Commercial & Multi-Engine training Part I : DA40

We took our first commercial training flight by the end of April with G.B. This skilled man flew for a wellknown african dictator for years during the eighties and before that was a jetfighter pilot for the Belgian Defense. He finished his airline career within DHL on 727. But what is the commercial training ?

Basically, exactly the same thing as a PPL training, but with the idea that we are no more flying for ourselves but for a client. Meaning our decisions do not simply involve us, but passengers that want to arrive at destination in the shortest time and the safest way ; what a program ! We will learn to fly with precision, using only outside references or VFR, to brief our passengers about the flight and security, to deal with last minute changes, short time flight preparation, precision and short field landing and, more than ever, deal with marginal meteorogical conditions. We won't put ourselves in dangerous situations, but assess if we can departe or not and following which routing.

Love at first sight with the DA40.

Even if you dislike the full composite aircraft, I think you would love the DA40. With a 135HP Diesel engine, its 3 variable pitch propellers blades and 5hours of flight time with a cruise speed of 120kts, who wouldn't ? I'm litterally in love with the machine, since I first flew to Maubeuge(LFQJ) for a qualifcation flight. Once again, no big deal ; general handling of the aircraft, a few stalls, step turns and touch & go in different configurations to see how the aircraft reacts. The first impression is clear, the DA40 is easy to fly but very sensitive. It can be a deadly weapon when not used properly, especially upon landing. As a matter of fact, students broke down the nose wheel on two occasions and burned a tyre in Spa a few months ago. No need to say that a very cautious handling of the aircraft as well as an accurate knowledge of its parameters are vital to a correct utilisation.

I decided to fly the multi engine training with G. B. and most of my VFR CPL SEP with M. D. another instructor of the school who was available almost all the week, which was an important factor for me. As myself, he liked to fly and to use this time spend in the air to find the most delicious restaurants located on little airfields mainly in the nothern France. Flying with him almost always included a pit stop to refuel our stomach properly before departing for another destination, a program that was fine by me I guess !

We took advantage of those 10hours on the DA40 to fly in Merville, Dunkerque, Abbeville and much more others airfields. One of the most difficult approach I had to do was in St Omer by the end of the day. My wingmate saved my flight by giving me his sunglasses without which I would not have seen the runway at all. After that day, I realised how important a good pair of sunglasses was, which leads me to buy a proper one...

Not much to say about the SEP part of the training. As previously stated, it is basically the same as a PPL program. Let's take a step ahead and see what the multiengine training has in its bag...