|
Rob Robins has always wanted to learn to fly, but with five kids to feed the former brewery worker’s budget would not stretch to lessons and running up the required number of flying hours to get his private pilot’s license.
Now at 74, and Rob is at last living his dream. He’s learning to fly.
Rob is fit. Until recently he’d regularly cycle up the winding hills that lie alongside his home town of Christchurch, and a few months ago, he walked the tough Milford Track through New Zealand's Southern Mountains. Yet, it’s taken him almost a year to pass the physical tests required before he can start flying lessons.
There’s also another catch - Rob has been deaf since he was five. This means that he has to learn at an airfield that does not have radio controls.
So in mid-March Rob and his wife Glenis, packed up their camper van and headed to an appointment with a vintage Tiger Moth bi-plane and the isolated Mandeville airfield, near Gore
Rob’s son , Julian Robins , goes along with a microphone to observe his father's progress
In My Father's Dreams was produced by Julian Robins of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. It airs as part of the international documentary exchange series, Crossing Boundaries.
Links:
Learning to Fly
Want to fly just like Rob? Here are some guildline on how you can touch the sky.
Seamans Airport: Learning to Fly
Nestled in the scenic Endless Mountains of Pennsylvania, this airport can allow people to fly small airplanes.
Senior Stars
The Senior Journal presents senior who are doing amazing things including an article on one pilot who continues to break flying records.
Books:
 Ask the Pilot
by: Patrick Smith 2004
Patrick Smith, an airline pilot, unravels the secrets and tells you all there is to know about the strange and fascinating world of commercial flight.
 Professional Pilot Career Guide
by: Robert P. Mark 1999
A goldmine of practical tips on career opportunities, training, buidling flight time, and hiring practices, this book was called "right on target" by the hiring manager at United Airlines.
 Becoming an Airline Pilot
by: Jeff W. Griffin 1990
Jeff Griffin provides a straightforward appraisal of the current and prospective job outlook. Griffin provides a complete overview of the physical, psychological, and flight experience requirements; civilian and military training options; and the job hunting process. Readers will also find a wealth of tips for surviving new-hire training, simulator checks, and the all-important first-year evaluations as an airline pilot.
|
