Gemma’s Journey: From Student Pilot to Flight Instructor
Having grown up around general aviation, Gemma’s journey came full circle when she gained her Private Pilot Licence (PPL) at Anglian Flight Centres in 2022. Since then, she has spent her time exploring the skies, visiting diverse airfields across the UK, and sharpening her skills by obtaining an Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) rating.
After completing her Flight Instructor (FI) training with the team at Andrewsfield Aviation, Gemma is thrilled to transition from student to mentor as a newly qualified FI for the NPPL at Anglian Flight Centres in Essex. She is incredibly excited to fly her first trial lessons and share her passion for all things aviation with anyone taking to the skies for the first time.
What did you find most rewarding or enjoyable about completing your Flight Instructor course?
It definitely shifted the focus from just flying the plane to mastering how to teach. For me, the most enjoyable thing was being able to hone my own accuracy when flying. Another highlight was the ground school. Learning the best practices for teaching the syllabus and all of the different topics, and breaking down complex aerodynamics and airmanship into digestible, actionable steps for a student was really interesting.
Transitioning from the left seat to the right seat comes with unique challenges. What did you find hardest during your training?
The steep learning curve was definitely playing detective in the cockpit! It was incredibly tough trying to work out exactly what faults my instructor had secretly built into an exercise and learning to watch them, as well as keeping eyes outside and on instruments. On top of that, just moving to the right side of the cockpit was tricky at the beginning. It felt especially strange when turning, suddenly having this completely different perspective over the engine cowling.
What advice would you give to other aspiring pilots or aviation enthusiasts who are just starting out on their own journey?
My biggest piece of advice is just to take that first step and enjoy every moment of the learning process. The aviation community is incredibly welcoming, and there is a place in it for everyone. For me, qualifying as an instructor isn’t the finish line – it’s just the beginning. I’m so excited to keep growing, learning, and developing my own skills alongside my students. We never stop learning in the air, and that’s exactly what makes it so rewarding.
