In the beginning — well, the beginning of my airplane love affair — you could get your medical/student pilot certificate from the doctor if you were 16 years old, warm, breathing, had most of your important appendages and $30, preferably in cash. For some fledgling aviators, that’s as far as it went — which is not to say they quit flying. It was just something they repeated every two years, continuing to fly wherever and whenever.
Unusual Attitudes: In the Beginning …
Key Takeaways:
- Pilot certification and recurrent training evolved from a loosely regulated era to include endorsements, Biannual Flight Reviews (BFRs), and the FAA Wings program, aiming to improve pilot proficiency and safety.
- The author successfully organized a "Wings Weekend" for 13 years, providing free dual instruction and safety seminars to hundreds of pilots to fulfill recurrent training requirements and promote aviation safety.
- Despite the success, one incident at Wings Weekend involved a pilot crashing a high-performance Lancair he was unqualified to fly, highlighting the persistent challenge of pilots operating aircraft beyond their skill level.
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