As an AOPA Flight Training reader, you may be getting more training time than most pilots. If you're still working toward your first certificate, or if you're currently in the process of adding a rating or upgrading a certificate, every flight you make is probably devoted, at least in part, to training.
You might find it encouraging to know that I am still in training, too. And so is every pilot I know. Ongoing training is not only required by federal aviation regulations, it's also a deeply ingrained part of the general aviation culture. And I think that's something we can all be proud of.
There's a reason that at AOPA Flight Training we say, "A good pilot is always learning." Very simply, it's because it's true!
Recently I spent an entire week at FlightSafety International, in Wichita, Kansas. It's something I have been doing every year for quite some time. In the past I have used the time to sharpen my skills for flying my Bonanza. Even though I have always flown regularly, I still find going back into a formal training environment tremendously useful. It's a little like getting an annual inspection on the airplane. After a year of use, some things need to be tuned up. Skills we use all the time may become so routine that we don't give them our complete attention. And the emergency skills we hope never to need can get rusty from lack of use. And when it comes to knocking off the rust, I like to take care of that in the safety of a simulator.
Since becoming president of AOPA I have added to the training calendar, learning to fly the CJ3 that I use to get to so many of the events I attend just about every week.
But this most recent trip to FlightSafety was just a little different. This summer, the workload included completing a Cessna Caravan initial course and a CJ3 recurrent program, along with a checkride for my type rating.
After eight intensive days, I was pleased to be headed home having accomplished what I had come to Wichita to do. And once again I marveled at how important the continuing education of pilots is and how effectively fine organizations do this training. I have always thought of education as one of the best investments we make in people. How fortunate we are as pilots to be able to go back to school for training that gives us both knowledge and experience in situations we are likely never to see in the real aircraft.
So, you might ask, why Caravan training?
Well, we made a decision a few short months ago to expand the AOPA aircraft fleet to allow more of our people who travel on behalf of our members to do so in general aviation aircraft. It just seemed important to "walk the walk." Or, in our case, maybe it is "fly the flight."
The people I meet at events across the country always want to know how I traveled. And, at aviation events as well as non-aviation events, the "how I got there" question inevitably leads to an interesting discussion about the value of general aviation.
We decided it was important to put that value proposition to work for AOPA as a whole. The CJ is in almost constant use, and when we did the numbers it seemed clear that our staff could benefit from having access to another aircraft with a healthy range and good cargo-carrying capacity.
Fortunately, early in our search for new aircraft we found a low-time 2008 Cessna Caravan available. Having had an opportunity to fly the aircraft, I know many members of our AOPA team will enjoy the efficiency of loading the Caravan with the people, materials, and equipment we need and heading off to an airport program or state capital. The Caravan will allow us to get people and gear to events throughout the year.
The first major opportunity to see the AOPA Caravan should be at Peter O. Knight Airport during the AOPA Aviation Summit, November 5 through 7. We are well along in the planning of an extraordinary few days in Tampa, Florida. And, of course, the aircraft will be put to good use travelling to events being scheduled across the country to build support for General Aviation Serves America.
No one understands the true value of general aviation better than the staff and members of AOPA. And it's never been more important for us to demonstrate, in words and deeds, just how effectively GA serves America every single day.
Join AOPA President Craig Fuller at AOPA Aviation Summit, November 5 through 7 in Tampa, Florida, for information on how to enhance your training experience. E-mail AOPA President Craig Fuller at [email protected].
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