Youngster achieves ambition of gaining solo flying licence aged 16

The teen gained his Light Aircraft Pilot Licence last month after taking to the skies for 17 hours of training at Halfpenny Green Airport during part of lockdown.

Jared, of Halesowen, undertook a two-year course covering tasks such as taking off and landing, navigation and how to handle engine failure with instructor Josh Woodhall, of training service Air Mid West Ltd.

The Leasowes High School pupil says: "It was my target to be able to fly solo at 16 and I've done it now. I had to do all sorts of exercises including emergency landings.

"I started off attending once a month, then that increased to two or three times a week.

"Due to the pandemic I wasn't able to attend for a while."

"It's quite amazing being able to fly. The landscape is beautiful and it's quite peaceful in the air, but at the same time you have to concentrate and be careful.

"I've wanted to be a pilot since I was four-years-old. When I was 12 I joined the air cadets. I was quite relieved to get my qualification, it's been a long time."

He added that he was looking forward to seeing his friends soon at the Halesowen Air Cadets 223 Squadron when in person meetings are resumed.

The 16-year-old has been offered a place at Solihull College in the autumn to study aeronautical engineering and hopes to pursue a flying career in the future.

Jared, also a promising glider, is poised to achieve his solo bronze award at Shropshire's Midland Gliding Club based at Long Mynd later this year.

For this he will need to complete 25 solo flights.

Two years ago, aged 14, despite being a junior member he made his first solo club flight and became one of the youngest in Britain to do so.

His favourite aircraft is the Vulcan.