As professional aviators in training, we spend days looking at the checklist before our first MEP flight. Once in the cockpit, with lots of new systems to check, it takes a little bit longer to start the aircraft up and get the systems humming.

With a taxi clearance we are ready to go. Asymmetric throttle steers the aircraft around corners just like an airliner might feel.

At the holding point, we run the emergency briefing, and, for the first time, things feel different. We must consider what we’re going to do in the event of a single engine failure on the runway or in the moments before we rotate while we are established in the climb: lots to think about here. All the theoretical study we did of V-speeds and performance now seems very real!

Lining up on the runway and applying power feels familiar. The aircraft accelerates rapidly but is easy to keep on the centreline. Calling out the speeds until we rotate, the aircraft leaps into the air like a scalded cat.

Once at the training area, we carry out some familiar drills: 30 degrees bank turns, steep turns and stalls. Now we want to practise the before landing checks and, for the first time ever, we must lower the landing gear. Never again in our whole flying career will we be able to land without checking – really checking – that the gear is down and locked!

The aircraft flies normally and, after a few more turns, we raise the gear, do the after-take-off checklist and turn the aircraft towards home for normal, bad weather, and flapless circuits.

Our previous training kicks in and it all feels very normal. The aircraft flies beautifully and we are soon taxiing back with our first training flight complete and ready for a thorough debrief of lessons learnt during this flight.

A truly unforgettable experience which you will carry with you for the rest of your life!

Speak to us about your MEP class rating at +43 664 102 2033 or send an email to fly@absolutepilots.com.

The post BECOMING A PROFESSIONAL AVIATOR appeared first on Absolute Pilots.

We mention these celebrities as evidence that busy people with a full-time job and lots of distractions can get a Commercial Pilot Licence. Their career success is probably based on their ability to focus, and this is one of the main characteristics for you to develop during your transition from PPL holder to becoming a Commercial Pilot.

The basics are laid out in the regulations, which can appear complicated, but at Absolute Pilots (AP) we have applied our years of experience to ensure that your learning journey is well-structured and divided into logical bite-sized pieces.

Build on theoretical knowledge

The curriculum we have developed allows you to build on the theoretical knowledge you will gain in your commercial pilot ground school and fully integrate this information into your flying in our highly equipped aircraft, which have been harmonised for your advanced training. 

The curriculum flights are conducted exclusively by AP’s experienced commercial pilots who have trained hundreds of pilots to commercial standards.

Develop the skills you need 

If you have conducted your basic flying training at a private flying club with amateur instructors, there is no doubt that you will have a fairly steep learning curve ahead of you. 

We understand this and are ready to help you develop the skills you need to be an effective and safe commercial pilot. We’ll teach you the skills to plan rigorously, fly accurately, and to make great decisions whilst airborne. 

We will ensure that your navigation is tip-top, that you can handle non-standard situations (emergencies) calmly and confidently, that your radio work is first-class and that your approaches and landings would make a jet pilot blush!

The remit of a commercial pilot is broad, and during your training at AP we will help you develop intense focus and learning strategies that you will rely on every time you go flying for the rest of your career.

If you have completed your basic training with us, we will automatically have instilled these values and skills into you from the very beginning. Your learning curve will not be so steep, but your desire to learn and improve will be enhanced with every single flight.

We’ll prepare you for that seat in the cockpit

We will share our insider knowledge of the industry as we prepare you for that pilot seat in a commercial operation.

The CPL training is packed with detail. The briefings are full of new insights into the demands placed on a commercial pilot. The debriefings are equally thorough.

You may have to learn resilience and adaptability as we give you honest and direct feedback about the myriad of areas where you will have to ‘up your game’ to make the grade.

Of course, we will do everything to help you reach the required standard and you will go into your flight test fully prepared. The rest is up to you.

If you want to look, feel and really BE a commercial pilot, like Bruce, Tom and John, then the team at Absolute Pilots are ready to support you on your exciting journey!

Speak to us about your Commercial Pilots Licence. Call +43 664 102 2033 or send an email to fly@absolutepilots.com.

The post BECOME A COMMERCIAL PILOT LIKE BRUCE, TOM & JOHN! appeared first on Absolute Pilots.

We were delighted that so many friendly faces came to share a drink and some Christmas nibbles with us.

Many amusing and interesting stories were shared. And, of course, ALL of them were about flying!

