Hey y’all! I’m not even going to start apologizing for the delay in posts, since I tend to fall into a habit of repeating myself. I can only promise that I’ll try to update this page a bit more often The pressure has been kinda high the past few weeks, due to our first school finals. These are the final school test for the first 7 JAA-subjects, that allow you to take part in the JAA-exam once passed. Due to these constrains, and the fact that we, as EPST-students, have to maintain a score of 85%, we’ve been hitting the books hard in the past weeks. But….they’re done now, and the results are in! Here we go again:

• Systems:                    89%
• Instruments:               81%
• Human Performance:   93%
• Meteorology:               94%
• Principles of Flight:       80%
• VFR COMs:                 100%
• IFR COMs:                   88%

The over-all result is ok. I was hoping to score a bit higher, but the 90% average is alright as well. Same score as the first Tests, so I hope to improve my JAA-exams to still show an improving curve. We’ll find out in two weeks, when we have these exams already!

Last Tuesday, after we finished the school finals, we all drove out to Upper Heyford, where a group of classmates live, for a celebration barbecue The weather was lovely, the food was good and the beer was chilled, so we felt pretty fortunate. There was an amazing relief of pressure that evening, since we were done with the big studying.

hmmm…smoked raw meat!

Part of our class: “Smile!”

The next morning we could sleep in a bit before hitting school again for the test-reviews. Finding out why you ticked the wrong box could be pretty interesting. Sometimes you just misread one word, ticked the wrong box by mistake, or just didn’t had a clue what the question was about… After the debrief-day I allowed myself a day of relaxation. No studying, no getting up early, no going to school, just relax. The weather was great, so this was the ideal day for doing so. Later on that day a few classmates decided to go Karting. After arranging the school bus we drove off to the only Karting-circuit near Oxford, an outside track with a lap record of 21 seconds. That should be fun!

The boys!

After 3 qualifying laps we were put up in lap-time sequence. To my surprise I had the fastest lap time, so pole-position for me! The real “race”, 50 laps, was great. We were pretty violent, e.g. pushing each other off the track etc. Great fun! After the race we found out who won. It was Hendrik, the bastard. I came in 3rd, so that was ok. Daan came in second, he actually a pretty good driver. Before we left the manager asked us to write down the names of the airlines we were gonna fly for, so he know which one not to pick

the line-up – rebel leaders

At the time I’m writing this (Sunday afternoon) we’re already back in the study-rhythm for the JAA-exams. You would say that since we passed our school finals we should know everything, but the way the JAA asks their questions is just so different from school, we just have to get used to it and try to find out what it is they need to know. Fortunately there are enough question-banks which help us preparing for the exams. It’s just too much…. Right now we have a week of “study-leave”, meaning we’re off from school, but can come in any time for questions etc. Tuesday May 5th we start our first exam (Principles of Flight) and Friday May 8th we finish our last ones (COMs). After that it’s off to Amsterdam for two full weeks of leave!!! Can’t wait to be back in my own bed again

Alright, I’m expected downstairs for cooking. Got to run. Will post something again next week, to update on my study-progress. Thanx for reading! And leave comments Love reading them!

After a whole bunch of e-mails, text messages, and phone complaints it’s high-time to update my blog again! Me is terribly sorry for not updating earlier, but time just “flies” here, and in our opinions nothing much is happening while you might think otherwise. Studying is now as normal as cooking at the end of the day, it’s part of every day life. Last week we completed Test-1, and afterwards we all fell in some kind of study-hole. We were so focused on this test by studying every night till late (some even well into the early hours), that we didn’t know what to do after the test. Friday after we finished the last one, non of us knew what to do. It was a weird feeling, that is long gone by now already (sadly).

