Between heaven and earth

My current place of work is located, as you can see on the photo, between heaven and earth (you can find high-res images in the press photos section). However: This is not my professional place of work, it is purely private, of course. In April, I have reported for the first time about a dream come true that I've been contemplating for a long time - I am getting a pilot's licence. 

In Fribourg in Switzerland, I started a training course to earn a private pilot's licence. I am doing the practical courses in a Cessna C-172 aircraft. I have to pass an overall flight time of 45 hours with this propeller-driven plane before fulfilling the formal requirements to pass an exam.

Now I have already 13 hours in the sky behind me and I will shortly be doing the first solo flights. To be very honest: the training course is not as easy as I had expected. On the other hand, however, I am very happy with my progress. After theoretical flight instructions and a basic flight training in the sky right above the airport, I will do my first solo flights very soon. Apart from handling the instrument panel, departing and landing are the first tasks to be mastered, of course. Later, lessons on longer flights, flying and navigating, planning of routes, meteorology and other subjects will follow.

Apart from flying, I am entering uncharted territory in professional terms as well - the cross country project with Volkswagen is taking shape rapidly. An important technical phase of conception is already well under way, with organisational structures being formed and planning of human resources progressing at the same time. Please accept that I ask for your understanding as I can't reveal details of the Touareg project on my web site for the time being. Just to give you an idea: it is incredibly exciting, fulfilling and pleasant. Almost once per week, I travel to Northern Germany to accompany the project.

The only thing I can tell you at the moment: the next months will provide quite a few surprises that I'm sure you will be looking forward to read about on this web site.