I did it!!!

Well life couldn't be better, after exactly 151hrs of helicopter time I am a commercial pilot. I am so thankful for all the good things happening in my life.  I just hope I get over the last financial hurdle and get to finish my CFI & CFII on time at the end of this summer.  Positive energy will make it happen!  Thank you to all who have supported me in this lifelong want and helping me see it through!

Wow, it has been a long time

I guess one can say I have been busy.  So busy in fact I almost forgot about my blog.  Since my last post have have obtain my instrument rating and am currently into my commercial semester.  Today I took my first FAA practice quiz and scored in the mid 80's.  My plan is to take my exam next week followed by a successful check-ride soon after.  My IP wants to get me done before I leave to Germany in March.  This seemed crazy in January when I first heard his proposal, but I believe it is possible.  I have really enjoyed this semester and learned a lot from my Instrument training.  The main thing I learned that there is no room for self doubt in my cockpit and the most important thing is that my wife (YES I AM MARRIED TO MY LOVE!!!!) is my rock.  When I questioned myself she made me believe in my abilities.  Her love means more than anything in this world to me.
   My instructor for this semester is a great mentor with excellent teaching skills, it is bitter sweet to see him leave, but I couldn't be happier for him going off to fly EC130's at the Grand Canyon.
Happy Flying!

APPROVED!

I finally received an approval and am able to continue on my quest.  I am so happy to go on with this great group of cohorts and friends.  The camaraderie and friendships are one of the reasons I wanted to become a pilot, it is like having a bunch of brothers united by a common love for aviation. While I am happy to be at this stage I am also somewhat disappointed by the lack of assistance I received from my school.  It appears that I can not make them understand their role in the process and the responsibilities that are theirs. I still hope to make a difference for future students and to draw attention to the issues surrounding aviation training funding.  I am also worried that our tax dollars are not being spent in a sensible manner, but I need to look into this more before I can form a valid opinion. Anyway, I am happy to continue without delay. Flying blind is the motto for this semester - aka Instrument Flight Rules.  I look forward to flying the R44 and sporting some fashionable foggles!

Sorry for the neglect

Well it has been a while since I have had the mind to post.  The good news is - I AM A PILOT!  It took me just over 7 month and just above 55 hours to get my private pilots license.  I am so proud to have made it this far and am overwhelmed with joy for the support I have received from the one I love the most.  Without her it would not have been possible to make it this far.
     The bad part is that I am struggling through the financing void that exists for helicopter pilot training.  This is extremely irritating because it causes more stress for those who have been so supportive of my endeavor, as well as myself.  When I started, I began with a loan that would have been sufficient to assist me in the completion of my program.  The part that I had to reapply for every term did not concern me, because the aggregate loan amount exceeded my anticipated needs. Since then I have had to learn more about lending and associated laws then I ever cared to learn.  What I have learned is frustrating, because it requires me to make other people care about my situation, because they need to do their job to ensure I can get financing.  The people I am referring to are the administrators of the school and the bankers who have returned to the cushy life of playing god, after we bailed them out.  The banks decided to change the loans they would make available to my 2 year college and the administrators of the school, who are there to assist me, seem to know little about what they need to do to ensure financing is available for all the degrees and programs they offer. One would think that if you start a program with a certain loan, that this loan should be available for the duration of the program and should not be able to be yanked from you in the middle of your course of study.  Kind of like signing up for a car loan, you agree to the terms and make your payments until the car is yours, nobody can change them unless you miss your payments. It has taken me over two month just to get the people in the financial aid department to understand and realize that their financing options have been changed by the banks and that they are the ones who need to correct this problem to be in compliance with Arizona State and Federal law. Now my semester has begun and due to all the delays I am still without financing, but things are looking good and I hope to have financing secured by the end of this week. Cross your fingers if you are one of the few to read my blog.
      What this has taught me is, that instead of being bitter about this situation, I want to take on this issue and  invest my time for those future aviators by raising awareness regarding the general void in helicopter pilot training financing.  People may not consider how important this small part of the aviation community is, until there loved one is flown to a hospital in time to receive critical care, or is rescued in a remote area that could otherwise not be reached.
     I have written letters to some of our elected officials, and hope to find other ways to make people aware of the need for financing to train future helicopter pilots.

The poem that has accompanied me since day one

High Flight Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air. Up, up the long delirious, burning blue, I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or even eagle flew - And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod The high untresspassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee No 412 squadron, RCAF Killed 11 December 1941

Back in the saddle

It seems like the past few weeks have been the longest of my life.  My aviator friends failed to warn me how addictive flying is. Well I am glad to count myself as a member of the addicts in this case.  Yesterday was my first flight after the summer break and I got to enjoy the company of a new instructor while working out the rust. Actually I was pretty happy with my flight, I guess once it is in your blood, it is like riding a bike.  This phase of training will probably be very intense as all the new challenges of cross-country flight planning are added to flying the machine. My first stage check (stage 2) will be in just a couple of weeks followed by a solo cross-country flight.  Stage 3 will be close behind were we fly with the chief pilot and pretend we are with the FAA examiner.  The FAA check ride for private pilot will be towards the end of the short semester - once passed I will be a certificated pilot!  The thought makes me smile!

Last day until Summer School

It has been an amazing ride.  Being able to sit here and know that after a few short month, I am able to safely fly a helicopter and have the required knowledge to become a certificated pilot by the end of this summer is amazing.  It has been a wonderful experience becoming a PIC, while watching our cohort grow into a cohesive group of pilots.  Watching the bonds and friendships grow has been as satisfying as my own personal growth as a pilot and person.  Living the dream, has brought back the smile and the goofy sense of humor - the joy of living and loving.  I am so grateful to all of those who have supported me - it feels awesome!
     Yesterday was a milestone for me, when I was faced with a close call and my reaction was almost instinctual, and helped avert a potentially bad situation.  It is a testament to the quality of training we receive here, and it made my confidence in my piloting skills grow.
    Today I get to do a night flight to finish my semester - just writing it makes me smile!