In fall 1967, I was a Marine second lieutenant and completed my first solo in a Navy T-34. After a couple of times around the pattern, the instructor got out, slapped me on the helmet, and told me to make three touch-and-goes and come back to pick him up.
No More Happy Landings
Key Takeaways:
- The author chronicles a diverse 50-year flying career, beginning as a Marine pilot in Vietnam and including roles in Hawaiian inter-island transport, African relief missions, airline, and corporate flying across the globe.
- Later in his career, he began experiencing significant and increasing memory and concentration issues, leading to difficulties with basic flight procedures, checklists, and safety protocols.
- These cognitive declines resulted in FAA intervention after a series of incidents, culminating in a meeting where he voluntarily surrendered his extensive pilot certificates.
- He took one final solo flight, reflecting on his distinguished career and the bittersweet realization that his time as an active pilot had come to an end due to his declining cognitive abilities.
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