get my pilot's license

Bills got in the way, but I finally did it! I work just a few exits from the airport, so it’ll be cool to be able to “hear” them. Also, my home is in the flight path of several major airports, less than a mile from a MOA, and I spend a lot of time hanging out around airports in general – it’s so much fun to listen in on the planes. Also, it’s interesting to take your airport diagram and see if you can tell where the planes are.

Well, I haven’t been in the air for over a year, but I am still studying and buying some of the stuff that I need as I go along. I’m really trying to get all the book work stuff down pat in my head so when I DO get back in the air (and I WILL), I’ll be all the more prepared and a better pilot.

It’s a bummer not being in the air, but the journey is still exciting, and I am used to long term goals. I know I can do this!

I got some money for Christmas and my BDay and a bit I saved, and I’m going to get an ICOM! Now I’ll be able to listen to the planes flying around at home. I’m so excited. I’m sure I could have done things like buy a new tv or power tool or a years supply of chicken food or something, but I’m going to add another thing to my flying kit! Yippppeeee!

I spend a lot of time traveling on airplanes for work, and going to the airport, getting on a jet and rising up off the ground is always exciting! This weekend I flew to LAX on Southwest – printed out my airport info and maps, got my charts out to check out the area, called ATIS, read my METARs. Read my AOPA “Flight Training” magazine while in flight, and studied clouds.

Every time I pay off a bill, I will try and do a little something towards learning to fly.

http://www.liveATC.net You can listen in live (a few seconds delay, depending on the internet) on various airports at this website. I am currently listening to Class C airport KOAK – and OMG, everyone sounds like they are talking at double speed and in code again! 6 months ago, it sounded like normal conversation and I could take a diagram of the airport and figure out where the planes were! OK, another thing I can become really good at while I’m waiting for that next trip up into the air.

Due to my husband’s job (and possible jobless) situation, I have set aside flying lessons for the moment. But that does not mean I am going to stop progressing towards my pilot’s license! I passed my “written,” but that knowledge is perishable! I have to get back into studying. I am going on a trip next month – time to get the charts out, study the weather and pretend I’m going to be PIC! By the time I am in the left seat again, I want to be so overly prepared on the booklearning side of things that I will just blow my instructor away. I am trying hard to keep thinking of this delay as an OPPORTUNITY to really, really know my stuff for chart reading, weather reading, fuel burn and efficiency, all the cool physics of flying and etc. Not like I just took a class and passed the test, but like this knowledge is a part of me. I missed a lot of navigation questions on my test (my husband thinks that is not surprising as I can’t navigate when driving, either), so I know that’s one thing I need to study.

So, how to stay motivated? Study one topic a week and learn it really in depth. Every time I travel (and I travel a lot for work), get the charts, call ATIS, do the homework like I’m going to be the one flying the plane (ooh, can you imagine if I could even fly RIGHT seat on a Southwest 737? ...Ok, I’m thrilled to have even been able to be in a 172, but just think!)

Ok, so, I have all the tools… I’ll use the table of contents in my book from school as my guide, and I’ll get to it. I want to be able to know this stuff in my sleep so when I’m finally in the air again, it will all come together!

I can do it. I can do it. I WON’T give up.

Went on a business trip, so while I wasn’t PIC, I did a few of those PIC things…have to keep practicing!

• I checked weather conditions at my departure and arrival airports
• Used my charts and followed our flight – and even correctly predicted where we would come out of the mountains
• Reviewed Class C airspace rules

Sooooo awesome! Makes me ache to get into the left seat again – inspiration to get out of debt, make more money and GET MY TICKET! I know I’m wayyyy too old to become a fighter pilot, LOL, but I DID get to have my picture taken from the right seat of a Hughey (OK, so the helo was on the ground and turned OFF, but still, how fun!).

I flew out to San Diego for work this evening on Southwest – tried to remember everything I know about flying while on board… scary how much I have forgotten. I will probably have to do ground school all over again when the time comes – not just to pass a test, but to be a safe pilot. Gosh, I miss being in the left seat.

Snow, sub-freezing temps and too windy for a beginner like me. I’m scheduled for tomorrow, also, though, so hopefully the Wx will cooperate.

I’m bummed, but due to financial reasons and the fact that my husband’s company is falling on hard times and he may be laid off, I may have to suspend this for a little while. Someone tell my boss that I need a bunch more over time?... trying to think of how I can add an extra $1000 or so to my income each month for flying, since at this point, I won’t be using any savings we have. I’m bummed, but I still feel blessed that I am able to even have done what I’ve done.

Not as good as I would have liked – only an 83%, but I’ll take it! One more baby step towards leaving the Earth! Whoooohooooo!