Hi guys,

Again, it has been a while since the last post! Week 9 has already begun, things are going fast and there is not much time left to post messages every week!

In the mean time we have started Basic Flying Course (BFC), in which we, as the name says, learn the very basics of flying! What we have learned up to now (session 2/6) are different step techniques (pitch-power table), and different eye scan techniques! Instructors tell us that this is one of the reasons why SFA should be one of the better FTO's, because it is the only FTO in which students receive this course (Other FTO's tell students to look at the basic T, but not HOW to look at it and how to work with it!). The sessions find place on a relatively small Piper Archer simulator.



And yes, where many of you have been waiting for, I had booked an observation flight as well! But, indeed, but, 3 days on advance it got cancelled! Too bad, because it would have been a very nice 3-leg observation flight (At least that's what I think). It would have been on the Fokker 50 from VLM, from Antwerp to Manchester, from Manchester to London City (steep approach!) and from London City back to Antwerp. For the moment I am waiting for the schedule of december, before I book a new one. By that time I should have my drivers licence as well, which can be very useful since public transport isn't that good in the early morning!



Before I forget to tell you, next friday (21/11) there will be some fresh blood in the SFA buildings, SFA promotion 12 is having it's welcome briefing!

Well, this is going to be it for this time!

Dennis

Week 2 - 4

Hello,

It has been a while since the last post. This is because there is not happening much yet for our promotion. We have had theoretical courses only so far, we have learned to work with the pooleys CRP-5 analogue flight computer, and today we have had our first progress check (DC electrics). There will be 3 more progress checks in the next 3 weeks so we have to study a lot already. Below you can find our schedule for week 3 - 5 (without the changes in it), to give you an idea of what we do in Brussels.

tbc = to be confirmed
pof = principles of flight
bfc = basic flying course

Dennis

Hi,

As you already know, promotion 11 started last week. Below I'll provide a little description about our first days of full throttle flight training, and believe me, it is full throttle flight training!

Day one; Welcome Briefing

We were supposed to be at SFA before 13.30. First we got a powerpoint presentation, explaining the different steps of our way to go to become an airline pilot. After this, we met some SFA staff members, got some rules, and we received an ATP (A) Integrated Course Training Manual. The next thing we did was a guided tour in the SFA building. And last, but not least, we could enter our very own classroom. The first thing we noticed when we got in, was our equipment for the next 18 months laying in there, as if Santa Claus brought us an early visit;

1. JAA ATPL Theoretical Knowledge Manuals (14 books)
2. Student pilot route manual for JAR-Flight Crew Licensing Reference Material
3. Three-Ring Kneeboard
4. CRP 5 Computer
5. Ruler
6. Protactor
7. Plotter
8. 3 water-soluble pens
9. Flight case Jeppesen
10. Reference manuals used for BFT (Basic Flight Training; 12 books)
11. Pullover
12. Tie
13. 2 pair gallons

Things we have not received yet;

1. BIAC Badge
2. 2 pants (blue)
3. 2 pants (beige)
4. 2 short sleeve white shirts
5. 2 long sleeve white shirts
6. Coat

Day two; Air Law and Electrics

Getting up at 6.30 is not fun if you are not used to it anymore! Anyway, after our first cup of coffee (that day) in the SFA lounge, we could start our first lessons. At 18:00 I got back to my residence and could start studying!

Day Three;

On wednesday we hadn't got any lessons planned in the afternoon, so we (a big part of prom 11) went to Brussels city, to get our costumes and to make some fun ofcourse! (picture below) We grabbed a drink (yes, one drink) and visited 'manneke pis'.

Day four and five;

These days we haven't done any special things, we had 2 lessons of basic radio and 2 lessons of electrics.

This post has been delayed a bit, because I haven't got an internet connection at my residence for the moment.

By the way, I won't post pictures of the kitchen anymore, because it just isn't interesting enough!

Dennis

Hi,

During the ground school part, I'll stay in Meerbeek. So today we went over there, to install some stuff and to prepare my room. There's not much special about that and there are some things that still have to be done, but you can find some pictures below.

There is a public bathroom and kitchen as well, used by 3 other SFA students and me. These pictures will follow next week.

Dennis

Goedemiddag,

You may have noticed some changes in the countdown feed.



SFA decided to start our promotion (11) on September the 22nd, due to fact that a wrong starting date has been inadvertently entered on the website. Many future students had already commitments until September the 19th and could not be free to start the courses on the 15th.

Dennis

Hi,

Due to a request for some extra information about the SFA selection tests, I'll explain the compass test a bit more. The rest will follow in a couple of days.

CONTROL

The control test looks like the image below. It is a hand- foot coordination test. The intention is to keep the blue needle in the red square and to keep the blue circle on the red line at the same time. You may want to practise this on your flightsim before you enter the test, which will help you get the feeling of the joystick and the rudder pedals.

