The Emotional, Philosophical Journey to a Pilot Proficiency Check

A pilot en route to a pilot proficiency check finds that the excuse to fly a long distance provides unanticipated returns.

Dick Karl

Friday, March 31, 2023 at 11:32 AM ET

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[Courtesy of Dick Karl]

Key Takeaways:

The author undertook a cross-country flight for recurrent Cessna Citation CJ1 training in California, using the journey from New Hampshire as an opportunity for various stops and philosophical reflections.
The trip involved challenging weather and his wife's fear of flying, prompting deeper musings on luck, privilege, and mortality, especially after visiting a friend whose husband recently passed.
He anticipates "gathering clouds" over his future flying career, facing concerns about his age affecting single-pilot insurance renewal and ongoing FAA medical certification requirements for a glaucoma condition.
Despite these impending limitations, the author expresses profound gratitude for his life and extensive flying experiences, conveying a sense of sadness about the inevitable end of this cherished lifestyle.

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September is my “base month” for recurrent training in our Cessna Citation CJ1. Traditionally, I’ve trained at SimCom in Orlando, Florida. The facility is within driving distance of my home in Tampa, the people are great, and my insurance company approves the training. I was disappointed but not surprised when I called to hear that no course dates were available this year in September. The resurgence of general aviation flying had put a premium on those slots.

I called LOFT Aero in California and arranged for “recurrent,” or a “61.58” in FAA speak. This provided an excuse to fly from my summer digs in New Hampshire to the West Coast, with some intriguing stops in Montana, Colorado, and New Mexico. How much fun is that?