You’re not a pilot unless you are flying. Maybe you once were a pilot, or are one in spirit, or perhaps continue to be a pilot on paper (compliant in satisfying regulatory definitions). But in my eyes, until you pull back on the yoke and defy gravity’s ancient pull, you aren’t one. I did not fly for 198 days this year—the longest gap between flights since earning my certificate seven years ago. During that time, I fortified my status as an aviation aficionado, but I stopped being a pilot.
Leading Edge: Act As If
Key Takeaways:
- The author experienced a 198-day hiatus from flying, stemming from a traumatic 2017 accident that totaled his previous plane and severely damaged his confidence, making him feel he was no longer a pilot.
- He channeled his reluctance to fly into an extensive, six-month-long restoration of his second Beech Bonanza, transforming it into a "brand-new aircraft" with significant upgrades to the engine, avionics, and other systems.
- After an initial test flight with an experienced pilot, taking solo control of his meticulously rebuilt plane allowed him to gradually overcome his anxieties, regain his flying confidence, and reclaim his identity as a pilot.
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