SLALOM

In this part you have to keep the blue triangle (below) between the green and red line (Actually these lines are squares). The lines are moving downwards. You have to do this by moving the joystick left and right.

ORIENTATION

With 3 instruments, you have to determine your position etc.

The first instrument shows the direction (measured from your aircraft) to the VOR. By knowing this direction you can trace back your position in relation to the VOR (blue cross).

The second instrument is the attitude indicator. It shows you your pitch and bank angle, which is represented by the green arrow.

The last intrument shows the heading the aircraft is flying.


Let me explain this example. The heading indicator (3rd instrument) shows us that we are flying East, while the ADF (1st instrument) shows us that the VOR is on our right side. The attitude indicator (2nd instrument) tells us that we are climbing a bit (it is not showed very well in here) without turning (look at the green arrow on the acft). If we were turning left as well, the arrow would aim to the left upper corner.


MATHEMATICS

You have 20 minutes to solve 20 questions. I dont think you need much explanation for this part.


MEMORY

There are shown 4 or less datas, which you have to remember. They appear a couple of seconds, and then they disappear. You have to fill them in again afterwards.


TECHNICAL QUESTIONS

After finishing the above standing tests, you get 20 (or 15, don't know for sure) technical questions. For example you have to work with the pythagorean theorem, and you get questions like why an aircraft can stay in the air. They're all multiple choice.


MULTITASK

While you are filling in the A/P, there appear red squares in the left and right upper corner. As soon as you notice these squares, you have to press some button (can't remember which button anymore). The intention is to do this as fast as possible. You only get 3 seconds.


Good luck Rahul with your compass test. :)

Dennis

Good afternoon,

This time I'll tell you something about the licence for radio communication.

Last wednesday (April the 23rd), I've passed the test. The test contains 2 different parts, a theoretical and a practical part. The guy asked me the classic questions, for example what is the regional QNH, what are the different parts of the circuit, ...

After finishing these questions, you have to make a flight (I had to 'fly' EBOS-EBAW via NIK on FL 50) on a very compact simulator. The only working thing in it is the radio. You don't have to fill in your squawkcode either, just repeat it.

The test took about 15 - 20 minutes.


Dennis

Hi all,

Last sunday, I have flown the Ka 7 (OO-ZMJ), in Zwartberg (EBZW). The weather was very good. After our climb to 1600 meters (up to 5 m/s max) we have been flying around the airfield for about 30 minutes. In the picture below, you can get a small impression of my experience.

Dennis

SFA

Hi there,

Since I have finished the layout etc, I'll try to inform you about the selection tests which you have to do before you can start at Sabena Flight Academy (SFA).


PHYSICS TEST

This test will be done in a class room, together with all the other candidates. Make sure you know the subjects to know which you can find on the SFA website, and this test will not be a problem for you. If necessary, you can follow the free Physics refresher course at SFA. Don't forget your calculator!


ENGLISH TEST

The english test contains 2 parts, an oral and a written part. For the oral part, you will be interviewed by someone who lives/lived in the UK. This interview will take 5 minutes. For the written part, you will have to answer 30 multiplechoice questions on a computer.


PSYCHOMETRIC TEST

The Psychometric tests have to be done on the same computer. No flying experience is required to perform well in the tests. The psychometric test contains the following subjects:
1. Control: A compensation task looking at basic hand/foot/eye co-ordination.
2. Slalom: A tracking task looking at hand/eye co-ordination.
3. Mathematics: A test of basic calculations.
4. Memory: In this test, you will have to memorize a couple of numbers in a couple of seconds.
5. Task Manager: You will have to scan the screen and manage other tasks at the same time.
6. Orientation: You have to retrieve your position by a couple of basic instruments, which are explained before the test starts.


PSYCHOLOGICAL TEST

The psychological test contains 2 things as well. The first thing is to solve a problem in group, together with 5 or 6 other candidates. After this, you will be interviewed personally.


SCAN SKILL TEST

After a 30 min briefing, you have to fly a boeing 737-200 full flight simulator. Of course you don't have to do this on your own, the instructor will help you doing it.


FINAL INTERVIEW

If you passed all the tests above, you will be interviewed again. This time by the training staff and management.



So, this was a small introduction in the selection tests. I did them a couple of weeks ago, and I am allowed to apply promotion 11 (september 2008), which I will certainly do. If you have any questions, shoot!


Dennis

Hi all,

As you can see, I have made a new blog.
In this blog, I'll try to inform you as much as possible about my career as future pilot.
Since I'm still working on the blog itself, you will receive my first real message(s) in a couple of days!

Enjoy your stay!

Dennis