Already 5 years ago, that I’ve set up this blog and began to publish articles related to aviation and flight simulation. Already or only 5 years? Indeed, lot of things have changed, since.
At the very beginning, my contributions, articles, videos have been essentially related to flight simulation topics and experiences. But I’m curious and hungry for knowledge by nature and convinced of the need and the opportunities of lifelong learning. So, very quickly, I began also to be interested more and more in real-life aviation. I’ve recently passed successful the papers of Drone pilot and ULM aircraft flight instructor.
In consequence of this extension of interest, setting of priorities changed, too: I’ve enrolled very successfully in numerous aviation and engineering training courses and programs, at ERAU (Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida), ENAC (Ecole Nationale d’Aviation Civile, France), ISAE-SUPAERO (Ecole Nationale Supérieure de l’Aéronautique et de l’Espace), Technical University of Delft (Netherlands), to name the most important of them. Having been university lecturer in statistics and informatics for several years in France, it was nevertheless challenging for me to study again physical laws, mechanics and aerodynamics at an university level. But it is also very exciting and different from my original studies of master in economics and business administration.
At the same time, I began to visit more and more flight related events, trade shows and exhibitions, such as AERO in Friedrichshafen (Germany), EBACE Geneva (Switzerland), Airops Europe Cannes (France), PSW (Paris Space Week), ILA Berlin. During these events I met representatives of the aviation industry, decision–makers and pilots : Francis Guimera, president of the 3AF Midi-Pyrénées (French national aeronautical and astronautical association), Bertrand Piccard from Solarimpulse, Brandon Mitchener, CEO of EBAA (European Business Aviation Association), Douglas Carr, vice president of regulatory and international affairs at NBAA (National Business Aviation Association), Franco Pietracupa, pilot and chief instructor at Bombardier Business Aircraft…
Also, the content of my articles changed: safety culture, aircraft accident investigation, business aviation, future of the air transport, economic challenges in the aviation industry, innovative technologies, to name the most important. Currently, I also write articles and expertises for other magazines and organisations specialised in aviation.
Of course, I’m still and will stay an enthusiastic flight simulation pilot and continue to test and to report about my experience, may be in a more professional approach. I am confident that you’ll continue to accompany me in this changing. Great thanks to you.
Reinhard Finke
Some of my publications
EBACE 2017 : “Augmenter la sécurité de l’aviation d’affaires” (Improving the safety in business aviation) : https://www.3af.fr/global/gene/link.php?doc_id=4217&fg=1 , p. 18 – 20
“Let’s reinvent the future of the air transport” (Réinventons le transport aérien), presented at Forum 3 AF, ENAC Toulouse
Geschäftsluftfahrt demokratisieren (Democratization of Business Aviation), Interview with Brandon Mitchener, CEO of EBAA, in Aero International, Januar 2018
Some of my latest simflights
(select best available HD quality on YouTube, please)
Helicopter pilot flight training Montélimar-Ancone
Cannes scenery 2 reconnaissance flight (helicopter)
Approach Cannes LFMD on Learjet 45 via VPT17 (commented)
Landing and taxiing at LFMD on Cessna CJ2
Flight from LFHO, France to EDNY (Germany), on Dornier Do – 27