The Emotional, Philosophical Journey to a Pilot Proficiency Check

A pilot en route to a pilot proficiency check finds that the excuse to fly a long distance provides unanticipated returns.

Dick Karl

Friday, March 31, 2023 at 11:32 AM ET

Verified

[Courtesy of Dick Karl]

Key Takeaways:

The author embarked on a cross-country flight from New Hampshire to California for recurrent Cessna Citation CJ1 training after his usual facility was unavailable.
The multi-state journey included visits with family and friends across Montana, Colorado, and New Mexico, alongside encounters with challenging weather.
Throughout the trip, the author reflected on themes of luck, privilege, the joys of flying, and the transient nature of life and opportunities.
A significant concern for the author was the impending threat to his single-pilot jet operations due to age-related insurance changes and ongoing FAA medical certification hurdles.

See a mistake? Contact us.

September is my “base month” for recurrent training in our Cessna Citation CJ1. Traditionally, I’ve trained at SimCom in Orlando, Florida. The facility is within driving distance of my home in Tampa, the people are great, and my insurance company approves the training. I was disappointed but not surprised when I called to hear that no course dates were available this year in September. The resurgence of general aviation flying had put a premium on those slots.

I called LOFT Aero in California and arranged for “recurrent,” or a “61.58” in FAA speak. This provided an excuse to fly from my summer digs in New Hampshire to the West Coast, with some intriguing stops in Montana, Colorado, and New Mexico. How much fun is that?