Looking To The Sky

An Update – About time!

It’s been quite a long time since I’ve written a post on LookingToTheSky.com.  I haven’t taken the time to make the updates like I should after each of my flights.

I first created this blog for myself to keep track of how getting my pilots license is all going, and since my last entry, I’ve been so preoccupied with everything in my life.  Though I have continued to fly, I haven’t continued to update the site.

Well this entry is to give some insight into where I am today.

I have done 6 flights (counting today) since my last entry and though I’m glad I’ve done them, though they’ve been too far apart to be as useful as I would like.

That’s been the trouble with getting this license for me since the beginning.  I am too active in my life doing so much that even though getting my pilots license is a major priority, I haven’t given it the time I should.

I’ve completed all the requirements I need to get my pilots license.  That is so awesome.  The only thing in my way is doing the actual oral exam/check ride.  This is the trouble I am having today.  My lack of taking the time to study over the last few years I’ve been working on this license has caused me to let a lot of things I have once learned to slip away.  I’ve done one flight a month since May causing me to have to relearn so much every time I go flying.  I’m really upset with myself for letting this happen.  I’ve been saying I’m becoming a pilot for so long that it doesn’t mean as much to me as it once did.  I want the day to come where I can say “I AM a pilot!”…but that just hasn’t happened yet.

Today I had a small crosswind (7 knots), and I took off, and landed, but boy was it rough on both ends.  It makes me feel like I haven’t learned a thing.  Yes, there were things I did great at during the small flight, but there were definitely parts of it I could have really done some damage.

I’m currently schedule to have my check ride a week from today, and I’m positive that it isn’t going to happen based on my flight yesterday and today.  I don’t know what it is.  It seems as though I know so much, but due to my lack of flying consecutively, I have forgotten so much and it doesn’t come back like riding a bicycle sadly.

The check ride instructor is gone from September 8^th to the 16^th leaving me with going for my check ride around the 17^th/18^th.   Now I’m fine with this, but with me departing the country on the 27^th, it doesn’t leave me with the amount of time I wanted to take everyone flying that I want to take.

Though it bums me out on the timing of it all, I need to keep reminding myself that this will all be worth it in the end.  It’s been quite the journey getting this license and though a lot of hurdles have gotten in my way, the biggest reason it has taken so long is my own lack of focus.  I’ve told myself so many times that have just a little bit more to go, that it’ll just be a little more flying to do, and now I know I can’t kid myself any longer.  I NEED to take the time to focus and stop doing so much of everything else.

Here’s hoping that the next few weeks work out the way I want them to and that I get ready to take this flight.  I know I can do it, I just need to stay focused.

Words of encouragement are greatly desired!

Jason

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Categories: Private Pilot Completion

Tags: Cessna 172, KTTD, N5201H, Solo, VFR, Weather, X-Wind

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