So after Phase 1 of training which included 20 weeks of full-time groundschool, 6 JAA exams, then Phase 2 - going solo after 8 hours, I got my Solo Certificate, epaulettes and did Spouts today! I don’t drink, so I opted to go for Aquarius! I went solo on 14 December 2007, not my first solo, but my first solo of my training as a professional pilot.

We all gathered by the bar, outside around 5pm today and the presentation started out with a brief speech by the Chief Flight Instructor (CFI). The certificates and epaulettes were then presented and our course mentor gave a speech. I managed to get in a few photos of myself and some of my groundschool instructors before the Spouts. Unfortunately my flight instructor wasn’t there as he is on leave for the week. Nonetheless, I will get him to sign my certificate and get a photo with him when he gets back!

Receiving my solo certificate, presented by our course mentor:

With one of my groundschool instructors, showing off the new epaulettes!

Spouts involve filling up a container with a drink of your choice and it is poured into one’s mouth from a height. Suffice it to say that I won’t be enthusiastically touching a can or bottle of Aquarius anytime soon! Someone did, despite pleading for it to not happen, managed to get the hosepipe and spray water all over us! As every course has done so before us, we then strolled over to the pool and jumped in! It was great fun and it’s fantastic to finally have some epaulettes!