Travel & Education Abroad | Russia

Flying an aircraft is the most exhilarating activity man could ever learn, and where height is the ultimate challenge. It takes both skills and dogged determination so as to obtain a career in navigating an aircraft.

Determination is an innate quality that pilots must possess in order to endure the rigid training of flight operations.

On the other hand, skills are being learned in a flight school. That is why, it is important for a pilot wannabe to get the best Flight School in Canada available so as to acquire the necessary skills needed in order to pilot an aircraft.

In this manner, it can be assumed that the skill of a pilot will be entirely dependent on the type of flight school he or she has enrolled in. It can be considered that all flight schools teach the same basic procedure in navigating an aircraft but the kind of approach they use in disseminating the information varies.

For this reason, it is a must for every aspiring pilot to deliberate upon the requisites of an efficient Pilot Training in Canada. To determine its efficiency, here ’s a checklist on what to look for in a flight school:

1. Proficient instructors

What the students learn will depend on how efficient the instructor is. That ’s why, it is important to check on the capabilities and qualities of the instructors in a certain flight school so as to ensure efficient and effective training.

2. Flight course

A good flight school must have a comprehensive and innovative pilot course. So, when looking for one, you must check on the details of the course outline. It must have thorough specifications on the lesson plans, learning goals, and the date of every flying session.

Remember to check the course outline for the addition of pre and post-flight consultation and stage checks.

3. The training tools

The training tools are very crucial in the learning process. These will initiate the proper learning process. Hence, when looking for good flight schools, check if they have diagrams, computer, videos, and model training tools. It will keep your discussions more realistic and comprehensive.

4. Check the aircraft.

A good and efficient flight schools must have enough aircraft to convene to your flight training needs. The aircraft should also be well equipped with different gadgets that will resemble to the actual aircraft being used. There should be Mode C transponder, and intercom.

Check also if the aircraft are properly maintained and well taken care of.

5. Services

Like any typical schools, flight schools must also have comfortable, sanitary, sufficient classroom size and number. It must also have other facilities like lounge, library, and flight planning area.

6. Payments and Refunds.

Be sure that the flight school you want to enrol in should have refund policies. Otherwise, do not pay the tuition fee in full.

So, now that you know the very essential factors that you have to consider in choosing a flight school, the next thing that you have to do is to look for a good flight school and have your registration forms ready.

But before you register, here are some things that you have to do first:

1. Gather data

Now that you have a checklist, it would be easier for you to look for a good flight school. But first, you must compile all the probable flight schools in a list. In doing so, you will have a vision on how many probable flight schools are there in your area.

2. Check on the two flight schools

Personally visit the two top flight schools of your choice. Evaluate the flight school if it is good enough for your training. Use your checklist when evaluating the school.

You can further maximize your evaluation by interviewing some students in the school and the instructors. Through their answers, you can get the hint if the flight school is good or not.

3. Decisive moment

After all of these things had been done, it is now high time that you finally decide which flight school is good for you. Just keep in mind that when choosing a flight school make sure that it had met all the requirements you need in your checklist.

Also, it is important that you consider the tuition fee. Do not be too constraint with the high tuition fees of flight schools. Besides, you can always expect some quality training in expensive flight schools. There may come a time that even if you have chosen a cheaper flight school, you might only end losing more in the end.

Article By: Commercial Pilot Training

On that note we received devastating news about 3 weeks ago that 3 tiger sharks were caught and killed by a commercial fisherman off Aliwal Shoal on the Natal South Coast. This was later confirmed that in fact 8 tiger sharks were killed. Aliwal shoal has become a very famous spot for divers from around the world to dive with tiger sharks. I know that operators were regularly seeing about 20 tiger sharks that they could identify. With 8 sharks now removed it severely impacts on the tiger shark population in that area. Shark Cage Diving

Ironically it is legal to catch and kill 10 tiger sharks per person per day but because the fisherman landed the carcasses in a marine protected reserve he may be charged.

The operators in the area have tried for many years to get MCM to protect tigers sharks and bull/Zambezi shark but to no avail. MCM are simply not interested to protect this valuable resource and seem happier to see these animals to be fished and sold for a pittance. This latest incident goes to show how important it is to protect a living marine resource and how non-consumptive use through eco tourism is the way forward. A petition for this cause has been set up. To help please go to www.aoca.org.za.

A TRAGIC INCIDENT

It always amazes me how the sharks make it so difficult for us to help them. Only a few days after the tiger sharks were killed on Aliwal Shoal a diver in the Bahamas was tragically killed due to a suspected bull shark bite during a shark feed dive. I would suggest reading the following link on wetpixel.com. This seems to give the most accurate account of the event. http://wetpixel.com/i.php/full/bahamas-shark-bite-aboard-shear-water-official-thread/ .

