While most of Northern Luzon is experiencing the unpredictable on and off torrential rains and thunderstorm, prevailing weather condition at Poro Pt., SFLU this morning was generally clear and flyable in the 1st period up to the 3rd period when a sudden buildup of dark cloud formation occurred over the San Fernando Airport aerodrome during the 4th period in the afternoon suspending navigation flights as training operation was restricted to local AOR. Be that as it may, lady luck must have been good to one of Leading Edge’s pre-solo students for the day, a member of Batch “Echo” 2017, Student Pilot Marcelino “Marc” Cruz Balabbo III who at long last reached the most coveted feat of a career in aviation, the “1st Solo Flight” flying Cessna 172M RP-C1300 on or about 0850H, August 30, 2017 exactly 15 days after the 1st solo flight of the last soloist for the month of August, batchmate SP Misha Gomez. SP Marc Balabbo would have soloed earlier, however, due to a variety of factors, his soloing took some time and a lot of turns and slips similar to one of the aircraft gauges which indicates variable readings. Bottom line, despite some adversities as well as prolonged bad weather days, the brand new 1st Soloist was released for solo by no less than the very straight veteran Head of the school’s Pilot Training, the Chief Flight Instructor, Col. Arnel Borres who personally handled and monitored SP Balabbo up to the moment of making safe and smooth touchdowns at the active 190⁰ Runway-in-use. Incidentally, an Electrical Engineering graduate of Central Colleges of the Philippines, the 25 year old 1st soloist for the day, SP Marc Balabbo, a resident of Pasig City, is ironically the elder brother of one of LEIAAI’s prospective Flight Instructor, Capt Marcel Balabbo, a member of May 2015 Batch. Thus, flying runs in the blood of the new 1st soloist and the future is obviously bright for him, as long as he would strictly adhere to the culture of discipline, hard work, courtesy, integrity, honesty and professionalism expected on every pilot to survive the very stiff competition in the aviation industry.
Once again congratulations to Student Pilot Marc Balabbo for attaining the most significant event of a career in aviation, the “1st Solo Flight”! You are now officially included in the elite short list of the young and daring eaglets authorized to explore and conquer the infinite vastness of the horizon as well as the clear blue skies of SFLU! Happy Flying & have a Safe Flight always! Cheers and God bless