Register

The Day You Became a Better Pilot

Dick Karl is a cancer surgeon turned Part 135 pilot who flies a Cessna Citation CJ1. Courtesy Dick Karl
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The author's early flying career involved learning critical lessons from personal mistakes and informal mentorship, leading to an awareness of significant knowledge gaps.
  • His most transformative development as a pilot stemmed from three years flying in a Part 135 professional environment, where diverse colleagues provided invaluable instruction in advanced techniques, safety, and judgment.
  • Ultimately, the article asserts that flying alongside professional crews, rather than accumulating solo hours, was the true catalyst for becoming a highly competent and well-rounded pilot.
See a mistake? Contact us.

There are a few days in a pilot’s life that you remember forever. I am not talking about your first solo or the day you got (or will get) your private certificate. These events are always well-preserved somewhere in your brain’s hippocampus. I’m talking about those days when you really learned something you didn’t know—something that might just save your life. Like an asymptotic curve, a pilot never reaches perfection, but each one of these experiences gets you closer. And if you really care, that pursuit of perfection becomes a satisfaction of its own.

Dick Karl

Dick Karl is a cancer surgeon who appreciates the beauty and science involved in both surgery and flying. Dick’s monthly Gear Up celebrates the human side of flying. He writes about his enthusiasm for both the machines and the people who fly and maintain them.

Ready to Sell Your Aircraft?

List your airplane on AircraftForSale.com and reach qualified buyers.

List Your Aircraft
AircraftForSale Logo | FLYING Logo
Pilot in aircraft
Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox.

SUBSCRIBE