We are conscious that Covid-19 has created challenges for the wider aviation sector since 2020. But this last year has been a good year for Absolute Pilots and we were pleased to be able to celebrate with our loyal customers.

During the evening, 10 lucky people won Gift Voucers for an overnight stay in a Degrassi Boutique Hotel in the small Slovenian seaside town called Izola. There were a lot of smiles on faces by the end of the night.

Thanks to all our customers and students who have supported us over the years. We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you all!

Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year from all the team at Absolute Pilots.
Das gesamte Team von Absolute Pilots wünscht Ihnen ein frohes Weihnachtsfest
und einen guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr.

The post Celebrating another great year with clients! appeared first on Absolute Pilots.

Lukas, tell us, when did you start learning to fly?

I left school and had 6 months to wait before starting my National Service, so I went to the UK and stayed with a host family to improve my English. As soon as my National Service ended, I started training with Michael. I was 19.

How long did it take you to complete all your training from ZERO to ATPL(A)?

It would have taken 18 months, but I injured myself playing football which affected my progress over a 6-month period. So in total, it took 2 years.

You recently gained command of the B-737; congratulations! How long did this take at RYANAIR?

When I was interviewed, I was told the minimum time required to make Captain was 5 years if everything went to plan. And it took was exactly 5 years to the day from my first ever flight with RYANAIR to my command check flight! It could have even happened a year faster, but COVID created delays. RYANAIR are expanding rapidly, with 50 new aircraft arriving this year and another 50 next year, so there have been opportunities for promotion which I’ve been very happy to exploit!

What did you learn from Michael Riesel that has helped you in your Airline Pilot career?

Michael had an enormous amount of experience to share and such a breadth of capacity in his insights of what makes a good pilot. I think the most important thing was that he instilled in me the importance of always looking at the big picture when flying; to always have a clear overview of what is happening around you, with ATC, at your destination, and – of course – what’s happening in the cabin behind you. This really helped me by identifying that I needed to build my ability and flexibility for dealing with a high-capacity workload in the cockpit.

What’s the most important thing you know now that you would tell your younger self / or others who are thinking about an airline pilot career?

The biggest fear I had was about not being able to get a job at the end of my training. There was a recession in 2014 and my fellow students and I all had concerns that there were not enough jobs for young pilots fresh out of pilot school. So, I’d tell my younger self to not be afraid to start training, just because there’s a concern about getting a job at the end, and not to be afraid to apply to the low cost airlines. It’s important not to believe the ‘horror stories’ in the media about working conditions and the rates of pay. There are jobs out there and low-cost airlines like RYANAIR are a great place to work.

Michael, we know you’re very proud of Lukas. What sticks in your mind most about his training?

I remember when Lukas visited me in 2014 – together with his parents and his sister – to discuss the cost of ZERO to commercial pilot training. After getting to know the family and talking them through the costs and proposed timing of the training, his parents said that they would trust me, and Lukas started his training the next week! Now, 8 years later, he is Captain of a Boeing airliner! I am so happy when I see that this big investment and effort has paid off for the whole family and that we have not disappointed these nice people.

Call us on +43 664 1022033 or send an email to fly@absolutepilots.com and find out how you can start training for your future pilot career!

The post Q&A: NEW 737 CAPTAIN, LUKAS EBERHARDT appeared first on Absolute Pilots.

We streamline your training from day one, not by removing any elements of your training, rather by ensuring that we focus on the right training at the right time with a clear understanding of the goals we need to have achieved by the end of your training.

Our extensive knowledge of airline and military practises and procedures, as well as the pitfalls and difficulties encountered by trainees in the later phases of their training, means that we focus on getting things right from the beginning.

Here are some examples:

1. Trainee pilots who learn in a hobby flying environment may have to re-learn correct use of cockpit aids and instruments during their advanced training, sometimes on a more expensive aircraft type such as a multi-engine aircraft. We have seen this repeatedly in the past, so we ensure our trainees learn good habits early on.
2. Trainee pilots who have learned on old generation aircraft may initially struggle to master the airline style cockpit of advanced trainers and have fewer ingrained ‘work-cycles’ on which they can rely when the work rate intensifies. We introduce all relevant systems early in training to ensure students thrive in later training.
3. Trainee pilots who have learned to fly in an unstructured or haphazard manner often struggle when the flying environment becomes more complicated or the ‘stakes are high’, such as during examinations. We excel in helping students develop sound working practices and workflows.
4. Trainee students who have got used to poor radio discipline at a grass airstrip in the hinterlands will lose mental capacity and situational awareness when they enter the world of professional flying and are required to show brevity, accuracy and discipline on the radio. We ensure that radio skills are learned, understood and practised.

