Flying to new heights in Portugal

The decision to learn to fly is daunting enough for many prospective pilots. The selection of flying school and weather-related issues are a few of many to consider. We hear from BWPA member Rosie Minshall about how she got on with her flight training in sunny Portugal.

I was scrolling through my British Microlight Aircraft Association (BMAA) magazine when I noticed an advertisement for flying microlights in Portugal with a company called Fly365. I got so excited at the thought of flying in a different country that I immediately emailed expressing my interest. I received a response from Malcolm Howland, Chief Flight Instructor and owner of Fly365, who provided me with all the prices and information I needed. He included the details of a lady named Jo who manages accommodation for flying students.

After numerous emails back and forth, we had a week of August 2023 confirmed. I was thrilled. I found a return flight with Ryanair from Manchester to Faro. It was a smooth flight to Faro with a lovely crew. As the aeroplane door opened, the radiant sun beamed, creating a paradise-like atmosphere. I was welcomed on arrival by Malcolm, holding a sign with my name on it. I smiled and waved; my adventure was just about to begin.

The drive from Faro to Lagos took around an hour, and our first stop was the aerodrome. I was shown around and had a tour of the airfield and its facilities. We then went into the hangars, where I saw three Ikarus C42 and a few flex-wing aircraft. I met G-DASS, who was to become my best friend for the week ahead.

The following day, it was time for the hard work to begin. I had not flown since November 2022, so I was a bit rusty. I met my flight instructor, Zeth Devenish, who proved to be excellent. We got into the aircraft, and the first flight was to assess the skills I already had and to get a bearing on the local area. We aimed to fly twice a day for the week, an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon. After the first flight, I felt at home. I could not wait to fly again!

My accommodation was just outside of Lagos, in a town called Praia Da Luz. The apartment was beautiful – so spacious and with the beach less than a stone’s throw away. It was also close to cafes and restaurants.

The next day came along, and I was up and roaring to go; it was going to be a beautiful day. After a cup of tea (Yorkshire tea, I may add!), it was time to fly. After a brief chat with Zeth and a walk around the aircraft, I had my first go at speaking on the radio. I was so nervous, but I did it (without any major hiccups!). The views from above were so glorious; I could have stayed up all day. We did some handling of the aircraft and various exercises, which went well. I just needed to gain more confidence in myself and my abilities.

We landed, and Malcolm approached me regarding my exams. I had studied before I left the UK, so I had little knowledge. The first exam was Air Law. I remember texting the BWPA North West Regional Group WhatsApp chat, panicking! My fellow members put me at ease, and I passed the exam. Following that, I gained more confidence inside the aircraft, and my piloting skills increased. I passed two more exams, Human Performance and Aircraft General Knowledge. Every time I flew, I learned more and more skills. It was not easy by any means, but with hard work and determination, you can do anything.

I cannot thank Fly365, Malcolm, Zeth, and Jo enough for all the support and encouragement. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking to fly overseas. To sum it all up, I left the UK with only six hours flight time, no exams passed, and a very long gap in between lessons. After my week in Portugal, I had a lot more hours, exams passed, memories to last a lifetime, and new friends.

P.S. Take sun cream!

Rosie Minshall