Becoming a Pilot - 1 / 3

Hello and welcome!

People ask me on social networks « Are you a pilot ? » or « Are you studying to become a pilot ? ». I will answer these questions in this post… This article is the first of a serie, explaining my background to achieve my goal : to become an airline pilot !

I got into aviation few years ago. I was six years old when I received as a Christmas gift a great software called Microsoft Flight Simulator X. I think that most of them who share the same passion know this amazing video game !

With this simulator, I learned many things like "How to fly an airplane ?". Actually, I continue piloting aircrafts on my computer. I've more than 800 hours of flying between January 2019 and January 2020. During these 12 years of flying, I learned some flight procedures, some cockpits (I mean all the functionnalities behind every button of the flightdeck).

From that Christmas, I've still and still the head up in the clouds !

Currently, I'm 18 years old, I will be 19 at the end of the month and the dream is still here : I want to become a pilot !

Then, it will take few years for the dream to begin !

September 2017 : I received a letter from the French Civil Aviation. Few months before, I applied to the BIA (It's an Aeronnautical Initiation Certificate) at the prestigious pilots' school, E.N.A.C, in Toulouse. So I received this letter : My application was accepted and I'm was going to integrate the training ! At that time, I realized that this training means the start of my aviation's studies. The training course took place every Saturday morning at the school. Overthere, I met great people and wonderfull friends !

May 2018 : It's the day ! I'm gonna to take my exam ! It's time to see if all these trainings hours have been usefull ! The exam is divided in five modules : during the year, we worked and learned every module. At the end, we should exactly know everything and restituate all the knowledge during the assessment. Little detail about the training course at ENAC school : The places' number is limited. However, highschool provide this training.

July 2018 : I received my exams results ! I obtained the BIA with High Honors Mention ! I was so excited and so happy to get that results !

After having received my results, I flew few hours on a light aircraft, the DR400. At that time, I wanted to continue during summer my aviation's studies by taking my PPL (Private Pilot License).

September 2018 - September 2019 : I've decided to focus myself on my studies in high school instead of taking my PPL.

September 2019 - June 2020 : I was in my last year at the highschool. For people asking questions about my studing place, it was in Bellevue High School in Toulouse, France. Unfortunatelly, the COVID-19 arrived in Europe and more particulary in France in March. The country was locked down, and we have to respect the sanitary confinement or the curfew. We tried to adapt the studies by following online courses instead of going to the highschool. Finally, I obtained by Engineering sciences option baccalaureate at the end of June 2020.

This is the end of the first article about my hardwork to become a pilot ! I will keep you update as soon as possible !

I hope this post will answer your questions. If not, I invite you to write me by Instagram or by mail and I will answer you ASAP !

Nicolas

@flyingwithnico