TGIF (Thank God it’s Friday) is an appropriate slogan today, January 26, 2018 for Leading Edge as 3 members of Batch Hotel 2017 successfully accomplished the most significant level of their early flying career, the very critical 1st Solo Flights in succession. Despite the heavy air traffic congestion as a result of a fleet of transient trainer aircraft from PAL Aviation, OMNI and Alpha Aviation entering the aerodrome in unusual numbers, release for solo flights were the order of the day for LEIAAI. First to solo on or about 0930H was Student Pilot Benedict Miranda Magaling released by Capt Vlad Evangelista and followed on or about 1000H by SP Allyssa Aquino Bagamaspad who was released by Capt JC Asuncion. The duo, ironically are both of the same age, 20 years old, batchmates, both residents of Lipa City and graduates of De La Salle University Lipa, BS Accounting Technology and BS Financial Management respectively. Incidentally, both soloists are the 3rd & 4th consecutive student pilots who joined the first 2 soloists earlier this week, all residents of Lipa City and alumni of De la Salle Lipa. The last but not the least of the 3 first soloists for the day was released by Capt Vlad Evangelista, SP John Alexander Dominguez Flora who successfully made it on or about 1120H. The last soloist is by the way not from Lipa but from Bacoor, Cavite and not from La Salle but from Far Eastern University, graduate of Fine Arts! But SP Flora is however, a batchmate of all the 4 latest 1st soloists from Lipa City and similarly impressed the assigned checker as far as skills and performance are concerned!
When it rains, it pours! Obviously, after the long holiday break and lull, the Soloing Season is back to its normal phase with Flight Safety taking the front seat. As a matter of policy, the school will never sacrifice safety and standards in pursuing the desired goals and objectives. Apparently, release for solo flights will only be officially implemented when safety and standards have been achieved by Pre-solo students which were religiously complied by all of the first soloists this January 2018.
Once again, congratulations to the triumvirate of “Batch Hotel 2017” for successfully achieving the highlight of your early flying careers, making it as 1st soloists in the first month of 2018 with flying colors! Kudos also to the proud and ever supportive parents of our 3 Soloists for the day! Happy flying & have a Safe flight always. Cheers & God bless!
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