“Do you want to fly to Lakeland and back?” It’s my friend Tom with an offer to fly from Tampa Executive Airport (KVDF) to KLAL, a distance of 17 nautical miles, for an airplane swap. By airplane swap, I mean just that. Tom owns not one, but two Aerostars. We’ll take Mike Echo to Aeromech for an annual and fly back in Juliet Alpha. How could such an enticing invitation turn my mood so sour?
Actually, I started out already feeling somewhat bummed. I’ve been licking my wounds ever since selling our Cessna Citation CJ1 jet. Insurance costs have increased dramatically, especially for older single-pilot ops in jets. Looking for a new (to me) airplane has been depressing. I’ve had it with the ominous, threatening letters from the Manager, Aerospace Medical Certification Division in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (“You must promptly report any adverse changes…You are cautioned to abide by Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations…”), and have decided to transition to Basic Med. This limits the maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) to 6,000 pounds. I don’t remember meeting this doctor when I took the AME course several years ago, but I do remember the vibe of the class.
