Selection Process - Part 2

8:00 AM, I leave the hotel and head to the meeting point. Several young pilots are already gathered in front of the entrance. We are warmly welcomed by the HOP tour team. After signing in, I receive a t-shirt with the FFA logo and a badge with my name. I randomly draw my group number from a box. It’s a random assignment, no favoritism! We then proceed to the amphitheater, where we settle in.

9:30 AM, Jean-Luc CHARRON, the president of the FFA, arrives. He introduces the HOP Tour and explains the FFA’s expectations of us. Next, Kevin DUPUCH, the general secretary, presents the organization.

12:00 PM, we collect our room keys and go for lunch, cafeteria-style. We chat and get to know the other young people.

1:00 PM, we return to the amphitheater for a medical briefing.

2:00 PM, the PPL test begins. It consists of 50 questions, some of the most challenging from the official exam. Since I had studied the material with “Chez Gligli,” it went reasonably well. Here’s a sample question from the test:

• “What is the value of the lift at the moment of takeoff for an aircraft weighing: 10,000 N?”

Of course, the answer is: equal to the weight, which is 10,000 N!

3:00 PM, we work in groups of 6, each with different assignments. Our assignment was: “How to organize and present general aviation at an association forum.” We addressed it in 5 points, which we developed on large paper boards.

4:00 PM, we have an interview in front of the camera. I have to introduce myself, explain my aviation background, and answer questions. All of this in just 3 minutes flat, since there were 66 of us going through…

7:00 PM, we have dinner in the park of the Creps. Some of us had already participated in the Air Cadets program. I learned some amazing things!

8:00 PM, we go back to work on our presentation.

10:30 PM, lights out. We all go to bed. Tomorrow, we wake up at 6:30 AM.