A LOT has happened in the last month or so! I just don't have the time to do entry's as my Matric year is really keeping me busy... Lets get a little background before I go on...
The first time that I sent my application form to SAAF it got lost even after they confirmed that they have received it. The second time it was the exact same story. I then asked if I could speak to someone that works directly with the application forms and was directed to Corporal Ingalo. She was the only person that actually went the extra mile to find out why my application form is not where it should be. She told me that they are a bit disorganized at the moment and that the forms just end up in places where it shouldn't. I then sent it in a third time and she immediately took it to where it should be. I phoned her every second day for at least 2 weeks to confirm that I am officially on their computers. After a while everyone actually started to know me and we would first chat a little before we actually spoke about the application forms... It was confirmed that I was chosen to attend selections but only in March 2012. Corporal Ingalo then said that she would try her best to see if she can get me into the next selection phase.
I phoned every day for quite a while to find out if she has good news. One day she did have good news and told me that she was able to get me into the upcoming September selections. I was over the moon! I spoke to our School Headmaster to find out if it would be okay if I missed a week of exams during September. He then went on to phone Corporal Ingalo to find out how everything works. (This was 2 days after I heard that I am going in September) Corporal Ingalo then told him that the military (Not SAAF) held a meeting the previous day and decided that all Matrics' applications will be postponed until January 2012 as not all the Headmasters are happy about their pupils missing a week of exams. Unfortunately she does not have the authority to single me out and give me the go ahead to attend selections.
While I was busy with this I also contacted Col. Hadfield a few times. He was able to confirm that I would attend the September selections but did not know about the military's decision to postpone it. He was working around the clock to find out what is actually going on and give me a answer but was unable to get anywhere. I phoned him again today and he told me that he will be flying to Pretoria on Monday to see whats going on. The latest news that he heard was that selections will be held during October because the Matrics need to know if they have to apply for Varsity or not. I will phone him again on the 2nd of September and hopefully get a final answer...
Yet again we play the "Hurry up and wait" game...
I recently sent a mail to EAA asking when their next meeting will be held so that I can attend it and meet some Pilots in the Cape Town area. I am still waiting for a reply though... I think that I might have a small breakthrough as I am going to meet a Pilot that lives in Hermanus somewhere in the upcoming week and maybe I could get the needed exposure. Hopefully someone would see the passion that I have for aviation and give me the opportunity to meet other Pilots... Now that I am a legal road hazard I will be able to drive to any of the events, so no worry's about transport anymore, only funds for petrol!
I also went for a eye test a day after my previous entry. The results was that I have 20/20+ vision, so I have nothing to worry about... Now I just need to get to a audiologist to see if my ears can handle the pressure!
I will most definitely try to post a bit more and keep everything a bit more up to date in the month to come. There is a lot of good things that could happen so please check back every week or so.
...Jaco over and out...
Monday, August 22, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
A bit of a let down but we'll get there!
In my previous entry I mentioned the training program at AFB Ysterplaat. I went to chat to Pierre (The employer at Denel) about the program a week ago and he was able to give me more information about it. He gave me a number that I had to phone to sort out a few last things. I phoned the number and spoke to Bob Corbett, the person that runs the training program. At first we chatted about who I am and what I want to achieve. We then went on to speak about his program (At this time I still did not know what it was called, neither did Pierre, he just knew about it...)
He told me that he runs the Young Falcons program and at that moment I already knew that there would be a problem. From what I have heard, the Young Falcons only recruit pupils in Grade 10. Bob confirmed that and said that I am a good 2 years too late. It was a bit of a let down but we still went on with the conversation. He started to ask me questions such as "Do you play any instruments or sports" etc... He then told me that from his experience, everything I have just told him about myself will make me the ideal candidate at selections. He even went as far to give me Col. Pierre Hadfield's (The Ysterplaat recruitment officer's) number so that I can speak to him and tell him that Bob Corbett referred me to him. Every single day in the last week I only got home after 4 o'clock from school and was not able to phone him. However, I will most definitely phone him as soon as I can. Who knows what will happen from there?
In one of the previous posts I also mentioned that I will be going for medical tests in case there might be something wrong with me that I do no know about and that I can then fix that before I attend selections. Two days ago I went for an ECG and tomorrow I will go to an optometrist for an eye test. The results from the ECG was perfect and they said that my heart is 100% healthy. One less thing to worry about.
I am still looking for a working opportunity but I don't think that I will be able to get one before December though as I really need to focus on my studies and make sure that that I finish my school career on a good note. I wish it could have worked out a bit differently but maybe I'll be able to get one in the holidays (First you need to do what you have to before you can do what you want to!).
The urge to just even TOUCH a airplane is abysmal. I can not explain this feeling. It is almost as if you can't go on with your life as it makes you feel incomplete. The feeling that you actually NEED something to function properly. A type of hunger... I'm sure some people may be able to relate to this? Yes, it does suck, a lot actually, but we'll get there!
Lets just hold thumbs that I might be able to negotiate something with Col. Pierre Hadfield. Who knows, maybe I'll be able to attend the next upcoming selections? But let's not get too optimistic though, you still need to be realistic.
