About me

My name is Fabien, I'm 28.
My course :
Always passionate about the aeronautics since the early childhood, the first time when I took a plane is in 1994 to leave for Tunisia aboard B727-200 of Tunisair.

I cannot say that this flight is memorable because at that time I was old only of 9 years thus I remember myself more too many details ^^,

User devotee of Flight simulator 2002/2004/X, I spent many years there to fly in virtual, in local or in the IVAO network. And yes for lack of money we favor the virtual ^^,
Maybe that one day I shall begin pilot's career! Who knows ... Well, I'm not very good  ... Not to say bad in math and in physics and I'm not rich, that begins rather badly :-S
April 2006, I get acquainted with the gliding. I make my first flight of initiation aboard an ASK13 from Bailleau-Armenonville (LFFL).

Exceptional sensation of freedom, we are so well above among birds. And we can say that aboard a glider, it is silent and the view is amazing! During the months which followed, I looked with admiration at the take-off and at landings which scrolled my eyes. It is decided! I launch into this formation! Ah drat, we are already in August competition of gliding on the ground of Bailleau I am going to have to put back my first flight as student pilot. Well it doesn't matter, I decide all the same to bring out the checkbook to register me to the club and buy the diverse necessary accessories (manual of the glider pilot, logbook, notebook of progress) as well as to pay my first contribution to the FFA (Aeronautical French Federation).
I did not begin that I am already moved to make party of the club of the airmen ^^

September 2006, first student flight, It will be made on a SF25, a powered glider. Day weather conditions make that it's better to leave with a powered glider otherwise that will not last for a long time.

After that, 4 other flights came to join the first one on the logbook, among which 1 made on an ASK21, a magnificent recent glider! Nothing to do with a heavy and old.

End of season, the suite of the training next year if everything goes well.
In the course of June, 2006, a great aviation meeting took place on the airbase 123 of Orléans-Bricy. It was very hot but it was fantastic, planes everywhere whether it is on the ground or in the air.
C160 Transall

Alphajet of the french acrobatic patrol

Mirage F1 CR

During this meeting, several stands had become established, sellers of cars, stands of souvenirs, restoration, etc....
The only one of them will change the course of my life. The stand recruitment of the Air Force.
Well, it is necessary to say that to become military was in light years of my projects of future! But after discussion with the person of the recruitment, after expressed her my very deep interest for the aeronautics, she explained me that in the Air Force, there is many of specialities, of which that of controller of the air traffic. Ah I thought that there were only civilians in the world of the control, where the level of the tests corresponds to engineer ... Great!! I do not have more than to try that to realize a part of my dream of career: Be a member of this world of the aeronautics.
The serviceman gave me every doc to know more about it and to know the formalities of registration about the competitions.
Then during several months there was a success in the tests of recruitment, the entry to military academy in Rochefort in January, 2007, the entry to controller's school in Mont de Marsan in September, 2007 and the success of the final examinations in June, 2008. Phew ! In the amphitheater (where we choose our affectation) I have access to Orléans, my city! Anyway there was only me who wished it ^^
In July, 2008, here I am arrived at the air base of Orléans-Bricy as controller in instruction (CI). And say that, 2 years earlier, it was in the same place as this idea of career in germinated...
Controller's formation on base was very dense, always to be on the edge on the theory (phraseology, reglementation, etc ...) and the practical sessions followed each other. Therefore, the glider formation passed in the background. Well, it doesn't matter, it is only temporary and it is for the good cause.
In September, 2008, great an training course of gliding organized by the Air Force on the airfield of Tours Le Louroux (LFJT). One week when the time(weather) is very favorable! An instructor and a great glider only for me, a Piwi (PW6U)... Impossible to have better !! ^^

2 flights/day ... That of the happiness! In 4 days I managed to accumulate 5h40 of flight ! Wow! At the end of the 4th day, my instructor asks me if that goes and throws to me: Well, you are going to fly alone, I asked to the plane pilot to take you higher than usually so that you takes advantage of it at the most. I'm going to fly allooooooonnnneee yeaaaah !!

While my instructor hangs on me on the cable, he gives me some advice: "Don't worry I shall be in frequency if you have a problem, good rest behind the plane during the towing, ...."

And to be sure that everything goes well, he holds me my wing :-D

And it left! The tug plane takes me until 800m, instead of the standard 500m. It will allow me to stay in the air longer given that in the evening the ancestries already going to bed ^^,
800m ... The Rallye flaps its wings ... I pull at the yellow handle and the cable gets loose from the nose of my glider.
The plane dives to join the dry land. My airspeed decreases, normal there is no longer anyone which tows me... The noise disappear more and more until give way to the most total silence.
Far off the sunset, I look around me, I am alone in the air, it is magic.
A look behind me, no instructor that makes strange! "WHAOUUU" the only sound which taken out of my mouth^^ "Are you Ok ?" goes out of the radio. My instructor is a little under stress ^^

In too much to admire the beauty of the landscape, I forget it to look at my altitude... And that comes down !
Well, I am going to try to find a small pump, with the luck (and a miracle) I could climb and prolong the flight a little longer.
I wander about from right to left, I test the vertical lines of fields which are yellow, Forerunner that they emit some heat, and the borders of forest which can divert the wind upward... but nothing :-(

5 min later, here I am at 500m, I have to get ready to join downwind to land ... euh where is the airfield ??? With this sunset I see nothing !
I turn, I turn to try to find it and ah here it is!! phewww !!! I saw myself not me cowherd for my first solo flight !!
300m in downwind, everything appears well. I arrive in final, I begin to take out air-brakes, the plan is good, the speed also.... More than some meters I flare ... YES landed not broken !!

In brief: unforgettable!! Cheers!

May, 2009, I'm finally operational controller (CO).
I join the club of  St-Denis de l'Hôtel (LFOZ) to finish my certificate.
Unfortunately the mentality changes, the wallet was me and not the Air Force as during the training course.
The duration of the flights grow shorter in spite of the good weather.
A flight = a towing cost approximately 26€
The bill changed, I passed of 26€ at 78€ / hour.
The budget to be invested is more important! And I find annoying the way of thinking of those who want that money to make the club live.
I thus decided to have a break to re-concentrate me on my controller's career and over time I noticed that the gliding is very dangerous and that my way of thinking during flight during my training was on the verge of the unconsciousness. No surveillance of traffic surroundings, no squawk, no surveillance of my position which would have been able to show me that I evolved in a controled zone ...
I want to fly, but in safety, in safety, for me and for the others.
So I abandoned the glider.

2010, A colleague controller spoke to me about a flying club managed by the Ministry of Defence with costs very interesting schedule, the GAMA. Having no money... I did not try to inquire.

2011, my wallet is better, and yes I didn't live any more alone! ^^
I resume the investigations on this club, I meet people of the airbase of Orléans who make it parties. The praises that I heard it convinced me!

The continuation on the page PPL 2012 :D