Flying high towards dream

 WITH a dream to become a pilot since he was young, Ishmael Taiben Benjamin took one step closer to realising that when he completed his first solo student flight in the Philippines on Feb 4.

Benjamin, 21, is from Tambul-Nebilyer district, in Western Highlands, and is pursing his commercial pilot license training at the Royhle Flight Training Academy in Dumaguete, Philippines. 

He started his training last August through the education placement services of Paradise International Education Consultancy.

Ishmael, the eldest of five children, completed Grade 12 at Lae Secondary School in 2012.

“I love the idea of how an aircraft could defy gravity to soar high above the earth effortlessly while carrying passengers,” he said.

With determination and his parents’ support, Ishmael pursued his ambition in the Philippines.

After five months training and 21 flying hours, he was finally granted his chance to fly solo.

He describes it as a priceless joy in the whole training.

“I taxied up to the runway and waited for traffic to clear,” he said.

“At the end of my radio call for take-off, I added ‘first solo’ and a few pilots in the area gave me a ‘good luck’ over the radio. 

“I pulled onto the runway and added full power. After the wheels left the ground, the plane was climbing fast. It was a Cessna 152. I could see everyone on the ground watching as I flew by. 

“I flew through the traffic pattern with no problem and lined up with the runway to land. It wasn’t the smoothest landing but I did it. The wheels touched down and my dream has become a reality.”

Ishmael is looking forward to finishing his training for a private pilot license, commercial pilot license with instrument rating and multi-engine rating by October this year. 

“I want to acknowledge my parents for their support,” he said.

“Pilot training is a very expensive course and I know we couldn’t afford to pay the fees. But they persevered to help me pursue my dream career and I really thank them for that, especially to my mother for her prayers towards my career and school life.