Who, Where, What, Why...

OKi, FrankO-in-the-sky blog should really be named FrankO-will-be-in-the-sky because I am just newly qualified CPL/MEP/IR pilot with just over three hundred hours in my log book starting my search for first flying job.

Anyway, I have Who I am? Well, everyone knows me as Frank, guy from Czech Republic, who came to UK in summer 2004 for six days holiday and for some unknown reason did not return home.

The fact is, I always liked aeroplanes, airports, and the buzz around small club airfields, but it took some twenty years of my life before I launched in to air for the first time under the fabric canopy of paraglider.
Than this un explained move to UK happened and I have landed my first job in aviation working for FLS Aerospace aircraft maintenance facility at Stansted Airport (later bought by SR Technics)

As it happens when you working in environment like this, you will meet people whit same bug in the blood like you have and it did not take long before I was on my first trip to Andrewsfield (EGSL)to find out what is involved to convert from paraglider on to mighty C152. 15 February 2009, 485 days after first flying lesson with instructor Paul Slater I have passed my PPL in G-BNID

Three more flights in C152 and than I have joined G-ATTV PA28 Cherokee 140 group at Andrewsfield allowing me to explore beauty of Essex flatlands and land at strips across east England, from my favourite Waybourne airstrip to Lands End in Cornwall. As much as I enjoyed toddling around England and north France, I also enjoyed updating my logbook and watching total hours to approach magical 150 hours allowing me to start my CPL.

Partially expected but still surprise was closure of SR Technics UK announced on beginning of January 2009 and it push me to start my ATPLs.

I have joined CATS Luton in February 2010 and started my CPL practical training in July same year.

Small "cash recovery" training break (not flying break) between September 2010 till spring 2011 (understand working for bmi airline at East Midlands Airport in IT) allowed me to wizz through MEP rating course on DA42 Twinstar and jump on to IR training that finally finished 8 January 2012.

So, here I am on beginning of new year 2012, flying Cherokee for fun and Twinstar to keep my IR up to scratch with determination to break in and get my first flying job.