Flying ........ 10hours

Online ......... 16 hours

Gaming ......... 40hours

Flying + Online + Gaming = Total time in hangar = 66 hours

###Hours spent in hangar written are calculated from Mon-Fri 0715-1815hours Local Time###

To some of my friends who are stepping into the aviation world soon, this is one advice for y'all:

There will be "devils" trying to lure you away from the right path.
~~ No shortcut to The Four Bars ~~

We did NDB (Non-Directional Beacon) tracking in and tracking out exercises. It's simpler in terms of procedures.

NDBs is a little similar like VOR (read previous post).

They are used as airfield approach (not runway approach) aids for airlines.

In aircraft, we have Automatic Direction Finding (ADF) equipment to detect the NDB signals, and that is why we can track towards a particular airfield.

The accuracy is lesser and more prone to errors compared to the more advanced nav aids, like VOR and GPS.

If there is a thunderstorm activity nearby, the ADF needle will point towards there! Other sources of error including:
-terrain
-night effect
-aircraft banking
-shoreline




It's nearing the end of the month and we have to update our flying hours in the logbook.

Me?

83:20

Long long way to go...........

A Blog Posted by Singapore 's Youngest Millionaire

By Adam Khoo |

Some of you may already know that I travel around the region pretty frequently, having to visit and conduct seminars at my offices in Malaysia , Indonesia , Thailand and Suzhou ( China ). I am in the airport almost every other week so I get to bump into many people who have attended my seminars or have read my books.

Recently, someone came up to me on a plane to KL and looked rather shocked. He asked, 'How come a millionaire like you is travelling economy?' My reply was, 'That's why I am a millionaire.' He still looked pretty confused. This again confirms that greatest lie ever told about wealth (which I wrote about in my latest book 'Secrets of Self Made Millionaires'). Many people have been brainwashed to think that millionaires have to wear Gucci, Hugo Boss, Rolex, and sit on first class in air travel. This is why so many people never become rich because the moment that earn more money, they think that it is only natural that they spend more, putting them back to square one.

The truth is that most self-made millionaires are frugal and only spend on what is necessary and of value. That is why they are able to accumulate and multiply their wealth so much faster. Over the last 7 years, I have saved about 80% of my income while today I save only about 60% (because I have my wife, mother in law, 2 maids, 2 kids, etc. to support). Still, it is way above most people who save 10% of their income (if they are lucky). I refuse to buy a first class ticket or to buy a $300 shirt because I think that it is a complete waste of money. However, I happily pay $1,300 to send my 2-year old daughter to Julia Gabriel Speech and Drama without thinking twice.

When I joined the YEO (Young Entrepreneur's Organization) a few years back (YEO is an exclusive club open to those who are under 40 and make over $1m a year in their own business) I discovered that those who were self-made thought like me. Many of them with net worths well over $5m, travelled economy class and some even drove Toyota 's and Nissans (not Audis, Mercs, BMWs).

I noticed that it was only those who never had to work hard to build their own wealth (there were also a few ministers' and tycoons' sons in the club) who spent like there was no tomorrow. Somehow, when you did not have to build everything from scratch, you do not really value money. This is precisely the reason why a family's wealth (no matter how much) rarely lasts past the third generation. Thank God my rich dad (oh no! I sound like Kiyosaki) foresaw this terrible possibility and refused to give me a cent to start my business.

Then some people ask me, 'What is the point in making so much money if you don't enjoy it?' The thing is that I don't really find happiness in buying branded clothes, jewellery or sitting first class. Even if buying something makes me happy it is only for a while, it does not last. Material happiness never lasts, it just give you a quick fix. After a while you feel lousy again and have to buy the next thing which you think will make you happy. I always think that if you need material things to make you happy, then you live a pretty sad and unfulfilled life.

Instead, what make ME happy is when I see my children laughing and playing and learning so fast. What makes me happy is when I see by companies and trainers reaching more and more people every year in so many more countries. What makes me really happy is when I read all the emails about how my books and seminars have touched and inspired someone's life. What makes me really happy is reading all your wonderful posts about how this BLOG is inspiring you. This happiness makes me feel really good for a long time, much much more than what a Rolex would do for me.

I think the point I want to put across is that happiness must come from doing your life's work (be in teaching, building homes, designing, trading, winning tournaments etc.) and the money that comes is only a by-product. If you hate what you are doing and rely on the money you earn to make you happy by buying stuff, then I think that you are living a life of meaningless.


