Introducing a new staffmember

Dear Members,

As you know our previous Membership Officer had to stop due to personal reasons. But of course we already found a new Membership Officer: Tom Uytterhoeven.

1) Tom tell us something about yourself and what you are doing in life.

Well, I am Tom Uytterhoeven living in Heverlee, which is part of a city in Belgium: Leuven, mostly known for it's beer. (Stella Artois, red.) I'm 17 years old and so I'm still in high school. Unfortunately this year I didn't pass my exams which forced me to redo my 5th grade. My study direction is 'Secretary-Languages' which best can be rephrased as: Management Assistant. After I finish school I'll probably do further studies which normally will be Public Relations.

I only have one sport and that's tennis, which I'm playing from my 7 years. In the rest of my spare time I like going out with friends, flying or controlling on both Vatsim (mostly) and IVAO. I think being an online atc following the real procedures can be a good helping hand to realizing my dream: becoming an atc at Belgocontrol.

2) When did you discover flight simulation and online flying possibilities?

I think that I had to be about 10 years when I buyed my first flight simulator which at that time was the Flight Simulator X. Buyed me a joystick with that, but at first I found it harder to fly so it required a lot of practice before my first landing was a success.

I discovered online sim flying about 2 years ago. I read an article about it in the Belgian newspaper, and I found it interesting that real life atc could be provided aswell seeing other pilots doing the same thing all around me. I first chose the Vatsim network which till today is the network where I'm mostly active. However after joining the VA I tried IVAO which is also fun because more Brussels National staffing is available. 

Like I said before, I'm an atc on Vatsim, currently staffing Brussels Tower. I recently also started controlling on IVAO more particulary on Liège Ground. As I'm further on the Vatsim network that's where I am the most online. I think being an online atc is fun and a very good preparation for my ambition to become an atc at Belgocontrol. I went to the Belgocontrol visit on 27/08/2010 and being a tower controller really means having the most beautiful desk in the world!

3) As you are a flightsimmer, you surely did already have the plane virus in your brains.

Yes indeed, cars, airplanes, trains, boats everything that moves fascinates me. However airplanes are still my biggest passion, going on holiday from Zaventem (Brussels National Airport, red.) really means paradise. I could stay forever in the terminal to watch airplanes arriving and departing again. I guess everyone in this VA has been caught by the virus and knows what I'm talking about.

4) Do you think our VA can still be perfectionated?

I think there will always be room for improvement, that's not online the case for our VA, but for everything in life. I think you can always do things a little bit better and improve some aspects. 

I wish our VA all the best and I hope that we will be able to expand to other online networks to get even more members and be the VA that represents our Belgian Flagcarrier.