BUT….after all this reading about tests etc, I guess you’re absolutely “thrilled” to find out what my grades are. Well,…here we go!
The final results are:

• Systems: 95%
• Instruments: 81%
• Human Performance: 96%
• Meteorology: 85%
• Principles of Flight: 85%

Over all pretty good results, especially after working at the office for over 4 years and having to get back into the study-rhythm . With an average of 90% I think I’m heading in the right way and I have found my methods for studying. Let’s just keep them up now!

Next are our school finals, which are planned for the week of April 20th. This basically gives us 5 weeks of ground school before we finalize the above mentioned subjects, which kind of scares some of us. Judging by the grounds we have covered, and what we still have to cover this might need a bit more effort after all. We’ll see how things evolve.
This upcoming week we are starting new subjects as well. We have finished subjects as Hydraulics, Piston Engines, DC Electrics, and will start with more advanced and/or modern subjects such as Gas Turbine Engines, Cabin Pressurisation, Auto Flight and AC Electrics. With subjects as Principles of Flight we have studied sub-sonic flight, below Mach 0.4, so far, but will now go into the characteristics of flying at Mach 0.78 (for example) as well. I wonder how I’ll fit all this new information in my brain, but I’m sure I’ll find a way.

Computer Based Training (CBT) – Meteorology

Something completely different: next week I’ll be flying home for the weekend, for the first time since I’m here. Can’t wait to see Anna, the family, friends,and even my house and car again . It’s good to get out of here for 2 days, and just kind of clear your head for the weekend. Next week is the last affordable option to get out of here, after that it’s full throttle back in the books again!

Well, that’s it for now! Thanks for reading my blog once again and I’ll update it more often, even if there isn’t much to publish anyway Next time; most probably with a picture again!

I can hardly believe another full week of ground school has passed again. Time just flies out here, everything goes sooo fast! In 2 weeks we have our first mid-phase tests already! Let me tell you more about all that later on. First a quick re-caps of the last week.

The sign to our accommodation – “Langford Hall” (a.k.a. “Langford Hell”)

This might actually sound boring, but nothing much has been going on in the past week, school wise. We had normal lessons, but at a bit faster rate, since we’re getting to the “normal” ground school speed. The instructors tend to take it “easy” on the new students the first few weeks, but that’s all over now. We spend more hours on home work each night, trying to recaps the lessons and taking as much tests as possible to determine your weaknesses, and filter out what is and what isn’t needed for the exams. The brain basically works as a big sponge when it comes to knowledge; there is only a certain amount it can absorb. When it’s full, it really is full, so we tend to drain it a bit every now and then. Anyways, it’s starting to get really interesting now, since different subjects are falling in their position as part of the big puzzle/picture we need to create.

But there’s time for fun and relaxation as well. Even during class sometimes! Last week our class mentor, Dick Hughes who’s our instructor for Piston Engines and Gas Turbine Engines, suddenly showed up in clogs (klompen)! That was quite hilarious. Wait….I should have a picture of him here somewhere……

Dick Hughes – in clogs!

As you might have noticed last weekend was Valentines weekend, and this couldn’t pass unnoticed here as well of course. A few weeks ago Ania bought a ticket to come here for this weekend, so we were looking forward to this for some time already. Friday evening I got the school’s car and drove to Heathrow to pick her up. Over the weekend I showed her around in Oxford and here at the academy and the airport of course. We had a great time, and it was sad to see her leave again on Sunday. This also meant that I had some catching up to do on Sunday and Yesterday evening. I’ve worked quite hard the past nights, but I’ve managed to keep up.

Walking around in “downtown” Oxford

Showing the Academy – Planes!!

As I said in the first paragraph of the post we have our first tests coming up in 2 weeks already. As explained earlier the total ground school (14 subjects) is divided in two phases, phase 1 which lasts 15 weeks and covers 7 subjects, and phase 2 which lasts 11 weeks and covers the other 7 subjects.
Within phase 1 there are 3 test/exam weeks;
- a knowledge test half way the phase, known as Test-1,
- School finals, which you have to pass to get allowed in the JAA-exam,
- the JAA exams, which are the general European exams that we are required to do.

