As I get ready to sit down for my Thanksgiving dinner, I’m reflecting on the things that I’m thankful for. While family and friends top that list, the freedom of flight is a close second. I still marvel at the fact that, at any time of the day or night, I can jump in an airplane and get the best view there is – the view from an airplane. I don’t have to pay any fees to use the system (other than the cost of the airplane), I am never forced to file a flight plan (though it is always a good idea to file), and in many cases I don’t have to talk to anyone (though it is always a good idea to communicate). Our aviation system provides full freedom.
This freedom has at times provided me with incredible unexpected experiences. One memory that stands out is when I randomly ran across Devils Tower in Wyoming – a prominent rock feature I had read about in climbing magazines years prior – on a vacation flight I took in my Cessna 170 a few years ago. Until that point, I didn’t even know where Devils Tower was located. Being able to descend down to explore this familiar feature was one of those truly special moments that I’ve only been able to experience while being in a general aviation airplane. But knowing it’s a national park, I didn’t get very close. The FAA recommends that pilots stay two to three miles away from Devils Tower depending on the time of the year.
