You’re not a pilot unless you are flying. Maybe you once were a pilot, or are one in spirit, or perhaps continue to be a pilot on paper (compliant in satisfying regulatory definitions). But in my eyes, until you pull back on the yoke and defy gravity’s ancient pull, you aren’t one. I did not fly for 198 days this year—the longest gap between flights since earning my certificate seven years ago. During that time, I fortified my status as an aviation aficionado, but I stopped being a pilot.
Leading Edge: Act As If
Key Takeaways:
- The author experienced a prolonged hiatus from flying following a traumatic accident in 2017, which damaged his confidence and led him to question his identity as a pilot.
- He channelled his reluctance and fear into an extensive, six-month-long restoration of his Beech Bonanza, transforming it into an essentially new aircraft with advanced avionics.
- After test flights and a successful solo departure in the restored plane, the author gradually overcame his anxieties, reaffirming his identity and passion for flying.
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