‘Pete the Irish Pilot’
He has had some demanding jobs at high altitude. A private pilot’s licence gave way to a career in the RAF. Flying Tornados was the dream job for any adrenaline junkie but for Belfast-born Pete Hutchinson, it was just another day at the office.
Tornado jets gave way to flying for Virgin Atlantic for twenty-five years and when he retired from the commercial world, the lifetime love of flying still coursed through his veins.
Nowadays, the former fighter pilot, instructor and commercial aviator has found his second wind and is a roaring success on Instagram and YouTube with the handle ‘Pete the Irish Pilot’.
And that love affair started at the old hangar that was once the base of Woodgate Aviation at Belfast International Airport.
He returned to a very different Woodgate to give the company’s modern hangar and private jet departure terminal facility the once over and was suitably impressed.
Back to his roots
“Back in 1980, it was a great little place, very rudimentary, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Looking back on it, that was proper stuff. There was no glitz, no glamour, just the smell of fuel and people sitting in rooms with lots of smoke, shouting at people and drinking coffee, saying in colourful language ‘this is how you do it’ and this is how you don’t do it,” recalls Peter.
He adds: “I learnt a lot and got my PPL, and that was the start, that’s really where the whole flying journey for me began.”
Woodgate Aviation is nothing like what it once was. It offers hangarage, ground handling and fuelling services to business aviation and conducts an aircraft charter service, under its CAA Approvals. It also provides valuable Public Sector services through the fixed-wing Northern Ireland Air Ambulance and survey work for Land and Property Services.
“This is my first visit to (the new) Woodgate and it’s extraordinary. It’s in no way what I expected and its light years ahead of where the original operation was. It’s truly fantastic and clearly a very swept up operation and very impressive.
“If the Euro Millions decides I’m a worthy recipient, I might be able to come and give Woodgate some custom, but don’t hold your breath,” he jokes.
Instagram and social media success
And what about his success on Instagram and his 145,000 followers on the platform?
Peter explains: “I’ve been dragged in to the technological age by the bootstraps. I’m barely able to operate my ‘phone and generally have to hit the ‘crash’ button and get some help from the IT Department even to do the most simple thing.
“So, Instagram and YouTube are blowing my mind a bit. The numbers (of followers) being quoted to me sound like the telephone numbers for the west coast of the States, but it doesn’t bother me.
“I’m doing it for a bit of a laugh and providing that’s there, and people get entertainment, and maybe the odd fearful flyer gets some positivity to get into an aeroplane again, and I help other people to get into aviation, then we’ve succeeded. But, first and foremost, it was a bit of a laugh for my wife to get me to shut up.”
His legion of followers has taken him by surprise.
Peter admits: “It’s madness. These people have clearly nothing to do. They ought to get out more or maybe get a hobby or put kettle on and make a cup of tea. But having said that, I’m very flattered by some of the things they write.
“There are a few people who are not so keen on me but that’s their choice. It’s a broad kirk, so I’m very happy to receive any message. I may not just keep all of them, but, yes, I’m stunned, shocked, surprised, overwhelmed – all those words – but at the same time very pleased.”
Woodgate Aviation
Woodgate’s Operation and Development Manager, Keith McKay, said: “’Pete the Irish Pilot’ is a phenomenal success whose videos are watched the world over. His stories are uncluttered, inspirational and hugely entertaining.
“I was delighted to host him at Woodgate where he was genuinely impressed at how far the company has developed. He’s every bit as enthusiastic today about flying and aviation generally as he was way back in 1980 when he took to the skies over Aldergrove.
“We’ll always have the welcome mat out for Peter. If he helps young people to achieve their full potential, then it’ll be a case of a job well done.”
Last word
The last words are taken from Pete highly entertaining and beautifully illustrated video on YouTube.
“Pete lived the dream of the little boy from Belfast and, against the odds, he did become that airline pilot, up in the sky with the ‘planes.
“So, if you have a dream, with hard work and determination, you’ll find a way too. You can face the struggles ahead and get to where you aspire to be.
“Dream big. Dream about what could be. Believe that you are destined to do what you really want to do. And you just never know where you might land.”
Sage advice from someone who has been there, done that….and got the wings to prove it!
You can see Peter’s video here: https://tinyurl.com/2vvpb788
Follow on Instagram: @petetheirishpilot
