Member Articles

Heather McCann's story of how she got to fly biz jets

My job is a little different from the standard flying job in the UK. I fly a Hawker 800XP for Netjets Europe. Netjets can be best described as a corporate airline catering for those folks who used to fly Concorde or First Class but with the flexibility of your own jet. So how does an Australian end up flying in Europe on a bizjet?

I started flying in Australia many years ago. It was my second career. I started as a lab technician at uni when I caught the flying bug. After flying every thing part time I was qualified and ready to work. I went to the Kimberly region of Australia (ie the North West) and worked for a charter company doing scenics and general charter flying. After a couple of years of that I headed to Broome and became a Coastwatch pilot. After a few years flying an Islander I headed east to get a proper job.

I flew Bandeirantes and Twin Otters for a small airline in Cairns, Queensland and finally Dash 8's for a Qantas regional. Then I got the travel bug. I came to the UK in April 2001 and set about converting my licenses. After much effort and pain that was done in 2002.

I tried to get into EasyJet where my husband works but wasn't successful. So after a while I got a job with Netjets. Now all that bush and charter experience has paid off. No two days are the same. Certainly it's rare to visit the same airport twice in a tour, let alone in a day. The Hawker has a good range and is very flexible. It can operate into London City with no problem and get all the way to Moscow.

On any given day we could be flying to Iceland or to Morocco or even to parts of the Middle East or Russia! Customer service is paramount and we do get to meet some very interesting people. Unlike the airlines, we load the bags and sort the catering out too. Also we don't have a door so we have a lot more contact with who's travelling with us. That's something I do enjoy.

If a routine job doesn't appeal, definitely give the corporate world a look.

Tiger Moth Flying at Cambridge (2nd visit)
By Sue Tuddenham

Following the success of the June event, fellow BWPA flyers came from near and far in the hopes of a flight in the famous De Havilland Tiger Moth. However, arriving at Cambridge Airport after a two and a half hour drive, it was disappointing to say the least to find that the cloud base was really low - it had been at ground level only half an hour earlier. Still, Janice had again generously organised a spectacular buffet, which certainly brightened the day, and allowed us all to enjoy a very English summer-time treat (strawberries and cream) in regrettably very English weather!

Hopes for a flight were high, but expectations - like the cloud base - were low. But it was a fantastic opportunity to get to know some of the other members a bit better, and was a chance for introductions and catching up. After much discussion and sky-watching, by mid-afternoon the cloud miraculously lifted as quickly as it had descended, and the first flight of the day was able to take place. Witnessing the looks of exhilaration on the returning faces, as one by one the flights started to take place, made up for any earlier disappointment.

So, despite the earlier disheartening weather, I finally found myself kitted up in a flying suit and sitting in the open cockpit of a Tiger Moth. I’d had my briefing, and after a few last adjustments and words of advice we were off! Snaking down the runway in order to see where we were going felt quite different to my previous experiences in a Cessna 152. Also, I found the prospect of having no brakes to slow us down rather daunting. But my instructor was re-assuring, and in what felt like no time at all we were up and away, flying over the Cambridgeshire countryside and gazing down on the fields below. It was a truly exhilarating feeling being in the open air with no glass between you and the sky. It felt a like a different world, experiencing the wind rush past you…and if you moved your head out too far, it really did rush past you! The Tiger Moth had fewer instruments than the Cessna I was used to, but we did have a radio, albeit only accessible from the back seat. After some sightseeing and a few steep turns and practice stalls we returned to base, and I have to say I was totally hooked. I’m currently working towards my PPL, but this flight has raised my hopes, and I want to eventually get a tail-wheel conversion on to the Tiger Moth!

I have to say a big thank you to Cambridge Flying Group, our most generous hosts, who were accommodating and great company, chatting to us all and telling us about the history of the Tiger Moth. The enthusiasm and commitment the club have in maintaining this beautiful aeroplane is truly admirable. And thanks again to Janice, who provided us with flying suits and even gloves for the flights – and looked after us all with sandwiches, tea and coffee. Thanks also to the BWPA Essex Group for hosting the event, and to Amy for being our designated photographer and snapping us when we were all dressed up in the flying suits with ‘top gun’ style helmets on. Although due to the bad weather early in the day not everyone who had booked a flight actually managed to get one, we still had a fantastic day, and I’m sure all who came were pleased that they did!

Role on more Tiger Moth flying…

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What Caledonian Seaplanes taught us about flying
By Beverley Harrison

Location: Drummond Hotel at St. Fillans at the east-most end of Loch Earn and a mere two hours from Edinburgh. (00407W 56 24N)

Time: Most arrived in the afternoon of 5th September and all departed during the morning of 8th September. At least I avoided the long drive either end of flying - although conversely no one else was back in the office by lunchtime! Thus my election to do the writing.

Our instructor, chief everything and mentor was Marilynn McDonald, ably assisted by "Buttercup" and umpteen ducks trying to teach us how to do it properly.

Personnel on the September BWPA course/flying days were: Wendy and Paul Ryder, Lucy and Andy (plus dogs), Sophie, plus her mother Eleanor and Beverley

Weather: good floats flying weather was anything to produce smooth water, or as close as it is possible in Scotland. So..

evening of the 5th / good, fit for floats flying.

6th / started well if changeable. Marilynn flew lots in order to get everyone through at least once and everyone's activity of the evening before paid off, although lulled us into assuming things would always work. Towards the end of the day glorious sunshine, but increasingly rougher water, so not a fit surface.

7th / good walking weather. Happy dogs, but no flying.

Early morning 8th / when most were thinking of departing, it was raining hard at 07:00, yet

steadily getting better thereafter. Flyable (maybe) by 08:30. Stable at 09:00. Two more of us flew. Great learning points.

We were all weather watching, even when not flying, since the mountain environment is different. I had been trying for ages to get an instructor to get into the detail that was then covered in the two days plus at St. Fillans, on Loch Earn. Getting so close to the hills concentrates the mind and is unavoidable flying off a loch surface at just over 300 ft. surrounded by mountains and hills rising to over 2,000 ft! Conversly it proved earlier reminders to use gliding techniques like lift, in this case from the ridge immediately below.

It is good to stretch the flying experience range doing something entirely different, in this case flying a Piper Super Cub with added challenge of the floats and all the associated extra discipline of the water environment

For all of us it was a good few days amongst other pilots from BWPA and others also passing through the seaplane experience at Loch Earn. It made me get out more from Fife-Glenrothes amongst other local Scottish airfields!

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