Rusty PPL to MEP/IR in eighteen months

Inspired to fly again after a long period of absence from GA – and finding huge reward in training on state-of-the-art aircraft

- Nigel D Cleave

This article is aimed at all those pilots who, for whatever reason, have let their currency slip and/or remain apprehensive at the thought of getting back into the air after what might be a lengthy period absent from flying. Having been in exactly this position, I can only but encourage you to resume your flying again, as few other activities provide such exhilaration, stimulation of mental agility and sheer satisfaction. Furthermore, flight instructors and fellow aviators are there to inspire, making the entire process of getting back in to flying a great deal more comfortable than one might imagine.

In 1983, I flew my first solo in a Cessna 152 and obtained my PPL(A) from Wycombe Air Centre, based at Booker airfield (EGTB). At the time, I was unable to afford even a headset and had to make do with the hand-held Telex microphone and speaker installed in the cockpit, which required quite some dexterity when coming in on final.

For the next thirty years, I was completely engrossed in building up a number of companies, leaving no time at all for any other activities, including flying. After a very demanding career, on call 24/7 for my entire working life, I was extremely fortunate to be in a position to retire at the age of 58, settling in Germany.

Fast forward to 2018 and for my sixtieth birthday, my sister purchased a ‘Flight in a Spitfire’ gift card. On 29th March 2018 I duly flew in Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar’s two-seater MJ267 and the flying experience was simply beyond imagination. Taking the controls was the conduit in getting me back into the air, despite seriously asking myself several times whether I was really up to it, after such a long time.