Our intensive focus on correct flying procedures ensures that flying lessons are learned first time around and do not need to be repeated.

We are focussed on your career and aim to use all our skills and resources to make you a safe and confident pilot using as little of your time and money as possible.

Find out more about our Streamlined ATPL(A) training course. Call us on +43 664 1022033 or send an email to fly@absolutepilots.com.

The post STREAMLINED TRAINING: FAST TRACK TO AIRLINE PILOT appeared first on Absolute Pilots.

Why is Airmanship important?

In order to fly safely, a pilot must blend their fundamental knowledge, skills and attitude to understand and operate the aircraft effectively in all flight conditions.

For professional pilots, non-technical competences like decision making, communication, mutual supervision, teamwork and support, are just some of skills that are considered a part of ‘Airmanship’ and which are crucial for a successful career in a multi-crew environment.

Interpersonal competence is key

All flight schools teach Technical competence and Procedural competence, but professional pilot training must also include interpersonal skills training.

At Absolute Pilots, we focus on your pilot career and so we place a high importance on Airmanship throughout your curriculum and distil your skills training into 3 main areas of competence:

1. Technical competence (handling the aircraft, system knowledge)
2. Procedural competence (knowledge of procedures, awareness of rules)
3. Interpersonal competence (communication, teamwork, structured approach, diligence, and sense of responsibility).

Learning excellent Airmanship skills is so important to us that we also teach all 3 competencies to our PPL students as part of their curriculum, even if they are not progressing to professional qualifications. This is just another way we ensure that we help create the very best pilots for the future.

Call us on +43 664 1022033 or send an email to fly@absolutepilots.com for more information about Professional Pilot Training or PPL(A) training opportunities.

The post Is ‘Airmanship’ a learnable skill? appeared first on Absolute Pilots.

Here are 7 of the most important attributes and skills to have when striving to be an excellent flying instructor,
according to our Head of Training, Michael Riesel:

1. Be a natural teacher

An excellent flying instructor can explain things in a way that a child would understand. In my opinion, „being a teacher“ can only be learned to a certain extent; either one has the talent to be a teacher, or one does not.

2. Have extensive and excellent technical competence and knowledge

Impeccable flying skills are obviously a prerequisite. But manual flying skills alone do not make an excellent flight instructor. Extensive theoretical knowledge is just as essential nowadays as the ability to handle modern avionics and various software tools (e.g. flight planning programmes).

3. Be open to new things and have the will to constantly improve

We are what we do. An excellent instructor asks themselves what they can do today to learn and move forward for their own improvement. But they should also consider how these skills and knowledge will positively impact the experience of the student pilots they teach.

4. Be a role model in terms of general behaviour

A flight instructor should be reliable, prudent, polite, considerate and punctual. These are also the basic behaviours we expect from our student pilots, and also what airlines would expect from their professional pilots. To this end, we set high standards from day one of flying training.

5. Be able to develop, motivate and encourage students while recognising their strengths and weaknesses

The path to becoming a professional pilot is a marathon not a sprint, and students will need to leap over a few hurdles during their journey. Some of the hurdles are external, but some are internal and individual. A great instructor takes great pride in walking alongside students and helping them be the best possible version of themselves.

6. Adopt a safety-first approach: recognise early dangers and avoid risky situations

Compliance with and consideration of legal, operational and technical restrictions—as well as flight school internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)—is a sign that an excellent instructor heeds and implements all aviation safety standards.

7. Act in a professional manner and not as a hobby pilot instructor

A flight instructor should keep the economic aspect of the company, but also of the student pilot, in mind.

If you’d like to become a flight instructor, call us on +43 664 1022033 or send an email to fly@absolutepilots.com and let’s discuss how you can fit into our team of professionals.

The post THE ESSENCE OF EXCELLENT INSTRUCTION appeared first on Absolute Pilots.

Fun Fact
In the early days of aviation, the newly formed National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (predecessor to NASA) investigated many different shapes of a wing for their aerodynamic properties. One of the wing shapes which they investigated was the NACA 2412, which proved to be highly suited to training aircraft.

At Absolute Pilots, we use the Cessna 172 for our flying training and we are proud to do so.

The basic design of the Cessna 172 is tried and tested and uses the NACA 2412 Aerofoil in a high wing configuration.

