(February 2011) — Forty-three years after obtaining a private certificate for single-engine land airplane operations, I have gotten it into my head to fly airplanes for real. By that I mean to fly passengers in somebody else’s expensive airplane. I have visions of epaulets, exotic layover destinations and, naturally, extraordinarily fast, ridiculously expensive and new airplanes, most likely jets. I will have lively and interesting conversations with my captain, our clients and their guests. I have been having maximum fun with this fantasy.
An aliquot of reality has presented itself, though. It seems that three requirements need to be met if I am really serious about this: First, I must obtain a commercial license. Second, I must pass the second-class medical exam. Third, I must find a job. In this economy.
