Just recently, Pagasa has officially declared the start of the rainy season and Leading Edge had long anticipated and prepared to confront the bad weather days in it’s flight training operations. Obviously, maintaining flight safety will be the primordial objective of the school during this season of intermittent rains and thunderstorms! LEIAAI will not be hampered by this bad weather phenomenon and will continue to operate with extreme caution. Thus, after almost a 3 week lull in the conduct of soloing due to the nonstop rains brought about by the recent onslaught of Typhoon Domeng and Habagat or commonly known as southwest monsoon, a historical record breaking news was experienced by the school on this TGIF (Thank God it’s Friday), June 22, 2018 with the highest number of 1st soloists for pre-solo students attained in just one (1) day, a very memorable achievement for the five (5) fabulous members of Batches Bravo & Charlie 2018. First of the 5 to make it, flying RP-C 8249 on or about 0920H courtesy of Capt Vlad Evangelista was Student Pilot Rowel G. Cagro, a 27 year old native of Catarman, Northern Samar and an Air Transportation graduate of PATTS College of Aeronautics. Next to solo as the 2nd soloist on or about 1000H courtesy of Capt Philmer Powao, was 23 year old SP Joshua Craig Tan Chabon from faraway Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao and a BS Management graduate of De La Salle College of Saint Benilde. After barely 10 minutes later, on or about 1010H, flying RP-C8249 courtesy of Capt Elcid Tolentino, the 3rd soloist was 20 year old SP Cyron Gian Gordiela Silva of BF Homes, Paranaque City and product of UST, BS Marketing. The 4th Soloist for the day who made it on or about 1140H on board RP-C8249 courtesy once again of Capt Vlad Evangelista was 30 year old SP Mc Davis Boyonas Cirunay all the way from Tagbilaran, Bohol and a graduate of Informatics College in Quezon City. The 5th, but not the least and last soloist for the day was 26 year old SP Deo Enrico De Jesus Magpantay, who hails from Batangas City and a product once again of De La Salle College of Saint Benilde who made it at exactly noontime 1200H courtesy of Capt JC Asuncion on flight RP-C6923. The Lucky 5 successfully achieved their respective 1st Solo Flights luckily on a rare clear blue skies with scattered clouds building up later in the afternoon, where rain showers would start to cover the aerodrome. Apparently, the unforgettable highlight of their early flying careers materialized commendably within the standard flying time before solo. Incidentally, batchmates SP Rowel Cagro and SP Dave Cirunay, who are both from the ranks of Enlisted Personnel of the PAF, fortunately qualified with flying colors in ACDI’s Scholarship Program for Pilot Training. Thus, these latest breed of young and daring flightless eaglets are now officially authorized to join the few and elite brave flyboys of LEIAAI in safely taking off to explore and conquer the vastness of the horizon and clear blue skies of San Fernando Airport, La Union, where the home sanctuary of the Eagles Nest of Leading Edge is located.
Congratulations to the magnificent five (5) brand new 1st Soloists for today; Cagz, Josh, Cyron, Dave and Deo on a TGIF for attaining the most coveted feat in your quest to a very glamorous and rewarding professional career in the aviation industry. Happy flying & have a Safe Flight always! Cheers and God bless!
✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