Good Evening/Morning Forum depending on when you might read this.

My name is Sergei (pronounced Sir Guy) and I've been learning to fly since I was a little over 14 here on the Gold Coast. I'm now 19 and still going at it, talk about slow progress. haha! As I was learning whilst trying to complete my senior study, I was performing a bit of a juggling act and in the final year of school I had to put my flying aside so I could get my Year 12 certificate over and done with. In Mid-2010 I got back into it and played a little game of catchup and then achieved my GFPT by late-2010 in the wee Cessna 152.

Now, I've upgraded to a Cessna 172 and have just last weekend completed my first Nav Solo. What a great flight that was! It was the clearest of days (hard to believe with recent weather in QLD) and my NAV took me out to Kyogle, Banalbo, Baryugil, back across to Casino for a Touch-n-Go and then back to the Gold Coast over Nimbin. All went well even with a minor traffic scare at Casino.

I'm currently studying under the Certificate IV course and my goal is to gain my Commercial Licence with a Night VFR rating then basically see what sort of work I can land myself with that. Although, recently I have been looking into gaining an Agricultural rating and heading West to look for work. Sort of use my job as a means to do a bit of traveling and adventure around Australia. From there, I have no more plans, plan is to see where it takes me, see who I meet and go from there.

I stumbled across this forum in a search to find an online forum with a large student pilot base. Well, I think I've found it. I'll be frequenting this site throughout my studies so I'll be sure to see all of you around.

Cheers, Sergei.

Sergei

Great to hear from you. You certainly sound like the kind of person who will really enjoy being part of the aviation community. Congratulations on your first solo Nav. I was just down that way two weeks ago in my Piper Pacer. Rugged country but very beautiful. There are lot of people here who are genuinely interested in hearing what you have to say so please keep in touch. Maybe one day you will pass through Redcliffe and drop in to say hello.

Follow your dream mate. If you end up with a CPL and NGT VFR who knows where that may eventually lead? At your stage of training there are lots of options open. Welcome.

Bob

Hi Sergei!

Welcome to the forum..

Congrats on the first solo nav, it's a little bewildering being out there in the wide open for the first time, alone!

Sounds like you have a couple of solid goals in there, don't stop till you get them!

Cheers

Thank you very much for the warm welcome Bob and Ellzy. It's great isn't it, I just love getting out of the hustle and bustle of busy controlled airspace and just flying in this great landscape.

If I'm ever up Redcliffe way, I will definitely drop in and say hi!

chipping away at it bit by bit and I'll get there eventually

Hi Sergei. I enjoyed reading your story and I can relate to what is is like being a young aviator with the sheer joy of your first X country Navex and especially when you get to your first NVFR. Your passion will grow but be warned - flying is addictive.

Seriously though, you have found a great community here on Bob's site and if you post questions we will all try and add something positive. Richard and Bob offer some VERY good tips in support of the texts. I am doing my CPL at present and without this forum I'd be struggling. It is good to know there are people out there to assist.

I look forward to seeing your progress.

G'day Sergei!

Gold Coast - such beautiful scenery and great flying conditions. Shame about all the BMW's but a great airport, as long as you are not a controller right now

At your age you are young enough to do this the way you want, just keep going and find a way to make it happen.

Are you flying from Wings Academy or Air Gold Coast?

Good luck and see you around the forum.

Brook

Cheers Brook,

I have trained with both Wings and AGC. I started with wings but moved over to AGC when my instructor from Wings left.

What's happening with regard to the controllers at the moment?

That's it isn't it. I'm just chipping away at it. Not in any great rush and enjoying it.

Hi Sergei

Sorry its taken me so long to get back to you!

Here are the articles on a near miss in Gold Coast Airspace, and controllers actually caused it, otherwise the Jets would have flown on to Brisbane, but both were ordered to hold, and then nearly ran into each other since the controllers failed to keep them properly separated, in a RADAR zone and with TCAS! Just as well the pilots responded to TCAS. What is the saying - controller screws up, pilot dies, pilot screws up, pilot dies. Good to know the outcome is the same

www.news.com.au/travel/news/human-error-...frfq80-1226126144928

blogs.crikey.com.au/planetalking/2011/08...+%28Plane+Talking%29

Mmmm, that's interesting. I guess as a Pilot, from that what you can take is always be on guard and keep a lookout hey.

Update:

Passed by PPL Theory exam about a month ago at 95% KDR. Very happy with that result. Used up all the time I had to make sure I didn't make any silly little mistakes.

Passed by PPL Practical Flight Test a week ago.
Route: YBCG-YSPE-Tabulam-YCAS-YBCG
- Touch and Go at Stanthorpe
- Low cloud enroute, so had to stay below that and still mantain VMC.
- Winds were not as predicted. Got blown off track enroute to Tabulam, ended up at Bonalbo, but identified my position and diverted to Casino. Saved my testing officer from getting my lost. haha.
- PFL near Casino
- Touch & Go YCAS
- Low Cloud back to Gold Coast, still able to get over the hills though.
- Made a little mistake on start up, there was a requirement issued in the ATIS to request engine start for General Aviation A/C. Missed that when I looked at the NOTAMS and Weather before the flight.

Other than that, happy with how it went. Now to get some more experience under my belt and build my confidence in my abilities.