FMA Solo 2019 – Page 3 – FMA Solo Program

Hello!

Hello fellow FMA members, ambassadors and supporters! This is my first blog, so here is a little bit about myself. My name is Navya Pottumutu and I’m a grade 11 student at Belmont Secondary School in Victoria BC, Canada. At school, I am a part of several music ensembles, which include; Senior Winds, Jazz Band, Rhythm and Blues Band, Concert Choir and a few student led combos. As the president of our Music Department at Belmont, I thrive to improve my leadership and knowledge regarding different genres of music. Outside of school I am a member of the Royal Canadian Air Cadet Program, which is where my love for aviation was born. Once I joined I knew exactly what I wanted my future to look like. My goal right after high school is to serve for the Royal Canadian AirForce as a fighter jet plot and eventually become an astronaut serving the Canadian Space Agency. As the first step to ‘getting my future career off the ground’ I decided that I should become a glider pilot as a base for everything else. When I finished my glider license in the summer of 2018, my next step was to attain my Private Pilot License. Which was when I had found out about Flying Musicians Association. This program had increased my awareness of the fact that there are many musicians that are passionate about both music as well as aviation. Until this point my only inspiration was Chris Hadfield, who I had looked up to, due to his talent in music and because of the fact the he is a fighter pilot AS WELL AS an astronaut. I have attended several of his concerts and presentations where he talked about his journey and how music had stuck with him through it. Chris Hadfield has always been my biggest inspiration and always will be some one I look up to.

Regarding my Private Pilot training, I started flying on April 07, 2019 at Victoria Flying Club and am currently close to solo. I have around 8 hours of dual training and I am looking forward to continuing with my training in the upcoming months. In my latest flight my instructor Matt and I worked on stalls and steep turns, and in my next flight we are planning to work on circuits, which I’m really excited for!

I would also like to thank FMA for giving me an opportunity to prove my skills and supporting me through my journey and for making me a part of such a wonderful community filled with people that have similar interests as me. In the near future I look forward to making presentations about FMA to my community and friends to spread the news about this wonderful opportunity. I also am excited to share pictures and blogs of my upcoming flights and my ongoing concerts!

I Flippin’ Flew SOLO!!!!

Well Ladies and gents, the day has come. I flew solo for the very first time on the 27th of September 2017. I am so proud of myself because this is something I never ever thought I would have the courage to do but here I am.

This is completely and utterly all thanks to FMA Solo Program and all of its sponsors! I couldn’t be more thankful for everybody involved in my journey to becoming a pilot.

The person I need to mention is my former band teacher Mr. Lewis. I’m not sure if you read these posts Mr. Lewis but regardless, I need to address the fact that you are the sole reason I knew of this scholarship and, therefore, a huge part of the reason I could pursue my dream. Thank you for believing in me and helping me obtain the scholarship. I will never forget all that you have done for me.

Now that my thank you’s are addressed, I’ll tell all about my first Solo!

To be completely honest, it wasn’t eventful at all. Nothing scary happened, nor was there a lot of traffic in the circuit but nonetheless it was exhilarating! The feeling of being free in the open blue sky, making your own decisions and being completely alone in your trusty plane is utterly fascinating to me.

To break it down, I first started off a normal flight with my instructor doing regular circuits one morning. We did about four or five when suddenly he orders a full stop. I was confused because we had only flown about a half hour. As we were taxiing back to the school he says “ready to Solo??” My. Heart. Stopped. I told him a shy “umm.. I dunno…” and he told me straight up “you’re ready. I don’t want to wait any longer.” about 10 minutes later I’m sitting at the runway 18 hold short line thinking to myself “what in blue blazes am I about to do?” I made the call to tower and was cleared for takeoff and soon enough I’m climbing through the sky laughing to myself. I didn’t stop smiling the entire time. I did one circuit, landed then taxied to the school. St. Andrews Tower congratulated me on my first solo and I felt even more happy!

So, there’s my story. my first ever solo. I have flown solo twice since then and I’m definitely more comfortable with it now. I will continue to blog my progress towards my license. Once again, thank you so much to all FMA members and every single sponsor, I am so grateful for everybody in support of myself and the other three scholarship winners!

Courtney

**Videos were taken in calm wind conditions only when safe to do so**