As Alanis Morrisette would say, “Isn’t it Ironic” that on the day I use my birthday present from my in-laws, which was an hour on the iPilot simulator in the White City Westfield shopping centre, all UK aircraft were grounded and most of the airspace in Northern Europe was closed. This felt very odd! With the skies above London eerily empty of planes because of the Icelandic ash cloud, I sat behind the controls of a 737 and took to the air. I’ve always loved flight simulators and this is the ultimate toy! I had two take-off’s and landings at Heathrow, 1 at the Caribbean island of St Maarten, and two at the, now closed, airfield at Kai Tak in Hong Kong. This is the famous approach where pilots flew directly at a chequer board on the mountainside and then made a sharp right turn to land. This is the approach on the video (and I’m very proud of it!) By the way, it’s my father-in-law, John, you can hear explaining where his old flying school was, because he did it for real!
Isn’t it ironic?
April 16th, 2010
April 29th, 2010 at 1:16 pm
helene stammers says:
hi im new to all this i just want to say thank u to u and all the this morning team for getting frank bruno on the show as a fellow sufferer myself i agree things need to change for people suffering from mental health its more common than people think. ive been fighting for 2 years now saying i have some sort of illness but noone is listening so hopefully having a national treasure on your show might change things and help the people that are suffering once again thank you very much x
April 17th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
Robert Cassidy says:
Hello Philip
Me and my friend used that i-pilot last month for preperation for an assessment for a Ryanair interview and sim test. He passed and start with Ryanair next month. I fly that type of aircraft, 737-800NG, for Thomson Airways and its the best job in the world.
Regards Rob
April 17th, 2010 at 11:50 am
Sarah says:
Hello Phil, Well done - very smooth. My son (age 17) has just decided he wants to be a pilot, and I’m terrified ! I am hoping he’ll change his mind.
April 16th, 2010 at 10:13 pm
Jean Willis says:
Well done, what a wonderful present. It is something I have always wanted to do since I was allowed in the cockpit - before the days of high security - on a trip to LA. That was several years ago now but at the age of 71 I still love the idea.
April 16th, 2010 at 12:56 pm
Hazel says:
Great Stuff Phillip!!!!
You didn’t look SMUG but looked very pleased with yourself and to be honest so you should. As a previous person’s comments said you had a smoother landing that SOME professional pilots. How great to have yout Father In Law with you who knew the course - did he have a go????
April 16th, 2010 at 11:56 am
Belinda says:
What a lovely father -in-law to give you such a fantastic birthday present.You must have been “a very good boy!A truly great day to remember x
April 16th, 2010 at 11:55 am
heidib says:
that looks great fun, well done. It must be scary to do that for real thinking of all the people below as well as the ones in the plane. makes you appreciate the real pilots alot more.
April 16th, 2010 at 11:26 am
christine says:
well done schofe i was laughing at your face while you were flying ( playing )soz i must admit from were i was sitting it does look very real,perhaps i should go in one ,pretending iam in a plane ,iv never been in one ha ha,glad you enjoyed it ,an it was weird i agree it happened on the day it did lol x
April 16th, 2010 at 11:05 am
Julie M says:
You did fantastic! Although it did look like you needed a booster seat lol
April 16th, 2010 at 10:50 am
Lisa says:
Wow Mr S I am impressed - Well Done.
Love the look of concentration on your face :o)
What a cool birthday present.
April 16th, 2010 at 10:35 am
sue says:
brilliant, well done, I bet that is just something else to have a go at. would you think about doing it for real. (small stuff first LOL). ta for showing this, what a keepsake having a video of it. X 
April 16th, 2010 at 10:32 am
Dougie says:
My brother wangled a free day at Heathrow on a BA 767 sim years ago. We started at Heathrow (doing the nosewheel steering stuff then a take-off) . Landed in Frankfurt (where you have to avoid lining up on the autobahn). Landed (in the sea, it wasn’t an easy approach) at the old Hong Kong airport then took off from Mexico (with a very long run-up due to the thin air).
Excellent fun, a great day’s flying.
April 16th, 2010 at 10:28 am
lesley shepherd says:
very well done i really liked the smug smile at the end
April 16th, 2010 at 10:26 am
hilsofhove says:
Well done see what ‘new eyes’ have done you are now a pilot! 
Simulators are exciting I have been in one at Heathrow.
April 16th, 2010 at 10:26 am
Kathryn says:
Now that looks absolutely fantastic. Must of been one whirl wind experience :D.
Get video Phil. Do you have anymore or is it just the one? Nice one, jealous !! You looked like you had fun, have a good day !! x
April 16th, 2010 at 10:14 am
Laura says:
love it, never seen you with such a serious face! looks amazing! x
April 16th, 2010 at 10:09 am
jamie giles says:
I used to take light aircrat lessons but it got a bit expesive so i packed it up, this looks awsome i would love to try it.
April 16th, 2010 at 9:53 am
Joy Burton says:
That’s the quietest I’ve ever seen you! Well done for the smooth landing tho - better than some I’ve experienced by professionals!
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