Tower: Academy One Niner Sierra Congratulation!!

Finally last week on Thursday I've done my first solo. Before I was cleared for solo I have to demonstrate the flight to other qualified instructor to see whether I was ready or not. So on that day I was really nervous and felt that I was going to catch a fever. I've done all the checks including the internal and external checks on the aircraft which is a Piper Warrior, and we were ready to depart. We took off using Runway 21 after the clearance was given by Tower. I did a few touch and go's (three to be exact) and everything was ok but of course not the landings. The landings was bumpy but I guess thats normal for an early flyer like me. :)


So he said to me that I was ready for my first solo and I was really excited when I heard that. But the only thing that was about to prevent me from doing the solo was time. Because it was already 6.30 in the evening and Tower usually closes at this time. Then he called Tower asking whether I could still do the solo. Hoping that I could do the solo but then there was no reply from the Tower. So I thought maybe I could not do the flight by that day. Eventually after some time Tower did reply. Then I taxi the aircraft back to MFA, park it to let him step out of the Warrior and locked the door.

Being alone in the aircraft, I felt no pressure from the instructor. Initially I must call Melaka Ground before calling Tower. After taxiing to holding point C, I make my call:

Me: Melaka Tower this is Academy One Niner Sierra, Holding Point Charlie, Ready For Departure.

Melaka Tower: Academy One Niner Sierra Line Up Runway 21.

So I line up Runway 21.

Melaka Tower: Academy One Niner Sierra, Cleared Circuit & Landing, Cleared for Take Off.

After I gave my clearance readback, I set power to full and let the Warrior accelerate to 55 knots (aproximately. 102 km/h). Reaching 55 knots, the aircraft took off. Climbing at 80 knots before levelling at 1000 feet. The flight was vary peaceful and smooth. On turning final approaching to land I prepared myself for hardest part of flying.

Me: Academy One Niner Sierra, Finals.

Melaka Tower: Academy One Niner Sierra Cleared To Land.

The approach was a bit high. But it's better to be approaching high than low. When you are high, you can still make another round for the landing but when you are low, be prepared to hit any obstacles in front of you. :)
During approaching, I was absolutely stunned by the beauty of the sunset. The landing was nearly smooth and was better than any previous flight. After touchdown, Tower and others congratulated me. Eventhough the flight was short, about 15 minutes, I'd enjoyed every minute of it. It was a flight I'll remember for a lifetime. Just after the flight I called my mother & father to let them know that succeeded my first solo. The oddest thing was during that night after my first solo, I cought a fever. My father told me maybe I was too excited. That was the best day of my life.

My First Flight!!

Sorry for my late post since I don't have any idea what to post. I've just started flying phase after more than 2 months of ground school. The photos below were captured during my first flight by my batch mate, Nic. Since the weather a bit hazy, so can't really see much. The 1 hour flight is mostly over the ocean. Here are the photos.


Me With My Flight Instructor.


Over Training Area Bravo.


Pilot In Command.




Over 3ooo ft above sea level.

A Visit To The Hangar

Here some photos of aircraft inside & outside of the hangar.

The First Week In MFA

Sorry for my late post. I've just return home for the weekends after a week stay in the flying academy. So this is just briefly what had happen in the first week.


Me in uniform without epaulets & my brother in his prefect uniform. This is before my father sending me to the academy

When the registrar instruct me and other students to Classroom 12, the first thing is to fill the arrival form.Then pay additional RM12 for the tie. I was wondering since when we have to wear a tie because I've never seen any seniors wear it. I guess in that way they could make extra money. But I don't mind wearing a tie because it looks much more better with it than without it.


During the tour around the academy.

The Academy is just fine to me. One and a half hours from KL. New hostel which is air-conditioned or should I call it hotel. There have a gym. And also there is a surau above the cafeteria. So its great living here. When bored with the food served at the cafeteria, you can go to a restaurant which is 10 minutes walking distance.


View of the administration building and some planes from the hostel.

On the first day, they gave us so many books because on the next day the class will begin. The ground instructors was very fast on the teachings. I guess we have to cover all the topics within the first 3 months. After that, the flying phase will take place for the next 3 months. If everything goes well, the course will finish in 18 months or sooner. Here in the academy they will teach you to become not a Pilot but an Airline Pilot. If you want to learn to fly you can just go to a flying club. Here it is all about discipline. If you are schedule to fly then you must fly or otherwise you will pay for the flight even you are not flying. Whereas at flying clubs you can just come and go as you can.

I'm going to learn to fly!!

At last! I started my own blog after long I have been thinking when to start it. "So why not give it a try" I said to myself. I thought for a while what to name the blog then decided that "One Day I'll Fly Away" wound be name for it. I've chosen the title because it's one of my favorite songs sung by Randy Crawford and also because it's what I want to do (to fly) for the rest of my life.

My dream is beginning to take shape.

I was very nervous when that day came because it was the day that I wound get my SPM result. The result was quite disappointing to me because I've expected to get better than that but it was more than enough to qualify for the pilot course. Then, I have to send my SPM result to the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) at Putrajaya to see whether I qualify academically. After the DCA has evaluated my SPM result, they have approved me by letter to pursue the commercial pilot's course.

DCA approval letter.

Now, to choose the right flying school. As the staff of the DCA gave us the list of their approved flying school, they had warned us to choose the right school. In the list, there were about 7 approved flight school to choose from. But the one that was in my mind in that time was the one in Pengkalan Chepa because the school use very new and modern aircraft which is the Diamond 40 and the Diamond 42 and the school used to be the top in this region. But we were told that the school has backlogs because the students have to complete their flying hours.

Diamond DA40, single-engine light aircraft.

Diamond DA42, twin-engine light aircraft.

In the end we've chosen Melaka because it's much nearer home. To enroll for Malaysian Flying Academy (MFA), one must undergo entrance exam and interview. So my father paid for the exam books that are Physic, Mathematics and English which were very simple. But that's not what I'm worrying about. I was worried about the interview. I sat for the exam and interview on 21st April. When finish all the exams, I have to wait for my name to be called up for the interview. Eventually, after waited nervously I was called up to come into the room. There were two interviewers. The interviewer asked me questions and then asked me to read a passage from an aviation magazine. I then realized that I was actually the last person to be called when they (the interviewers) come out of the room after the interview. The whole events took the whole day; I was in high spirits that I have passed all the requirements for the academy's enrollment, now I'm a step closer to achieving my dream.

MFA letter of enrollment.

Piper Warrior II is used for training in MFA.

Piper Seneca III is also used for training in MFA.

Lastly, all I've done except for the medical checkup. First of all I have to do eye exam at the Tun Hussein Onn National Eye Hospital at Petaling Jaya. Then I've to test my hearing, heart pulses, and blood test. For this, I've done it at Klinik Medi-Utama. Finally I've pass the tests and got my medical certificate for Class 1 valid for a year but must wear corrective lenses which I've never wear it until this moment.

Class 1 medical certificate.

The intake.
So I'll be heading Melaka this June. I'm very lucky to get the 22nd June intake because we were told that for the June and September intakes would be full. So right from this day, I’ll have more than a month to polish up my communication skill as it is vital for every professional pilot. I'll soon begin my journey of earning my wings.

At last! I've finish my first post. Thanks for reading.