Here are 2 reasons why this is the best possible platform for your flying training.

1.  You learn the basics of speed control more quickly

The NACA 2412 aerofoil is ideally suited to any environment where easily maintaining accurate speeds is important. An aircraft with a NACA 2412 aerofoil operating at the middle of its envelope will change speed promptly, reliably and accurately after a power change.

For trainee pilots learning to fly in the circuit pattern, who are learning to navigate or are training for their instrument rating, the NACA 2412 aerofoil on our aircraft is, therefore, the perfect training wing as it means you master the basics of speed control more quickly, reducing the flying hours you need, and saving you money.

In contrast, some aircraft owned by flight schools have much thinner, higher-speed wings. These more slippery wings are fantastic for travelling long distances at higher speeds and are particularly suited to qualified experienced club pilots who want to fly to a destination with friends. But these thinner wings are quite difficult to handle when learning to fly and they can impose an unhelpful training burden on the student pilots.

2. Landings can be easier with the NACA 2412 aerofoil

When learning to fly, one of the key hurdles is learning to land.

The basics of landing an aircraft are the same no matter what aircraft you are flying, but many flying club aircraft – harmonised for passenger-carrying or higher speed flight over very long distances – have peculiarities that make them particularly tricky to land.

Beginner students flying these types of aircraft are required to learn the basic principles as well as the unusual handling characteristics of the club aircraft, which can dramatically extend their training time.

The wing shape of the Cessna 172 is highly suited to learning to land an aircraft. The lift and drag provided by the NACA 2412 aerofoil vary particularly smoothly with changes in Angle of Attack at approach speeds. As a result, aircraft handling is predictable and straightforward all the way to the ground, reducing the number of landings it takes you to master the basics.

After learning to fly in a Cessna 172 with its NACA 2412 Aerofoil, progression to aircraft with faster wing shapes is easy.

Our significant industry experience led us to choose the Cessna 172 as our training aircraft. With any aircraft configuration there are always advantages and disadvantages and of course compromises. We chose an aircraft design that best suits student pilots, helping them become safe and confident pilots in the shortest time possible.

 Call us on +43 664 1022033 or send an email to fly@absolutepilots.com and find out how you can start training for your future pilot career!

Picture Source: Aerodynamic Performance of the NACA 2412 Airfoil at Low Reynolds Number: Dr. John E Matsson, Voth, McCain, McGraw et al.

The post HOW THE NACA 2412 AEROFOIL SAVES YOU € appeared first on Absolute Pilots.

This is Eva’s story:

Following her Matura graduation, Eva joined RYANAIR as part of their 737-cabin crew and was based in Eindhoven for 1.5 years. “I loved being part of a large aviation community and I got to know the many talented individuals in the flight crew and talked with them about their training and their career path,” she explains. Soon she decided that, instead of working in the cabin with the passengers of a 737 (which she loved), her dream was to fly them places as a pilot!

“My family were very supportive of my decision and were keen to help me in every aspect of my training,” she said “including financially.” Knowing some people in the General Aviation industry, Eva’s Father approached Michael Riesel (Head of Training of a flight school in Graz/Austria), and he managed Eva’s introduction into life as a PPL(A) student.

She quickly realised she’d made the right decision. “Being in control of an aircraft was as exciting as I’d hoped. There wasn’t a moment when I doubted the choice I’d made, even though I found the ground-school learning and exams quite a challenge.” Eva said. “I was not that interested in working hard when I was at school, so I had to adapt my attitude for studying,” she said.

Michael and Eva worked closely together at Absolute Pilots to create an individual plan for her learning experience. Every day, they agreed on a schedule for the goals they wanted to achieve, and luckily neither the weather nor Covid (yet) impacted her progress. “Michael helped me fast-track my training,” Eva said. “This meant it cost my family less because we were able to achieve all the flight training hours within a relatively short time. I’d have the flight training, followed by a debrief, and then a short break before we knuckled down to ground-school work. We did this every day.”

Eva’s mental health and readiness were paramount whenever the team agreed the training goals together. “The team would always check how I was feeling, but I didn’t have the chance to be overwhelmed because I felt in control of my training program throughout,” she said.

We asked Eva what other ways Absolute Pilots prepared her for her chosen career path. “I felt like I’d won the jackpot when I got into one of the aircraft,” she said. “They have Cessna 172s that are crazy well-equipped and beautifully maintained; I’ve never seen anything like it. She added, “The touch screen avionics and the weather radar helped me get familiar with the tools of my future trade!”

