Virtual Pilot | NomadXplores @virtualpilotuk

32 years in service and the A320 still delivers and still going

Landing a brand new Cessna caravan on the St Barths Runway.

There's something special about this. Zero visibility no joke

Flying cargo for #dhl into #cardiff wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿. Operating the #cessna Courier. - NomadXplores @MSFSofficial @SaitekSim

I have the best FO today, my Son 🥰. HNL to KIX. Taking the family to go see Cherry Blossom 🌸 in Osaka, Japan @HawaiianAir

I've been flying the Airbus A320 family and the A350 for about three years now. I actually started my commercial flying career back in January 2020, straight out of flight school, on the Boeing 737. But, as you might guess, the pandemic had its impact. So, in a span of only 3-4 months, I managed to land my dream job and lose it. It certainly was a unique and tough time for everyone, not just people in aviation. Still, I'm glad I got to finish my simulator training on the 737 at least, as it made me appreciate the Airbus more later on. Being without a job at a time when pilots are least needed is not exactly ideal. For a few months, I went back to working as a substitute teacher while I applied for somewhat related jobs. By the end of that summer, I fortunately secured a part-time job as a theory instructor at the school where I studied. This later turned into a full-time position, and I worked there for 3 years. Looking back, even though I missed flying, it was a great job given the circumstances. Teaching something you are passionate about can be highly rewarding, and I believe it benefits the students as much as you. I'm truly grateful for the opportunity the school gave me. Securing that job was an important step forward, both professionally and financially, especially after investing 1 million NOK in my flight training. By August 2023, I was rehired, but this time on the A320. Since then, I have flown to 4 continents, 25 countries and 68 airports, and accumulated over 1900 hours on the Airbus. And this last year I got my ATPL, along with long-haul training and a type rating on the A350. It's been an interesting start to an aviation career, to say the least. A lot of hard work, scrolling through thousands and thousands of pages, memorizing procedures, preparing for tests, etc. As I write this, I remember one purchase I made back in school. I bought a gaming PC that could run Microsoft Flight Simulator without any issues (actually it was for PMDG, if you know you know). I think I decided to buy it after my first simulator lesson in instrument training (flying without visual references). VFR training, visual flying, had been going well, but this was another level. I had no prior experience. I wasn't one of those simulator guys, although that was about to change. My first instrument approach did pass, but I clearly remember the struggle I felt. I was told I was overcorrecting and not getting into the flow. Commercial flying should be smooth. So, I set up my computer with a bit of help from my classmates and started to practice. And practice I did, a lot! Flying NDB and ILS raw data approaches on Saturday nights. It might not get you girls, but maybe a compliment from an instructor later on. That was a turning point for me, because I realized that preparation was key. Does that mean you need an expensive gaming PC to pass flight training? No, but it will definitely help. Chair-flying is also a great tool! And on my final check on the Boeing 737, we flew the same "scary" raw data ILS. An approach that is as manual as it gets, because you have to scan constantly to stay within certain parameters (vertical, lateral, speed, pitch, etc.). I passed, and the instructor gave me a compliment that makes me smile to this day. Since then, I have always tried to prepare what I can ahead of time, practicing not only approaches, but also other maneuvers and emergency scenarios. It has been very valuable to me. Even though I can't prepare for everything, it helps me adapt and leaves me with more capacity to handle new challenges. That's a brief overview of me and how I got started in aviation. If you think that was interesting, you should hear some of the stories from the captains who have been in this unpredictable industry for 30 years. The road to that left or right seat up front is always an interesting one, but it's never easy.

keyboard_arrow_left Previous keyboard_arrow_right Next

@KvammeSteffen Hi Steffan, what is the limit ? Is the time calculated from takeoff to touch down? ie Flying Time or does it start from the minute you enter the plane. Thanks 🫡

POV: you're crushing at 15000 ft then you see another A380 passes 5000 ft below you.

“You will not find a finer fighter pilot anywhere in the world. Commander Mike Metcalf. Callsign Viper” Sad news that the wonderful Tom Skerritt has died. A superb actor who made every film he was in better. RIP Viper. Blue Skies.

An earlier #flight in the #cessnacourier , battered by high winds and extreme #weather on departure. Broke through the clouds at 5000 feet. On route to EGFF, #cardiffairport in #wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 - NomadXplores

What a beautiful photo, bless her who ever she is x

@katie37316104 God, look down upon Julio and his family. Watch over them and give them the spirit to heal. We wish you a speedy recovery Julio, god bless you. Amen 🙏

@Helen98843574 Nothing like military banter Helen, it’s how we all survived for so long 🤣

@Helen98843574 I bet it makes your twitter feed interesting Helen 🤣

@Helen98843574 🤣🤣🤣 These are enough 😊

‘Never look down on someone unless you’re helping them up’. #BeInspired

We put on social media about contacting people if we are worried about their mental health, sending a text doesn’t tell that person you care, putting it on a SM platform doesn’t say you care, pick the phone up and ask “are you ok?” And even better try listening to the answer