Most times in order to actually spend time in the water with sharks one has to have a bait in the water to keep them interested in staying in close proximity. Shark diving is also one of the fastest growing marine based activities and this is not hard to understand as it is a very special and exciting experience to share the same environment with a shark. Shark Cage Diving

From a conservation point of view it is very important for people to see sharks as it is difficult to be passionate about something that you do not see. Even after this accident I believe 100% that it is safe to dive with sharks in a baited situation as long as logical safety laws are followed at all times. Chris & I have very stringent rules that we follow and as such I have personally never felt threatened in the water with sharks and neither has Chris. We are of course aware that we are in the sharks’ environment and we respect these predators at all times. Any indication that the shark/s is not comfortable with us is an indication that we must get out of the water. I hope that this latest incident will not cause too much damage to shark perception as well as shark diving. There are far bigger issues with regards to marine conservation that need our attention.

GREAT WHITE SHARKS

We have also started to have a few sightings of great white sharks at Seal Island. It is still historically low season but I will definitely keep you all informed if the season should start early.

On that note our bookings for the white shark season are filling up fast so if any of you are thinking of coming over to Cape Town for the sharks you need to book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

NEW BOOKING OFFICE

And finally we are very excited to have opened our new booking office and merchandise store in Simonstown. We are located on the Main Road opposite the Pier so please stop by and visit us if you are in the area.

We have a variety of images on Photos of The Month so we hope that you all enjoy viewing them!

Until next month. Shark Cage Diving

Regrettably, this matter is something that we are all too familiar with. It is something that no person should tolerate but we force ourselves through it quite often. We all dread it as we wait at the terminal to board a giant airplane with tiny seats. For the next 10 hours, we sit in a narrow seat next to strangers and tolerate through the most gruesome back pains ever! We pay thousands of dollars to be flying in distress. Long flights are unbearable to some while they may not be too bad for others. Fortunately, some airlines have found a way to satisfy all of their customers’ needs!
Bunk beds on airplanes has been proposed by many airlines as an alternative to small seats. These little metal bunk beds will provide passengers with a nice comfortable bed to sleep on! With these beds, you can now rest, unwind, and sleep through your long flight! No longer will you be crammed in a small seat next to strangers but now you get your own little space to sleep and be comfortable in! Understandably, the bed will not be big enough for you to truly enjoy a good sleep, but it is however still a bed that can enable you to at least lay down. So kick back, lay down and cross your fingers for this new development.

February 9, 1923 is considered the official birth date of Russia’s civil aviation when the Labor and Defense Council issued a resolution “on empowering the Central Air Fleet Administration to handle technical supervision over airlines and on founding the Civil Aviation Council.”

In the 1920s, after the end of World War I, European countries increasingly used aviation for peaceful purposes; transporting passengers, mail and cargo. Russia kept pace with its neighbors with flights abroad generally operated using re-equipped warplanes.

On May 1, 1922, flights on the first international route, Moscow-Koenigsberg (Germany at that time), were launched and later extended to include Berlin.

July 15, 1923, marked the introduction of the first regular domestic route between Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod.

On February 25, 1932, the Central Administration of Civil Air Fleet was founded and an official abbreviation of the country’s civil aviation was adopted – “Aeroflot”.

In 1956 Aeroflot launched the world’s first jet, the TU-104 for operation on Russia’s domestic and international routes.

In August 1959, Sheremetyevo airport was opened with the primary task of accommodating interational flights.

In the late 1950s the world’s largest aircraft TU-114, equipped with more efficient turbo-prop engines, underwent rigorous testing and was launched into operation by Aeroflot.

In January 1971, the Aeroflot Central Administration of International Air Traffic was established within the framework of the International Airline Transportation Administration, and became the industry’s sole enterprise authorized to operate international flights. Abroad the airline was known as “Aeroflot – Soviet Airlines.”

In 1980, Aeroflot was named general carrier of participants of the XXII Olympic Games held in Moscow. A new international airport Sheremetyevo 2, capable of simultaneously handling 31 aircraft of any type, was constructed in order to welcome athletes and guests to the capital from all over the world. The official opening ceremony was held on May 6.

In 1991, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, former Soviet republics and regions in Russia began founding their own airline companies. Our company was the successor to the name Aeroflot and trademark of the former Soviet air carrier. In June of the same year the “Aeroflot – Soviet Airlines” Commercial Production Alliance was created, which was transformed into the open stock company “Aeroflot – Russian International Airlines” on July 28, 1992. At the same time, the airline began operating foreign aircraft. The first foreign aircraft to appear at Aeroflot were the leased A310-300 manufactured by Airbus Industry. Two years later, the company acquired Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, which adhere to the highest ecological and noise standards.

In 1994, the airline acquired Russian-made third generation Il-96-300 aircraft for international flights, which fully adhere to the noise standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization. In late 1995, the airline leased the DC-10-30F long-haul freight carrier.

* source: Aeroflot officeal website.