Louis Anné from the jet set seaside resort Knokke-Heist is 17 and already a helicopter pilot. Yesterday afternoon—on his birthday—he successfully passed his flight exam. This makes him the youngest active helicopter pilot in Europe. And he’s ahead of his father, who is taking the same training course. “I think it’s really crazy that I’m allowed to fly before I’m allowed to drive a car!”
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Meet Europe’s youngest helicopter pilot: 17-year-old Louis from Knokke-Heist!
Colin Clapson
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Louis’s exam flight departed from Calais at 3 p.m. Around 6:45 p.m., he landed at Kortrijk-Wevelgem Airport, where he completed his training. The timing was no coincidence: he chose his 17th birthday as the exam date.
Over the past two years, Louis combined his flight training with his high school studies at the Abbey School of Zevenkerken in Loppem (Zedelgem - West Flanders). “Being a boarding student made it pretty difficult,” says Louis. “I had a hard time keeping up with the flight theory lessons.”
His father wants to become a pilot too
Flying itself went more smoothly. He took to the skies at the weekends. And he received great support, because his father Roger is also currently training to become a helicopter pilot. “We more or less started that together,” says Louis. “The fact that I’m just ahead of him now naturally creates a fun dynamic. But above all, I’m very relieved that my training is now over.”
At the helicopter academy, they look on with admiration at what Louis has achieved. “Combining a full pilot training programme with high school studies requires discipline and perseverance. It’s remarkable that someone at that age completes the entire programme,” says manager Matthias Decleer.
Flying Faster Than Driving
Louis has a very down-to-earth attitude, though he did feel some pressure. “Gosh, yeah, a little bit, from my parents,” he admits. “But I’m still amazed at how it all happened at such a young age. I was already flying solo at 16. And the fact that I can fly now before I’m allowed to drive a car—I think that’s really crazy.”
A career as a professional pilot isn’t in his sights for now. “But I do want to specialise further, in night flying or flying in mountainous terrain.”
After the exam, Louis was driven home by car. “Unfortunately, if I could have, I definitely would have chosen the helicopter!”