***********

Happy Birthday to Ee Wuen and Charlie Lim!! :)

Another normal day. Yeah, normal.

As usual, strong winds. And I mean really strong. At least 20kts.

Maximum crosswind permitted for solo cadets is 10kts. So only sorties with instructors were allowed to proceed.

We practiced procedure turns. 4 types altogether.
-Turn 80degrees to the right/left, then turn 260degrees left/right.
-Turn 90degrees to the right/left, then turn 270degrees left/right.
-Turn 45degrees to the right/left, then turn 225degrees left/right.
-Base leg technique: 180degrees one round turn.

Procedure Turn is used to position ourselves to intercept a particular VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range) radial and then track to the VOR station (which in this case, the VOR here is named VKR).

There are 360 radials, with the VOR as the center, ranging from Radial 000 to Radial 359.

Try imagine VORs are like our toll booth (minus the toll fees obviously). And airways are like highways connecting one waypoint to the another.

Mutual sortie as usual, practiced for VOR/DME of VKR Runway 22. I messed up the procedure turn section. Dunno what the hell was I thinking. :P

Solo sortie: I went to Rusila Training Area. That was my first time to that training area. Hills all around and a small town at the rivermouth.

I thought I could fly at 3000feet but as I flew pass a layered cloud at 2000feet, I couldn't visual with ground at all.

It's kinda scary to fly without knowing what's below you.

Bright sunny day and a little morning drizzle. A rare weather to be seen during this season.

But cloud cover in the training area I went was quite low at 1700 feet. Only could practice some turns.

To practice stalls, the height requirement is 2500feet or above.

This training area that I went yesterday is actually the location of the crash of 9MHMT.

I was flying 1000feet to look for clearings or flat areas to practice the PFL. All around me were small hills, secondary jungles and palm oil estates.

Seriously, if there was any emergency, the only place that's suitable for forced landing would be the beach.

I went hunting at town with a bunch of my batchmates. We thought there would at least have more prey compared to LGK. Much to our disappointment, there is NONE after 6 hours of searching.

I still remember vividly the days when me and a bunch of F6 friends went to Redang Island for holidays. We walked around the town before heading back to jb.

Many things have changed since then. More shop houses, residential areas and shopping centers! There is this temple called 天后宮 Tian Hou Gong (sorry, I don't know its direct translation) which has not changed at all.

The same temple which I went to pray for blessings and luck for my future. It was a 中上籖 (it means something like a 'high average note' ). I am not sure the direct translation for the word 籖.

But seriously, many of the predictions came true! Fell sick many times and I got this job after waited for so many months! It may sound absurd to you if you don't believe in this kinda stuffs.

Yesterday I prayed for good health and I got this 中下籖 (low average note). Obviously, the result was not that good.

Apparently I will, AGAIN, face not just health but also financial problems in the near future. Worse than what I faced in the past one year. Best part is, I will not be able to avoid them.

I have had enough of falling sick!! No more going to hospital!! No more operation!!

There is solution written though.

"Be patient and stay strong and treasures await in the end."

Flying inside cloud sounds fun. I thought it was fun too.

Yesterday low cloud was everywhere. Cloud base 1800feet. We had to maintain 3500 feet over VKR, so entering cloud couldn't be avoided.

Fyi, instrument flying emphasizes on 3Rs, namely:
Rely
Refer
Relax

I managed to do the first 2Rs. The last one was tough. I was feeling the leans.

The Attitude Indicator showed straight and level flight. But I felt the aircraft was turning&banking slowly to one side. Damn.

By the way, solo sortie today was boring. 4 Apex aircrafts came here for Nav plus 3 company aircrafts. Traffic was too busy. Bad weather in training area. I had to hold at training area in the rain for 20minutes. And another 20minutes at downwind!!

Only managed to do 2 touch&go and that was all for an hour sortie! -_-"




Yesterday another cadet here caused propeller strike on a TB10 he flew. The nose wheel is damaged quite badly.

The best part is, the cadet is the same guy who created history of the first TB10 propeller strike few weeks ago. Hahahaha.

I wonder what the hell he was thinking during flaring.

Perhaps he wanted to test the aircraft limit? :P

Or maybe he felt he lived to long. Wahahahahaha.

