09/09 - Overcoming Adversity

09/09 - Overcoming Adversity

‘The desire was greater than my fears!’

By Steve Krog

Born, raised, and educated in Hungary, the opportunity to fly - or even see airplanes fly - was limited, says new sport pilot, Tamas Kriska. His personal interest in aviation had to take a back seat to other, more attainable activities. Then, in 2000, Tamas and his wife Agnes moved to the United States to pursue their respective careers. Interest in aviation and learning to fly was something that could now be pursued. But obstacles, both personal and political, stood in the way of taking the next step.

Tamas Kriska, 42, and his wife, Agnes, are research medical biochemists at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. At 22, following the major political restructuring in Eastern Europe, Tamas was finally able to explore his dream of flight. Air shows began to occur throughout Hungary and Tamas attended as many as he could. However, the possibility to do any general aviation flying in Hungary was still a far off dream for most. He considered building and flying RC models, but that just didn’t seem to compare.

In early 2000, Tamas and Agnes had an opportunity to relocate to the United States and pursue their professional careers. It took several years to get comfortably situated professionally, as well as adapting to the U.S. lifestyle. But a phone conversation with a friend in North Carolina rekindled his desire to fly.

“My friend was just beginning to learn to fly and was really enjoying the experience. The longer we talked about it the more I realized that my suppressed desire to fly was making its way to the surface,” Tamas said. “He kept on talking about all the fun he was having and suggested that I take the next step.”

After giving the idea some time to gel, Tamas decided to take that step. While searching the Internet, he learned about the sport pilot movement and the more he looked into it the more he realized this was the pilot rating he needed to pursue. So he began searching for area flight schools offering sport pilot training.

After contacting several flight schools only one responded: Cub Air Flight in Hartford, Wisconsin. “I couldn’t understand why these other flight schools paid no attention to my e-mails or phone calls,” Tamas said.

Several days later Tamas visited Hartford, received a tour of the facility, and looked at the Piper J3 Cubs. “I knew a little bit about Cubs so after sitting in one for a few minutes, I realized this was the airplane I wanted to learn to fly in,” he said.

Not yet a U.S. citizen, Tamas first had to get a security clearance so he obtained on filled out the required forms, submitting them that same day. (It took nearly a month before he was granted security clearance.) Next, we outlined the flight curriculum and the anticipated time frame to complete the training.

At this point Tamas shared that he had experienced a traumatic commercial flight when he was a very young child and had developed a fear of heights as well as claustrophobia. To this day, when commercial travel is necessary, he must take medication before the flight.

Tamas was uncertain that he could overcome those fears, but was quite willing to give it a try. The first training flight was scheduled for the next day.

After a thorough preflight inspection and discussion of all the flight controls, the lesson got underway. All control movements and airplane attitude changes were explained. Everything demonstrated was done smoothly and gently.

“As I recall, the lesson lasted about 30 minutes and initially I was horribly tense and afraid,” he said. “However, after trying the controls and making some climbs and turns, I was able to relax a little.” Flying with the Cub door open seemed to make his claustrophobia disappear. “The more we flew and the more I knew what to expect, the less fear and anxiety I experienced.”

Tamas continued to progress in his training and before long was ready for his checkride. That proved to be anti-climatic, thanks to Agnes, who helped Tamas prepare for the exam by quizzing him on the ride to and from the airport. He now has his Sport Pilot Certificate.

“Someday soon I’d like to own an airplane, but for the time being I’ll continue to rent a Cub, they are so much fun to fly,” he said. “Agnes and I really enjoy exploring the southeastern Wisconsin countryside from the air.”

Editor’s Note: Tamas took and passed his Sport Pilot checkride on July 21, 2009. Since then he and Agnes continue to be frequent airport visitors enjoying numerous Cub flights.