MY JOURNEY TO 30,000FT
About me
Born in the London borough of Greenwich, I wasn't too far from London's airports. As a young child, the contrails left by aircraft overhead would mesmerise me as I would stand and watch them pass. Not only was I intrigued by the aircraft themselves, I was engrossed by the entire concept that was flying. That passion for flying hasn’t changed; over fifteen years later, I still look to the sky and aspire to become a commercial pilot.
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Whenever I would talk about my love for aviation, many people would always ask me one question: "Why?"
None of my relatives were from an aviation-related background and we would rarely fly abroad on holiday - mainly because I chose Center Parcs instead...
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In all honesty, I can't define the exact reason "why" aviation captivated me. With that said, I can guarantee that growing-up with 'Thunderbirds' was certainly a factor... The film, the TV series, the comics etc. To this day, I still have all of the memorabilia in my loft, including my favourite: Thunderbird 2.
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Due to start Year 3 at primary, I moved to a small village in West Devon. When I no longer had aircraft flying over my house, I began to realise how remote my new home was... but this never stopped me from pursuing my dream.
Throughout my science lessons in Year 7, my chemistry teacher would tell me "Captain Stoner, you're not flying right now" every time I forgot to remove my eye-protection following an experiment. I couldn't help but thinking:
'Captain Stoner'... I could get used to that...
During one of our weekly assemblies, we had a visit from the local RAF Air Cadets Squadron, encouraging individuals to join. At the minimum joining age of 14, I enrolled into the Air Training Corps to develop an understanding in aviation practice, which has now led to me achieving a BTEC Level 2 in Aviation Studies. With 7 years service, I achieved the most senior rank of Cadet Warrant Officer, so I assisted in the running of the squadron.
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The cadets offered many incredible opportunities, including: working with the RAF Search and Rescue Force for work experience; air-to-air fuelling of Typhoon Eurofighters from a Voyager on summer camp; gliding and AEF (Air Experience Flying). Although my time with 2443 Sqn offered me a lot, my first shot at AEF will always be the winner: after demonstrating a "...natural ability to fly..." with skills "...greater than training RAF pilot sorties", I was recommended for a flying scholarship. After completing an application form, passing the RAF pilot aptitude tests at OASC RAF Cranwell and an interview, RAFA awarded me with a 12 hour flying scholarship with a training school in August 2016. This enabled me to work towards gaining my PPL, and reached solo standard as a result.
Festival of Remembrance with the Royal British Legion
After a summer of flying the Cessna-152, it was time to return to my A-Levels and looking to the future. With my mind firmly set upon one day flying at FL300, I researched endlessly the possible pathways to the cockpit. With every option I would enquire about, attending L3 CTS Airline Academy (formerly CTC Aviation) was my ambition. I knew it was very expensive, but no matter how long it would take me to find the finance, I wanted to be at L3 CTS one way or another.
Since my parents and I agreed a degree as a 'back-up' plan was best, I submitted my UCAS application to study engineering. From my offers, I enrolled on the BSc in Engineering Mathematics at the University of Bristol, and was due to start in September 2017. Although I was really excited to start uni, I had a voice in the back of my head saying "DON'T DO IT"; I called the university and asked to defer my entry. This allowed me to work full-time for a year and evaluate all choices, which they happily accepted. That decision was undoubtedly the best I have made...
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I worked full-time for the NHS as a call adviser, yet also gave L3 another consideration. This time, I signed up to one of the open days, took my parents with me to look around and we saw immediately how fantastic the academy is. Whilst at the Nursling base, I spoke to a representative from Middlesex University, where it was explained how a degree can be incorporated into certain L3 Airline Academy courses during training: a BSc in Professional Aviation Pilot Practice.
The best of both worlds.
With that in mind, I returned home and applied for the 'Generation easyJet' scheme in October 2017, which would take successful applicants straight to the RHS of an Airbus 320. I chose the MPL scheme over the 'Whitetail' route, as not only would I be mentored by Europe's largest airline, it offers the job security following training.
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Dibden Manor (L3 Selection Centre), Southampton, UK
With help from family/close family-friends, I submitted the initial application on the 14th October. By the 16th, I had an email inviting myself forward to the Stage 1 assessment on the 6th November: aptitude and mental maths tests. As I had not long finished college, my mental maths skills were still reasonably good. For the aptitude tests, I personally used PilotAptitudeTest, although are there are more available.
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I came away feeling fairly confident with my maths result, yet I did have doubts about the aptitude tests...
To my surprise, the results came through the next morning!
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"...we are pleased to advise that you have met the standard required for Generation easyJet Pilot Training Programme to progress forward to day 2 of the selection process!"
I drove back to Devon with the hugest smile on my face, probably looking like an idiot. However, that was just stage 1 and knew there was more to come, so I didn't become complacent.
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Stage 2, which involves an interview with an easyJet representative and teamwork-based exercises, was scheduled for the 9th January 2018. This gave myself a reasonable length of time to prepare to the best of my ability. I spent countless hours, both at work and home, researching easyJet inside and out. As well, I practised my team-orientated skills, where the foundations were already developed through my time in the RAF Air Cadets.
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I cannot thank my family and friends enough, who supported me and helped me to prepare.
Big thanks go to:
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- Ben W and Connor R (ex-cadet/current cadet with L3)
- My family (especially my parents for putting up with my stress as I prepared)
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Once again, it was just a matter of waiting to hear back from L3 CTS and easyJet, knowing that I had done everything I could of done. Of course, it plays through your mind, but all I kept saying was "I did my best".
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Three days passed, and whilst I was at work, I received an email...
I wasn't sure about whether to wait until I got home, yet my colleague noticed next to me and convinced to open it:
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"Following your recent selection we are pleased to confirm that you have met the required L3 Airline Academy standard to be considered for the Generation easyJet Pilot Training Programme"
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I had done it! Just 4 months after submitting the initial application, I passed all stages of the application and now awaited a route allocation. This is because the easyJet programme has 3 different routes:
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1) easyJet MPL - Mentored by easyJet from day 1. Type rating is heavily sponsored.
2) easyJet MPL Upgrade - Those who excel at Ground School may be offered the chance to upgrade to Route 1.
3) easyJet ATPL - Rather than a multi-pilot license, you finish with the original airline standard license.
I give huge credit to both L3 CTS and easyJet for their response times. Originally, the email stated that it could take up to "8 weeks" to hear a course allocation, but just 4 days later, my route was given!
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"I am delighted to inform you that you have passed all phases of the assessment process for the Generation easyJet Pilot Training Programme - Route 1 MPL."
...and that brings me to today, about to embark on the biggest journey in my life to date.
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As I say, none of this would have been possible without the constant support from family and friends over the years, and to all those that believed in me! I cannot express in words how grateful I am, and in no way is it possible to thank you all enough.
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This page will remain unchanged, but please do check my blog for regular updates as I progress through the course! As well, I will have a separate page for the selection process, so you can see roughly what to expect. However, some of the content on that subject will be limited as we are asked for certain confidentiality.
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All the best, and look forward to hearing from you!
- Matthew
"Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return."
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- Leonardo Da Vinci