Today's my first solo at KT here. Training areas were full of low clouds 5-7octas. I had to settle with circuits&landing.

Visibility was not that good either. Less than 5km. Looking around, no CB, just nimbostratus. But not enough to stop the solo cadets from flying.

Through the second lap, it started to drizzle. Wind just light and variable. I guessed I could still continue flying since it does not pose much of a hazard.

Rarely I get the chance to land without strong crosswind!

Did you notice AK's latest advertisement?



I love the last sentence.

"We innovate, others imitate."

The Blog Following feature is cool, isn't it? I started by following The Bitter Stickgirl. And now there are 12 people in my list. It shows everyone's updates instantly in one page and cut down the trouble to click the links one by one to check out my friends' blog.

A few must-see links for aviation lovers:
-http://yellowherbie.blogspot.com (got this from flydamnit.com)
-http://flightlevel390.blogspot.com
-http://viewsfromtheleftseat.blogspot.com

Anyway, yesterday the school sent another aircraft for us! Muahhahhahha..That means now we have 4 aircrafts to fly!

And also means more hours to clock in a single day! :)

But..like what I said in the chatbox, monsoon is here already. You don't need me to tell you what's gonna happen next.

Why the school suddenly so kind to us to provide us another aircraft? We heard that a senior batch (flying Single Engine) has been grounded until they pay another fuel surcharge of 50K! So there are extra aircrafts for us, at the moment.

2 of the ex-senior batches are suing the school while two more are planning to do the same soon. All are private batches.

The school is very smart. It's mentioned in the contract that its content are not to be read by 3rd party.

Which means that if you let your lawyer to read the contract, the school has the right to sue you back! I wonder how are the seniors gonna win the case.

This is why I mention time and again that any of you who is going to sign any kind of contract, PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY!

I bet you saw the evening news yesterday that AK eliminates fuel surcharge for all her flights! Good news for all budget travelers like me! =)

How did AK manage to cut the fuel surcharge? I am not sure about that, but I am pretty sure Mr Tony and his crews are doing a great job to put more pressure on their rivals (especially MAS).

PS: Please don't ask me why AK can cut fuel surcharge while the school cannot. I am as blur as you.

I think I am getting the hang of flying at here already. The procedures parts were fine! Just need to fine tune on my landing skills.

First landing- flared to high. Added with crosswind. Ended up kangaroo landing. :P

Second Landing - flared nicely. Landed smoothly but at the left of runway.


My instructor said that I always pick the wrong reference point to maintain runway centerline.

Oh well, I will just pick a new one and practice more again!

Sunday is an off-day for us! Unlike in LGK, Sunday is just like a normal working day for flying wing. So I am at home here, 'riding' on people's WIFI to surf the net.

Happy Birthday to Miss Y Tan. Finally you've joined the Old People Gang! :P

More birthdays nearing the end of the month, namely:

Charlie Lim

Yvonne

Yenyen

Christina the Tigress

Tsing Yiu

Justin

And Happy Belated Birthday to:
Joanne

Steven

Janet


SF called to invite me for his birthday party though. Too bad I can't go to celebrate his 21st Birthday. Sigh.

2 of my batchmates, J and Y got calls to attend their friends' wedding next month.

Y: Do you feel the pressure when you see your friends are getting married one by one?
J: Nope. I don't understand why they wanna get married so fast!
Y: *Sigh* Of course you don't. You've got gf already!
J: They have no stable career. How to support themselves and the family? Better get a job first la.


What is your ideal age to get married? Career first, family second?

Women's stock market rises very high from 18 to 27 years old. Peak at 28. And then starts to decrease exponentially after that. While it's not true that men only look for beauties, but I dare to say that looks before character is the general thinking!

Men's market are kinda depending on their jobs. Low income=Low market value. I am not saying that the females are getting materialistic nowadays but we are just being realistic here. Who wants to marry a guy who cannot provide sufficient financial support?

However in the end, we still track back to personalities. Rich men with lousy attitudes are suckers. Ditto pretty ladies with only vanity in their minds!

If possible, we want the 'perfect package', right?

You and I know there is none in this world.

No one is perfect, but when two imperfect people be together, now we have The Perfect Couple!


PS: This is just my personal view.

Just as what my seniors said, you can be a Master Of Crosswind Landing when you come to fly here.