As a place to learn, Graz also came up as a positive. “I flew most of my hours-building out of Graz as well as my flight training hours, so I got to experience the movement of all the airline traffic. Graz ATC has high standards and I heard so many flight crew talking with ATC over the radio; it was incredibly useful,” she said.

The final exam period in Vienna was a frustrating time for Eva because Covid-19 meant that exam dates were regularly cancelled. “I found the ATPL(A) Theory very demanding, and I needed to work hard, stay motivated and apply a determined attitude to succeed,” she said. “Studying for exams that kept getting moved was hard, so Covid definitely slowed down my progress, but I just had to stay focused,” she said.

Eva was keen to share some advice for other potential students who might be thinking about training to become a pilot as a career choice: “The most important thing is to enjoy the process” she said, “even if you’re under a lot of pressure. I look back and I realise what a great time I had while learning in the cockpit. As a pilot, you are submitting yourself to a life filled with exams, so you need to get used to the idea that you’re going to keep learning and be constantly tested on what you know”.

Lastly, we asked Eva if she’d recommend us to others. Of course, she said yes! “You’ll find Absolute Pilots are very professional. They are an effective team who work hard for you as a student to get you through the training process. The location is great: the classrooms are at the Absolute Pilot office in the actual airport. It’s a good building, where all your training needs are met. Thank you to the team: my parents and I are so grateful, and we know that I couldn’t have made it this far without you!”

Talking about recommendations, with the help of Michael Riesel, Eva deciced to elevate her training experience into the next level by choosing to join SKY4u in Berlin for the Ryanair Mentored APS MCC. She passed the course with flying colours and has achieved her final goal of becoming a First Officer on the B737. Absolute Pilots and SKY4u wish her all the best for her future adventures.

Eva was interviewed by our friend and private pilot, Leanne Mills. Thanks, Eva, we are all thrilled for you and wish you all the best for your future adventures in the air!

The post Eva’s story appeared first on Absolute Pilots.

Graz Airport is the ideal location for pilot training; learning here will prepare you as an airline pilot far better than learning at a small grass strip.

Here are 6 reasons why:

1. The airfield at Graz (IATA: GRZ, ICAO: LOWG) is large enough to provide a broad professional experience and small enough to provide you the time and space you need to learn to become a pilot.
2. People who learn to fly at small aerodromes often become fearful of using the radio or communicating with Air Traffic Control. Absolute Pilots at Graz incorporate radio communications with ATC and we make sure you are an excellent airline standard communicator from the outset.
3. Graz ATC is helpful and supportive of our operations. Together with Graz ATC, we are focused on safety and efficiency to save you money.
4. Airfields are complicated places. Club pilots from small airfields are nervous about confusing taxiways, air traffic control procedures and the complexity of international airports. Graz is a major airport with low utilisation and short taxiways. It is very rare to wait for take-off at Graz and the taxiways are never congested.
5. Graz Airport has STARS, all different kind of approaches (ILS, PBN/R-NAV, VOR, NDB) and SIDS). Why do they matter?
   • Airliners fly around the sky in pre-determined patterns. These are called Standard Arrivals (STARS) and Standard Instrument Departures (SIDs).
   • Having these, and far more, on your doorstep at Graz Airport means that you don’t have to fly anywhere else to complete your instrument training approaches. This saves lots of time and lots of money!
6. Graz Airport is not swamped by lots of flight training organisations. Why is this important?
   • Airfields where there are lots of flight schools usually mean that too many students are trying to access too few facilities.
   • Air traffic controllers are not allowed to have more than a couple of aircraft using the instrument approaches at any one time. As a result, huge queues in the skies can develop; often referred to in the news as ‘The Stack’ because controllers pile up the waiting flying aircraft in a huge column above the airfield.
   • At Graz this simply never happens, meaning your flying training progresses smoothly and efficiently.

Want to know more?

See Streamlined Training and other training modules, then contact us to discuss how Absolute Pilots can help you:

• Attain your private pilot’s licence (PPL(A)) in as little as 8 weeks (of which only 3 weeks present in Graz necessary); and
• Accelerate your commercial pilot’s licence (CPL(A) including ATPL(A) theory to completion within 12 months (of which only 2 months present in Graz necessary).

Picture Source: Mario Gimpel/ Flughafen Graz.

The post Learning at Graz/Austria is better! appeared first on Absolute Pilots.