Phase 2 had the same construction. Test-1 starts on the 2nd of March for us. School finals start on April 20th and the JAA-exams start on May 4th. There is a week of study-leave before the JAA-exams, to allow us to prepare a bit more for the exams. We have to complete 3 exams a day, resulting in a 3-day exam period. It’s quite hard to get all these subjects in your head completely, so I’m wondering how we’ll manage. But on the other hand, so many others have passed already, why shouldn’t I pass? Let’s stay positive.

Alright, with this in mind I’m going back to hit the books. Working on Meteorology now…Whohoo! It’s something that confronts a pilot daily and something that’s never the same, so I better study hard on this one.
Take care!

Yeah, you’re reading it correctly, ground school was grounded today. This morning I posted a picture of the view from my room, and apparently that triggered some instructors not to show up at school today. We, most of the students, live withing walking distance from school, so we have no difficulties conquering the snow. Most of the instructors, on the other hand, live a bit further. And since this part of the UK hasn’t seen this much snow in the past 20 years they forgot how to deal with it. Anyways, it was a good day for home studying

Walking to our CBT (computer based training) facility this morning we had to cross the apron with a few beautiful snow-white Jets, that were just begging to be on photographed. After an expected snow-fight between two classes we finally got to our training room and started our CBT. 90 minutes later we were done and walked out to the backside of the building where we had a great view of the airfield, covered with virginal snow. Just an amazing view…..

All the Oxford Seneca’s lined up, covered with snow…

On our way back I came with the idea to have a view in the ATC tower. Since the aerodrome was closed these guys had plenty of time to show us around, was my interpretation, so off we went. Surprisingly they let all 6 of us up there, in groups of two, which gave us a splendid view of the whole complex.

Quick shot from the tower

Since there were no classes scheduled anymore we proceeded to our own classroom and started finishing up the homework we still had to do. At around noon we were done and after the lunch we headed back to our rooms.

Frozen grass, what a view……

Hey guys! Just a quick post this morning, since I’m in the middle of breakfast and going to school.
This is what I saw when I opened my window 5 minutes ago!!

Isn’t it beautifull?

For sure means that the instructors will be late or won’t show up today, but we’ll see

Take care, I’ll do the same!

It’s weekend!! And sadly it has been a while since my last post as well…. Time just flies like crazy around here, and that’s a good thing. You basically want these first 6 months to pass as soon as possible, just to let je actually flying begin

The Seneca (PA-34) is still a loooong way to go   

The past week, the first week of ground school, was actually quite fun! No, honestly, it was! We start class at 08.40 in the morning, meaning we have to leave Langford Hall (the place where our rooms are) at around 08.25. Lessons are in 2 hour blocks, and 1 lesson is 60 minutes. In between lessons there’s a 5 minute break, allowing the instructors to switch classes. That’s another thing that surprised me. One class group, like us AP298 8) for example, has once classroom in which they stay at least one week. So it are not the students that are changing classes, but the instructors. Quite handy, since this reduces the amount of persons walking thru the hallways, and allows us to quickly review before class as well. After the first 2 hours of class we have a 25 minute break and after the second 2 hours there’s a 1 hour lunch break in which we go back to Langford hall to prepare our own lunches (to reduce expenses). After lunch there are 2 more hours and then school is out at 16.20. This doesn’t mean that you’re off the rest of the day…… you still have about 2 or 3 hours of home study to do. Whohoo! It sounds worst than it actually is. In those 3 hours you revise all 6 hours of class you had that day, relating to about 4 or 5 different subjects, giving you an average of 30 minutes homework per subject. In those 30 minutes you review the chapter you discussed in class and complete the small “test” at the end of each chapter. It’s doable, trust me

The class as it was last week. Too bad Ivo is missing

The classes we had so far include: Piston Engines, Instruments, DC electrics, Airframes, Principles of Flight, Human Performance, Hydraulics and Meteorology. Next week we also start with the Meteorology Computer Based Training (CBT), which is more or less a self-study you complete behind a computer. You then sit in a classroom filled with computers divided by dividers, behind a computer with a headset on, listening to an instruction video after which you have to complete a test about that chapter. Only after you have scored 75% for that test, you’re allowed access to the next chapter. If you don’t pass you have to start over again, till you finally get the picture. We can access this program from our rooms as well, so you can always retake the test in the evening in your own room.

