Final landing

My last post here is to let you all know that the Olympia Pilot has decided to hang up the headset.

For those of you who know me and how passionate I've been about aviation for so long, this may surprise you. It sure has surprised me! I never expected 20 hours of flight training to bring me to the conclusion that flying around in a small plane, under my own control, is not for me. But it has. Here's why.

There is a subjective continuum of risk and safety and comfort, and everyone has to find their own point on that continuum. This is of course true of any hobby or pursuit--I think we all know (or know of) people who have died in accidents just by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. But it is especially true of flying, since it is so unforgiving. You will not find me claiming that general aviation flying is unsafe. Statistics demonstrate that it is quite safe, especially for conscientious pilots who follow the rules and stay within their limits.

But those statistics have to be lined up against each individual's comfort level. And I've come to the conclusion that I'm not comfortable. Much of this is due to turbulence. Despite having flown a quarter of a million miles commercially in the past three years, and experienced plenty of the bumpy air that goes along with any flight in an aircraft, I somehow thought it wouldn't be an issue. It was. On my solo flights especially, I found the constant bumpiness from thermals and unstable air to be extremely unsettling, to the point that it sapped the enjoyment out of flying. Experienced pilots, including my instructor, told me it would get better with experience. My instincts told me it would take too long to get that experience and comfort level, and during that uncomfortable time I'd need to continue learning the craft of flying, with all the additional risk that inexperience brings. I've judged that to be below my point on the risk/safety continuum.

I've also been unable to come to grips with all the little things that tend to go wrong in a small airplane, especially one that's 30 years old like TP. The past few times I've flown, the radios have had minor problems (including some pilots reporting them inoperative at times), and on the other 172 I've flown, the directional gyro has become unreliable. I am not at all saying these aircraft are unairworthy, and I have reminded myself of Glacier's excellent safety record. These mechanical issues are minor problems that to an experienced and comfortable pilot represent inconveniences at best. But to this somewhat anxious student, they represent one more factor in that risk profile assessment.

I have the greatest respect for people who complete private pilot training and enjoy aviation. It is a challenge in many dimensions, and hats off to anyone who achieves it. I also have the greatest admiration and esteem for Joel, who is a terrific instructor. If anyone in the Olympia area is looking for a good instructor, and you want to work with someone who will adjust to your particular capabilities and learning style, give Glacier a call and request Joel.

I appreciate the support from friends and family, and hope you've enjoyed reading about my adventure here!

--Scott