The beauty of the Maltese islands stands out more when you get a view from high above.
It is only then that the force of the waves breaking against the majestic Dingli cliffs, the grandeur of the Maltese coasts, the Azure window and the crystal clear waters around Comino come out in full splendour.
But my previous experiences of seeing the Maltese islands from above have normally been restricted to just minutes at most, taking off from or coming in to land at the Malta International Airport (MIA).
That all changed earlier this month however, when thanks to Diamond Flight Training (DFT), I was taken on a trial flight, spending the best part of 50 minutes flying over the islands, enjoying such spectacular views, which were unimaginable to me before, that I rank it as one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life.
Nothing matches the excitement of sitting in an aircraft, waiting for the flaps to open and the wheels to start moving as you prepare for take off.
This time, however, my excitement reached fever pitch as during the trial flight, you are allowed to take control of the aircraft under the close supervision of a qualified flight instructor.
The most difficult of choices then is to choose whether to immerse yourself in the beauty of the islands’ architectural landscape, and its vibrant and contrasting colours, or else stare at the skyline which shrouds you as you master the art of flying.
Learning how to fly at DFT, with its excellent facilities and friendly staff, is an experience not to be missed. The flying school uses two aircraft, the latest Diamond DA20 and DA40 aircraft, with the company’s DA40 being fully equipped with the latest Garmin G1000 EFIS and Thielert 2.0 Jet A1 engine.
DFT was launched in May 2009, and one year on, the company’s directors, Jeremy Tan and Andrew Ciliberti, are delighted with the progress the company is making.
“The initial months of operation saw an influx of local licence holders attending the Private Pilot Licence (PPL) course which earned them an endorsement on any previous basic licences or certificates they had in relation to aviation. The professionalism of our teaching means that after mastering the basic techniques of flying, many are those who undergo subsequent courses which lead them to take control of the latest DA40 aircraft, which is undoubtedly the most advanced aircraft in its class on the islands available for both training and hire,” they explained.
Others opted to conduct different training on the agile and lighter DA20, which is a joy to fly, being capable of doing so while cruising at speeds of around 120 knots with practical ease.
“The PPL courses are conducted in an innovative way at DFT. Rather than the traditional chalk and talk classroom teaching methods, DFT has opted to make use of computer based training software from the acclaimed Oxford range.
“Students can therefore follow ground school at their own leisure without any restrictions whatsoever. Instructors are always on hand to review the material and answer any queries which students might have as they progress through their studies.
“At DFT, we strive to offer the best quality of service to our students and customers. We do not replicate our competitors in any way. While we lead the way in teaching aviation, others just follow. For this reason DFT will remain at the forefront of the aviation training business on the islands,” said the company’s two directors.
More information for those interested in enrolling in one of various courses offered by DFT, or for those wanting to go through a one-off trial flight, can be obtained by logging on to www.dftmalta.com, by sending an email to [email protected] or by calling 2125 7447.