...Jaco over and out...
He told me that he runs the Young Falcons program and at that moment I already knew that there would be a problem. From what I have heard, the Young Falcons only recruit pupils in Grade 10. Bob confirmed that and said that I am a good 2 years too late. It was a bit of a let down but we still went on with the conversation. He started to ask me questions such as "Do you play any instruments or sports" etc... He then told me that from his experience, everything I have just told him about myself will make me the ideal candidate at selections. He even went as far to give me Col. Pierre Hadfield's (The Ysterplaat recruitment officer's) number so that I can speak to him and tell him that Bob Corbett referred me to him. Every single day in the last week I only got home after 4 o'clock from school and was not able to phone him. However, I will most definitely phone him as soon as I can. Who knows what will happen from there?
In one of the previous posts I also mentioned that I will be going for medical tests in case there might be something wrong with me that I do no know about and that I can then fix that before I attend selections. Two days ago I went for an ECG and tomorrow I will go to an optometrist for an eye test. The results from the ECG was perfect and they said that my heart is 100% healthy. One less thing to worry about.
I am still looking for a working opportunity but I don't think that I will be able to get one before December though as I really need to focus on my studies and make sure that that I finish my school career on a good note. I wish it could have worked out a bit differently but maybe I'll be able to get one in the holidays (First you need to do what you have to before you can do what you want to!).
The urge to just even TOUCH a airplane is abysmal. I can not explain this feeling. It is almost as if you can't go on with your life as it makes you feel incomplete. The feeling that you actually NEED something to function properly. A type of hunger... I'm sure some people may be able to relate to this? Yes, it does suck, a lot actually, but we'll get there!
Lets just hold thumbs that I might be able to negotiate something with Col. Pierre Hadfield. Who knows, maybe I'll be able to attend the next upcoming selections? But let's not get too optimistic though, you still need to be realistic.
Maybe I should get me one of these in the mean time?
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Time to get this stone rollin'!
Its been quite a while since I updated my blog and it is mostly due to exams that we wrote and also holidays! I worked very hard this term to get good results and I do believe that 5 distinctions payed off. I sent SAAF my application form with my new results and I am now (Finally) officially on their computers. Now we play the "Hurry up and Wait" game!
One night I went with my brother to a braai at a friend of his. In their lounge there was a lot of portraits of SAAF aircraft and I asked this friend where he got them. He told me that his father works at Denel and that he also has a lot to do with SAAF. I then arranged to meet with his father and have a chat.
He told me that he organises camps that young aspiring pilots can go to so that they can see what SAAF is all about. It's a 2-3 week camp and there you will experience the military life. Early up in the morning, marches, PT, Flight theory, a flip in between etc... Sounds like loads of fun! He told me that he will bring me the application forms when he is in town again.
A week later I went to pick up the forms and he had even better news! He was able to get my name into a training program at AFB Ysterplaat which is also for young aspiring pilots but this program is more flying orientated. I should be able to start with this program within the next month or two. It will happen fortnightly over the weekends. I will surely post more info about it on this blog as soon as I receive more news about it.
Now I am snooping around for a weekend and holiday working opportunity or something similar at any airstrip or flying club. It is only so that I can be exposed to flying and maybe if I someone is keen enough or willing to then I could get a flip with them. It has been waaaaay to long since I was in the air. In 4 days time it would be 8 months since I had a opportunity to fly with someone. Soon I will have my drivers license and then I will be able to drive to airshows by myself and also be able to drive to a airstrip if I am able to get a working opportunity there. I will then use those earnings to get me in the air to just experience the wonderous freedom of flight.
And now we wait... :)
...Jaco over and out...
One night I went with my brother to a braai at a friend of his. In their lounge there was a lot of portraits of SAAF aircraft and I asked this friend where he got them. He told me that his father works at Denel and that he also has a lot to do with SAAF. I then arranged to meet with his father and have a chat.
He told me that he organises camps that young aspiring pilots can go to so that they can see what SAAF is all about. It's a 2-3 week camp and there you will experience the military life. Early up in the morning, marches, PT, Flight theory, a flip in between etc... Sounds like loads of fun! He told me that he will bring me the application forms when he is in town again.
A week later I went to pick up the forms and he had even better news! He was able to get my name into a training program at AFB Ysterplaat which is also for young aspiring pilots but this program is more flying orientated. I should be able to start with this program within the next month or two. It will happen fortnightly over the weekends. I will surely post more info about it on this blog as soon as I receive more news about it.
Now I am snooping around for a weekend and holiday working opportunity or something similar at any airstrip or flying club. It is only so that I can be exposed to flying and maybe if I someone is keen enough or willing to then I could get a flip with them. It has been waaaaay to long since I was in the air. In 4 days time it would be 8 months since I had a opportunity to fly with someone. Soon I will have my drivers license and then I will be able to drive to airshows by myself and also be able to drive to a airstrip if I am able to get a working opportunity there. I will then use those earnings to get me in the air to just experience the wonderous freedom of flight.
And now we wait... :)
I just thought that this picture is very appropriate. Enjoy! :)
...Jaco over and out...
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