The techniques which I used in LGK last time to land in crosswind conditions have been refined. The procedures are as follow:

- Approaching finals with crabbing-in method.
- Power as required to maintain airspeed of 80kts
- On flare, kick opposite rudder to maintain nose with runway centreline
- Ailerons into the wind, and let aircraft sinks slowly.


Yesterday I got the chance to try out Keropok Lekor of KT. Simply delicious! Worth the money spent! 5big pieces for 1buck. Even the chilli sauce is homemade sauce.

Yesterday was the first time I tried VOR/DME approach for KT Runway 22. Seriously, the IF procedures here is more complicated than in LGK.

Two different charts for two Runways here while in LGK, the IF procedure is so easy with just one runway!

The codename for KT's VOR is VKR. But I was so used to LGK's VOR that I nearly said VPL when I was reporting overhead VKR!


I still need some time to get used to the new procedures and RT call.

Do you know KT here has 6 training areas? So many training areas but so few aircrafts to fly. But anyway, we normally use the nearest 3 training areas. It consumes alot of time just to climb to 4000ft!

Oh yeah, now that xiuyu mentioned it, I forgot to explain why we were sent here to fly. The reason is stupid though. No surprising as it comes from stupid management.

The reason:

Our batch is progressing way too fast already and need to slow down. The average flying hours that we have clocked so far is 73hours (including PPL 42 hours).

Back in LGK, we were able to clock 2 to 3 hours per day as our batch 'conquered' all the DA40s available. So if the progress continues, we can actually graduate at mid February.

BUT...

According to school's brilliant plan, again, we will only join Twin Engine Flying stage at 9th February. Which means we have like 3months to complete our single engine flying hours.

2months to clock up to around 115hours here in KT because some of the long navigation sorties and night flying and PTs can only be done in LGK.

*145 hours for Single Engine*
*55 hours for Twin Engine*

Thanks to the intelligent management and thinking of our beloved Mr. Aerofoil Head, we were sent here with just 3 aircrafts to fly. And in schedule, there is only ONE HOUR for each of us to fly. They were thinking that KT monsoon season can reduce our progress more.

But hell no. The weather here is like drought + strong crosswind + few low clouds. Suitable for flying but just have to be a little more careful with the crosswind on landing.

We gonna try to complete the remaining single engine hours by CNY2009 and then apply leave to go back for few days.

Angpau~~ Angpau~~ Where are you?~~

We are given 3 houses in a golf course resort for a total of 17 of us to stay here in KT and the one I am staying with another 5 batchmates is called Seroja.

3 rooms, fully air-conditioned. 2 bathrooms, one in room while the other is beside the kitchen.

Microwave, fridge, cooking utensils, dining table, chairs, beds, blankets, all complete.

But what's weird is that we are not given room keys. We only have the main door key.

We started off cleaning our own room (2 people per room), and then proceed to hall, kitchen and lastly toilets.

I was cleaning the kitchen with 3 other guys when I heard a sudden loud bump from my room. The door was closed!

Tried to open it. Bloody hell. It won't budge.

Damn. Locked from inside. Why? I think I have to ask the wind for the answer.

We used a handphone card to open the damned door. No use.

Wanted to kick the door. Hmmm, after thinking twice, better not. First day arrived with broken door already is no good.

Next house got some construction workers. Asked for their help. One of them came with a hammer and a wood.

He put the wood on top of the door knob. A hammer on his right hand.

Taking his aim *tap tap*

And then smashed hard on the wood. The door knob became loose. Door still standing strong.

Let's just skip the cursing session.

Finally, with a screwdriver and the same handphone card, we opened the door.


As for the food, the school hired an aunty to cook and bring the food to hangar for us. The food is of course much better than what we had in LGk. :P

We have to be in hangar from 7.15am to around 5pm. So our breakfast and lunch in hangar. The aunty sends dinner to our house around 7pm.


Anyway, the golf course here is not good. I mean, it doesn't worth the money to play here.


More updates next time! Gotta sleep for tomorrow's sortie!

Just arrived in KT yesterday morning after a 9 hours of bus journey. After that followed by 8 hours house cleaning.

There is no internet connection at the housing area. But luckily there is WIFI at this small little hangar.

There isn't much time for me to update everything. Just flew finish and need to go back to house soon by van.

So I will update those next time.

PS: I saw a MAS 747 at here taking off today!! Super awesome!! =)