquire ka na and chose a flying school. Nakapunta ka na sa mga flying school. Hinahanap ang mura at may class ang pag-aaral. In the end, the name of the school also matters. Kung madaming graduates nila ang nasa airlines, mas malaki ang chance! Kung mahal dahil mas maganda ang offer na course, then another check. Yung bilis ng studies, for some matters, but sometimes, it depends dahil may weather and aircraft on ground, etc. Anyway, so nakapili ka na. Enrolled ka na. So sure na magiging piloto ka na? Wait, di pa nasusukat doon. Di ka pa uupo kaagad sa eroplano, mayroon pang adventure na...

3. First time sa CAAP. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, also known as CAAP, the government agency under the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for, as its name states, aviation. Airline economics is handled by Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB). Pero, mas magiging close ang relationship niyo ni CAAP, dahil siya lang ang magbibigay sa iyo ng license. And yes, pupuntahan mo sila kaagad. Para makapag-register for a "Student Pilot Authorization", less likely a license to give you the privilege to learn and sabi nga, as a Student Pilot. As a Student Pilot, kailangan mo din ng Medical License. Na fit to fly ka. Class 2 Medical ang need. (I'll explain other classes soon) Dito na magkakaalaman if may illness ka na pwede kang ituring na "not fit". Yes, dito pa lang din, masakit kapag di mo nakuha yung Class 2 Medical. But, kailangan, dahil for a goal of an airline pilot, madaming buhay ang nakasalalay sa knowledge, skill and experience mo na ma-aacquire mo muna sa loob ng classroom sa flying school.

4. Classroom 1 a.k.a. PPL Ground School. Yas~ You're officially starting to learn as a pilot! May Student Pilot Authorization or SPA ka na, and a Class 2 Medical. So, onward to learning everything na kailangan to be a pilot. First is yung so-called "PPL Ground School". Basically, ground school siya for the subjects needed mo matutunan as a Private Pilot License holder (yung second license after ng SPA). Kahit walang flight hours, may ground school, yes. PPL Ground School has 10 subjects; madalas crash course. Kapag sinabing crash course, may hours lang ang subjects. If Monday to Friday ang class for the PPL Ground School, within one month tapos yung 10 subjects. Ganoon siya kabilis. The subjects are listed below:

    a. Air Law: Law. Batas. Everything. Di lang out of the blue ang flying. May law na sinusunod. Licenses, history of air travel, sanctions, operations, and etc. na related sa batas.

    b. Aircraft General Knowledge: Airplane technical terms. Mga parts to the smallest ones. Kung ano yung use ng bawat part, chain of events kung bakit lumilipad ang eroplano. Basta puro tungkol sa engine and principle kung bakit ganoon ang shape niya.

    c. Meteorology: Weather. Hindi PAG-ASA ang pinasok mo, pero, yes. Kailangan, of course. Sasagupain ang weather kapag nasa ere ka na. From how clouds are formed, what causes wind, bakit malamig kapag nasa itaas, and what types of weather is dangerous.