News

Being a very busy road surface contractor has left Brian Blakely with no days off since the beginning of September, so learning to fly has of necessity been an after work activity. In exactly one month Brian has progressed from first training flight to first solo flight in Thruster G CGFZ on 1st October As the old saying goes “If you need something done quickly give the job to a busy man”. Congratulations Brian.

Up until today Sammy Nummy’s rare breed Clydesdale horses and Wooly Llamas have enjoyed sole occupancy rights on Sammy’s Farm at Castlerock. However Sammy’s First Solo flight on 29th September in Thruster G CGFZ may well herald the end of Sammy’s pets’ monopoly as they will soon have to share their territory with a runway and a Microlight Aircraft. David Attenborough has already lodged a protest on behalf of the Llama. Congratulations on your First Solo Sammy.

Jack Toner learned today that his employer wants him to come off furlough and resume work tomorrow. He has used furlough productively by becoming a qualified Microlight Pilot in a little more than 2 months. Jack soloed in less than 7 hours and passed his GST on 17th September with only 25 hours in his logbook. Sean Toner is Jack’s dad and has been a Microlight Pilot for many years so we suspect that a teeny bit of parental guidance may have been involved nevertheless Jack’s achievement is exceptional. Congratulations Jack. Now stop enjoying yourself and get back to work.

Next month Graham Mounsey will be retiring from his current day job as a Senior Boeing 747 Captain for British Airways. Not wishing to part company with his love of aviation Graham decided to convert onto something interesting and we are pleased to report that Graham was able to adapt to the more complex controls, systems and additional power available from the Thruster T600N. Graham passed his GST on 16th September and can now add the NPPL  Microlight to his  other licenses and change the motto on his BA flight case from “To Fly To Serve” to  “To Fly For Fun.”  (Also he will enhance his Green Credentials by reducing his full fuel load from 180,000 litres to 50 litres). Congratulations Graham

Doug King is the UK agent for Bathawk and Alto 912 TG aircraft. Originally Doug held a South African GA license and he subsequently added a New Zealand Sports License when he moved there. Now Doug is resident in Northern Ireland he has added the UK NPPL to his burgeoning license collection by passing a GST in Thruster G CGFZ. on 17th August. Congratulations Doug

On 8th July Jack Toner started on his post lockdown bucket list of things to achieve when he took his first flying lesson. A mere 16 days later on 24th July after only 6 hours 50 minutes tuition item one on the bucket list was ticked off when Jack flew Thruster G CGFZ on his first solo flight. Congratulations Jack on a textbook First Solo. If item two in your bucket is getting your Pilot’s License it looks like it won’t take you too long.

Determined efforts by Covid to thwart Corey Purdy’s first solo failed on 9/July/2020 when Corey took to the sky in Thruster G CGFZ on his own after an unusually low seven and a half hours dual training at Newtownards Aerodrome Congratulations Corey.

The first training flight after lockdown. Several people have already commented that I look better in the mask.

GOOD NEWS! The UK Government has approved the resumption of dual flight training and Experience flights for General Aviation from 4th July. The NI assembly has approved close contact business ventures from 6th July. So from 6th July for my students who have been patiently waiting to resume flying and get their licenses the wait is over. Also anyone holding a gift voucher can make a booking by calling me on 07740766443. The government has yet to publish safety advice and precautions about close contact businesses but I assume it will involve disinfecting controls and communication equipment after each flight and may involve some type of PPE. We will be complying with any and all Government advice before resuming operations.

Well. Covid 19 still has Dual Flight Training on the forbidden naughty list. Various clever PPE solutions have been proffered but as yet none have Government / CAA approval for use in the General Aviation Sector. Rumours are that the CAA will be considering the problem again on 4rth July but I’m not holding my breath for a go ahead at that date. A bit of good news is that the CAA have cleared new Microlights to a much higher weight limit (600kg) so future pilots will have the option of flying some very sophisticated hotships using the Microlight licenses. Even EASA now accepts that pilots of machines up to 2000kg can maintain their licenses using a Microlight Aircraft because Microlights handle in the same way as their heavier 4 seat cousins. So Microlighting has come of age in the eyes of the CAA and its European counterpart EASA. All we need now is a solution to the Covid problem. I hope it comes before I get too bored with my own company in the cockpit.

James Martin’s ITV Cookery Program features Aerial video from our Microlight Aircraft with Chef Paul Rankin as the passenger. See the video clip on the link below….

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LB9svhX60cfeRa8BNi4DVI9bkxJc25aI/view?usp=drivesdk

Due to the Coronavirus situation Northern Ireland Microlights is suspending Instructional and initial Trial Flights as it is impossible to achieve the required social distancing measures in an aircraft cockpit. Anyone who holds a Voucher for a Trial Flight can be assured that your vouchers will not expire and will be flown once it is safe to do so and that Government advice at that time is adhered to. Feel free to contact Ken at Northern Ireland Microlights if you have any questions. Whilst the current situation is no fun for any of us we will do our utmost to ensure that your deferred Flight Experience will be both enjoyable and safe. Ken Crompton Tel. 07740 766 443

Sean Scullion was awarded a BMAA Young Persons Flying Bursary last year and wasted little time in putting it to good use. On 26th January Sean passed his General Skills Test and can now look forward to borrowing his dad’s Thruster on a weekend. Coincidentally Sean also passed his driving test this week. Double Congratulations Sean. .

Microlight Pilots celebrate Wings Night 2019 at the Ulster Flying Club. Gary Loughran, Garry Crosbie, Tom Martin, James Nicholls, Joe McCarrison and William Boyd received their Ulster Flying Club Wings in recognition of their success in achieving their Private Pilot’s License.

Joe McCarrison is pleased with his recently purchased Thruster nicknamed “The Yellow Peril”. Happily he passed his GST today (5/11/19) so that he has a license to take the Peril up flying. Congratulations Joe. Our dilemma is now whether to wish you many Perilous flights or not.