Jeancarl Cardona
Jeancarl successfully completed the APS MCC at VA Airline Training and is now flying the Boeing 737 with Ryanair
What inspired you to pursue a career as a commercial pilot?
From a young age I used to go plane spotting and airshows with my Dad. I used to visit the cockpit every time we went on a trip. I also used to spend a lot of my free time on a flight simulator. Since then, I knew this is the career for me. Also, the dynamic environment and the fact that you get to see different places every day also inspired me in becoming a pilot.
Which training route did you choose to follow, and why?
I chose to do the modular route. The main reason behind this is that it was more financially suitable for me. It also gave me more control over the pace of my training. I also enjoyed the fact that you are not limited to one flight school and get to meet new people and flight instructors.
What challenges did you face before or during training?
The biggest challenge initially was how I was going to fund my flight training. Another challenge which I faced during my training was Covid. The pandemic delayed my flight training by at least six months, because we couldn’t do any ATPL theory exams.
What were the highlights of your time in training?
It was hour building and flying IR for the first time. I used to fly to a lot of places and airports from Malta, going to Sicily, other nearby islands, and also to Italy. I flew to and from commercial airports and grass airfields. One of the biggest highlights that I will always remember is that I had to do a ferry flight from Belgium to Malta for my local flight school. Flying IR also felt quite amazing, especially getting to fly in clouds for the very first time.
How did the competencies you developed during your APS MCC help you afterwards?
All of the competencies which we used and developed during the APS MCC were really helpful. The instructors at VA always emphasised using them in every single simulator session. This was really helpful for me during my Type Rating and Line Training with Ryanair, especially in managing workload, and communicating effectively with the rest of the crew. Other competencies were also useful such as applying the correct knowledge and SOPs.
What have been the highlights since you started airline flying?
The biggest highlight was getting to fly the Boeing 737 for the first time during Base Training, which was a surreal experience. When I was doing Line Training in Milan Bergamo I always had a great view of descending over the Alps and lakes. Other highlights include flying over the Moroccan desert and doing breath-taking approaches into the Canary Islands and Greek islands.
What advice would you give to someone about to start APS MCC training?
Prepare yourself as much as you can with the SOPs, flows and technical areas. Also, work a lot with your sim partner. I found the APS MCC to be like a mini Type Rating since there is a lot of information to learn and absorb in a very short time. Despite a lot of information, I found it really interesting and enjoyed every moment of the course.