On June 30, 2020, during a night training mission, F-16 pilot First Lieutenant David Schmitz damaged his landing gear striking an antenna array as he attempted to land at Shaw Air Force Base. The 32-year-old Air Force pilot was nearing his 100th hour in the fighter jet. He was unable to make the cable arrest recommended by the tower and his ejection seat failed as his wing hit the runway. His wife, Valerie Rudolph, survives him. We are all David Schmitz in one fashion or another.
The Covid-19 pandemic sidelined many aviators. According to Reuters, over half of the world’s airline pilots ceased flying during the pandemic. However, the number of piston aircraft flights increased by more than 40 percent. According to AOPA, the number of training hours increased in places like Aero Atlanta Flight Center by an estimated 22 percent. If you weren’t one of the pilots getting some training, or if you hung up your spurs for the duration, it’s likely your skills can use some polishing.
