I had passed the test in air law in March 2018, but I wasn’t sure if it would work out that I would actually get the Uruguayan validation of my German license when I went back to Montevideo. In addition, I already had two passengers, Gabi and Winnie, for my first trial tour. So I was under quite some pressure by the time I arrived in Uruguay. What I also didn’t know for sure was whether the rental of the C172 from the flight school would work. Fabian, the owner of the flight school, only knew me from a few emails.
Mariano and Winni
The first day after our arrival in Uruguay I went to the aviation authority to pick up my “Convalidación uruguaya”. The employee could not find my file, but since she remembered me, the process was rather straightforward. My Spanish ICAO Level 4 entry also contributed to the successful outcome of the administration act. The next obstacles to be overcome before the first solo flights were the briefing and the check flight with Fabián.
Mariano, a local pilot whom I met the previous year and who had put me in contact with Fabián, took Winnie and me to the flight school. Fabián briefed me on the usual things like submitting a flight plan, asking for weather and NOTAMs, airfield maps, restricted areas, etc. Finally we set off for the check flight. Winnie and Mariano came along, so the C172 was full. The route took us around the old town of Montevideo, then for a touch and go to Carrasco, the major international airport, and back to Angel Adami in Melilla. Since I managed to do the radio work with the air traffic controlers of the two control zones, everything went without problems and the first basis of trust was laid.
