Rolling the dice to fulfil a lifelong dream – Capt Rutt shares his flying journey… so far!
My Flying Journey………so far!
My dream of becoming a helicopter pilot started 45 years ago and at my age you would not think I could remember that far back. But as a nine-year-old boy, my dad used to take me to air shows at Farnborough and Mildenhall. I still remember the smells and smoke wafting through the air from the food stall BBQ’s. Whilst most people seemed more interested in the fast and noisy jets, I was only interested in the helicopters.
I used to watch in awe as the pilots majestically flew these mechanical hummingbirds through the air. I used to dream that one day the person sitting in the pilot seat would be me. As the years and decades past most people would have given up on fulfilling their dream. Even when times were tough and there seemed no feasible way that I would be the one in that pilot seat, I never lost the ambition to follow my dream.
Then in 2020 during lockdown I was yet again dreaming of becoming a pilot and started to research flying schools. I found a school in Elstree called Flying Pig & Elstree Helicopters. I called and purchased a Heli starter kit. This gave me everything I needed to start my studies for the ground exams and the theory for flying a helicopter. As I was never that good at exams at school, and always struggled with retaining information from reading, I felt I needed to get ahead of the game and started to read all the books before my actual flight training started.
To help with my studies, I dictated all the books so I could listen to them whilst I was driving, or at the gym or doing the housework. This method may not work for everyone, but I found that when I then read the books again, I had remembered more than I expected. The studying and information retention was the biggest challenge during my initial training. I still try to attend the bi-weekly ground schools because even if I wasn’t progressing my studies, the learning doesn’t stop when just because you have your PPL.
A few months later I called and made an appointment to meet with the Head of Training, Paul White. Straight away I felt at ease, talking to Paul about my dream and goals and how I would achieve this lifelong ambition. I had already made the decision to sell my home to fund the flying and with my property on the market, I felt confident that the concern about funds would no longer be an issue during the first part of my training. I knew that I was in a fortunate position to have a property to sell to raise the money, but it was also a scary decision to make. To sell my home with no guarantee on whether I would be capable of successfully completing the training or not. This was the biggest gamble I had ever taken, but what would have been worse, was not trying at all. I did not want to look back when I was too old and say why, why did not I at least try to follow my dream no matter what.
So, following my meeting with Paul, I booked a trial lesson in the G2, R44 and Jet Ranger, to see which helicopter I felt more suited to for my PPL(H) training. My love of the Jet Ranger seemed to be the obvious choice, but I had to think about the long-term goal, so with my head ruling my heart on this occasion I chose to start my training in the R44, the type rating on the Jet Ranger would follow when the time was right in the future.
A few months later, with my home sold, I pre booked a block of 60 hours and my training started. As my goal is to be a commercial pilot or instructor, I was not racing to the PPL(H) finishing line in the minimum number of hours possible, as every hour flown would help towards my hour building for the commercial course. That said, I was not thinking any further ahead than achieving the milestones that any student/pilot aims for, being able to hover, first solo and QXC.
With an unplanned break from flying for 6 months during my training at the end of 2022, I was back again in May 2023 and full steam ahead practicing for my skill test. With the final preparations ending, the test was booked for 3rd August.
3rd August, I had waited so long for this moment and now I was putting more pressure on myself that I should have. It was a long day, with an early start and all the preparation complete, I was convinced that I had not done enough to pass. But I should have had more confidence in myself and with the de-brief over I was told I had passed. Even now, a few months later I still pinch myself that I have achieve this first step in my lifetimes ambition.
With the hour building continuing with trips out with other qualified student pilots, as we enjoy the flying together, and lunches, trips out with family and friends, now the challenging work starts as I continue the next stage of this journey. I have now started my studies for the ATPL exams and have set myself a target to complete this in the next 12 months, its going to take a lot of dedication and sacrifices, but it will be worth it.
Once I have passed my ATPL’s, then I will follow my heart and get the type rating on the Jet Ranger. I already have a plan to fly my sisters and their husbands to the Lake District and spend the weekend walking around the lakes and enjoying time with them.
Happy flying everyone and follow your dream, whatever it may be………..