We’re having fun!

After school we generally go to the gym for about a half an hour to get a bit of exercise and to recharge your battery in a way. Me myself didn’t register there yet, but will do tomorrow most probably. After the gym and the following shower we either go to the shop 10 minutes away to get some groceries, or we use the ones we bought the days before to get a nice a healthy meal. Right now we still have time to cook, since we just started, but the guy’s who have been here for a wile are switching more and more to microwaveable meals as the pressure turn up. I hope not to do that of course, but we’ll see how that develops. So far so good; we bought a 3-level steamer, allowing us to steam 3 kinds of food at the same time (salmon, broccoli and potatoes for example) and an electricity powered wok, since there are no cooking facilities in the kitchen apart from ovens, microwaves and toasters. The wok rules! We made such a nice meal last night, using loads of fresh vegetables etc, hmmmmm .

Party downtown

In the weekends we have been taking it easy. The way to do it is to go for a beer or a party on Friday night, relax on Saturday, go into oxford, walk around a bit, get a nice coffee etc. Sunday is generally the study day. Revise last week, and prepare for the coming week. Take the end-of-chapter test again, and see what the items are you’re still having difficulties with. That’s the way it works for me at least.
This morning I went jogging. My goal was to go around the airport, but about 30% down the road got sick of the strong winds, realized I couldn’t feel my hands anymore and turned back. Back in my room I found out it was only 3 degrees and that it was freezing last night. Eventually I did run 60% of my goal, and had a bit of exercise. Only too bad it required a 30 minute shower to warm up again.

The west wing warriors  – downtown oxford

Right now I’m updating my blog, resizing pictures and select the ones I want to put online. We have sooo many already. Later on today, at around 14.00, a few of our class are meeting up at school to revise the week all together. This way we can all learn a bit and learn by explaining to the ones who need a bit more of understanding.

Hydraulics by John Hooper, what a guy

Anyways, I’m signing off again. Time to clean my room a bit and to start getting ready for school (on a sunday, never guessed I would do that again) . Take care! Over and out.

After I just send out an e-mail informing a whole bunch of people about this web log, I better update it ASAP. So here we go .
Today was day 2 in ground school, but was actually the first day in which we actually had to do something. This was also the first evening in which we had to do a bit of homework and review the day as a whole. Maybe it’s better to take a step back first and explain what it is we’re actually doing here and what my typical day looks like.

First thing in the morning is waking-up in my wonderful apartment (ahum). Let me just give you a short glimps at my room:

So this basicaly is my room.

As you can see it has most of the basic things as a sink, a desk, a bookshelf, a closet and last but not least; a bed! Now most people here have major problems with the mattresses, but mine is just fine (or I just never had a good one in my life and I’m used to the crappy ones).
For the folks with the keen eyes, yes, that it a toaster and a water boiler in my window, and no, I do not have a fridge yet. Still working on that one though. These 3 appliances really make life a lot easier here.

Anyways, that’s all for now. It’s getting late, but I’ll update this post with the rest of my day-description tomorrow night. I’ll pizza-promise you that

Welcome to my wordpress site!! Finaly I’m able to get this thing running for y’all

I have too much to write about at this moment, but I won’t right now. Tomorrow is the first day of groundschool, so I better be “fit to learn”. I’ll try to post something of relevance tomorrow…..
Just a little teaser:

See y’all then!