Every Flight Is a Gift

On this day of giving thanks, and as I get older, I know what I am grateful for as a pilot.

Julie Boatman

Thursday, November 23, 2023 at 12:20 PM ET

Verified

The fall colors in western Maryland make for a sight only pilots get to see. [Credit: Julie Boatman]

Key Takeaways:

The author, a pilot, experienced a humbling realization of physical aging when she struggled to board an airplane, signifying a decline in her "explosive leg power."
This personal change led her to adopt a more deliberate, planned, and unhurried approach to flying, highlighting how age necessitates greater care and preparation.
Despite the challenges, the author now embraces this slowing down, as it has cultivated a deeper sense of gratitude and appreciation for every flight.
Ultimately, the article emphasizes that the ability to fly is a precious gift, not to be taken for granted, especially considering others who have lost this privilege due to health issues.

See a mistake? Contact us.

I am going to admit something that not many folks know. In fact, I’m not even sure I’ve told my husband (also a pilot) this.

After years of putting my left foot on the postage-stamp-sized “step” Cessna deemed the right balance between weight, drag, cost, and product liability on the nose of its high-wing 150s, 152s, 172s, 182s… when I came back to check out in a 172 in 2019 after a hiatus, I went to step up—and nothing happened.