FLYING IN THE REBEL COUNTY |
| Cormac Trolan, A students Story |
| Flying has been a passion of mine ever since I was a child. I was fortunate enough to travel to many countries with my parents from a very young age and still to this day I get a buzz out of the thrust of a commercial jet pushing me back in my seat as I look out the window not to mention the flight deck and the marvel of modern technology. |
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| I was 27 years old at the time and just back from a one year working holiday in Australia. Commitment was never my strong point especially when it came to choosing a career. In my life I always wanted to work at something I enjoyed, I didn’t want to settle for just any old job and deciding not to go to university limited my options. That was until I went online to research flight schools. That was it! My decision was made.......I was going to become a pilot.
Having no prior knowledge of the industry or no one to ask for advice I decided to head to the states to gain my private and commercial licences with an instrument rating, a decision I would come to regret. I was naive and assumed in doing so that I could gain work upon completion and dodge the dreaded 14 ATPL exams required for a commercial licence in Europe. My past experience with written exams in school proved to be a huge factor in my decision, plus I was at an age where study did not come easy. However, with my bags packed I headed to Florida for 7 months to grace their blue skies. On my return in May of 2009 with my FAA licence in hand, I was suddenly faced with the reality that to gain employment I would have to complete the 14 ATPL exams and convert my licence. I had dreaded this moment but it was always inevitable.I had just chosen to ignore this fact. This was the moment that I fully realised that my decision to train in the states was a flawed one. After six of study, some of which I actually found very interesting, I sat and passed all the 14 ATPL exams with first time passes and an average of 95%. Now came the fun part.....the flying. When I returned from the states the dilemma of which school to choose proved a really tough task.....until I took a trip to Cork, to Atlantic Flight Centre and met the head of training, Captain Mark Casey. I pulled up to the Flight school one December afternoon after a six hour drive from my home town in Portstewart. The weather was glorious, it was perfect flying weather. The excitement of getting back into a plane again was showing as I couldn't stop grinning.I had taken a trip down to Cork to meet with Mark and the Chief Flying Instructor, Allen Field to discuss my training options. Within two minutes of meeting Mark I was taking off in a Cessna 172 bound for Kinsale town with a left turn towards Cobh harbour then onwards to the city for a westerly approach to runway 07.That was when the decision was made, with Marks experience as a current airline captain, the experience of the instructors, the well maintained fleet of modern aircraft and the "craic" that was to be had with a bunch of new found friends, I arranged to start my training in Cork shortly after Christmas. With my ATPL's safely behind me I started my CPL training in a plane I was familiar with, the C172.Straight away I became familiar with the SOP’s, the standard operating procedures, at the school. They were similar to actual commercial operators Sop’s. This was something that my training in the states had not paid very much attention to. I actually felt like I was being prepared for the commercial world rather than just going through the process of gaining a licence. Once familiar with the surrounding area it was time to upgrade from the Cessna and come to terms with the powerful turbo-charged Piper Seneca multi engine aeroplane. This was the most powerful plane I had ever flown. It was a breadth of fresh air for me. It fuelled my desire and drove my motivation to become a professional airline pilot with its various take off power settings and its handling characteristics. I loved flying in Ireland. It was not like Florida........there was actually scenary. Ger Dooley, my instructor, guided me in attaining my IAA CPL, an experience I won’t forget. To the clouds I was destined and so to the instrument rating. Once again the school adopted a training procedure that took the flying profiles of commercial operators into account. I began to see the reason behind why so many graduates were being hired by the likes of operators such as Ryanair. Another added bonus was the fact that the conditions around this time of year were challenging, yet beneficial for perfecting my instrument skills. Unlike my training in Florida I had to become more aware of terrain and icing, something which the Seneca was equipped to deal with. I flew with Paul, Emmanuel and Ruben. I found these guys to be extremely informative, not to mention three guys who possessed great skills as pilots and instructors. I have to give a special mention to Ruben who actually went out of his way to help me and in his own free time, I might add. Under the instruction of these guys I was able to pass the MEIR with an air of confidence in my flying ability and handling of the Seneca. As I sit here writing this and think of the time I spent in Cork ,the training I received and the friends I have now gained, I look back without any doubt whatsoever and regret the fact that I ever went to the states initially, I could just as easily done the complete training in Atlantic in Cork. People often choose to head to Florida or elsewhere in the states for the same reasons I did, the weather is great, it seems less expensive and time to completion is minimal. In hindsight, weighing up the pros and cons I can honestly say, I made the wrong decision. If I was to give any advice based on my experience it would be to train where you want to work, where you legally can work! My flying skills did not suffer by training in the states as I was lucky enough to have a good instructor but the impression I got from the school out there was that I was just another body to fuel their bank account. Atlantic was much more personal than that.(it was like sitting in an executive seat at my beloved Man Utd). I was paying for a service and the service was first class. Also the added pressure of having to undergo another CPL and MEIR flight test was a gruelling experience. On the whole I didn’t save any money or time with the path I chose and I possibly missed out on a more professional, airline orientated training regime, the likes that Atlantic offer. I hope when you read this you feel the passion and desire that drove me to learn how to fly. I think its an experience in life that cant be explained, but moreso one that has to be felt personally. In the past few years I have met many people that are now great friends and I have had the most wonderful experiences in the air. I have seen sights I could never have imagined. I can only hope that you choose to follow me and do the same.............. |
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| Pictured here with Captain Mark Casey following his flight test |
| Cormac Trolan |
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| Cormac Trolan (also pictured with senior instructor Mary Hennigan) who passed his CPL-MEIR here at Atlantic in March. |