I read Ralph Butcher’s column in Flight Training twice to make sure that I understood that he had retired from aviation (see “Insights: Final Approach,” October 2011). I am very sorry to hear that. I always appreciated Butcher’s writing and his perspective. As a pilot of 30-plus years myself, my experiences sometimes lead to slightly different conclusions than his, but I always appreciated his thinking and respected his opinion. Sadly no one can fill his shoes, or “occupy the airspace he's been hogging.” Thank you, Ralph, for your lifetime of service to aviation. You will certainly be missed.
Drew Detsch, CFI
Berkeley, California
I was reading “Final Approach” and was struck by the similar timing of my aviation career. I passed my private pilot checkride on December 14, 1959, and so I also had 51 accident-free years as of December 17, 2010. Most of my flying was as a navigator in 24 years with the Air Force but I also achieved CFII. I no longer instruct, but I still fly a little at the Fort Meade Flying Club and with the Civil Air Patrol. Over the years, I would attribute the pursuit of additional ratings and the related instruction, as well as persistent reading of articles such as Butcher’s, as the key to keeping me current and safe. Thank you, Ralph, for all your great input.
Paul Hasz
Annapolis, Maryland
Congratulations to Ralph Butcher on his retirement. I started taking flying lessons in Nashua, New Hampshire, in 1972 at the age of 30. I logged about 15 hours when babies, orthodontics, schools, colleges, daughters, weddings, and life got in the way. At the age of 60 in 2002 I started taking lessons again and got my license in 2003. As an AOPA member and new pilot I chose to receive the Flight Training magazine until I gained more experience. I am still receiving it today.
I want to thank Butcher for all the wonderful and helpful tips and lessons I have taken from his articles that have made me a better, safer pilot. I will miss his column each month. Hopefully he will continue to fly, and Godspeed.
Richard Kemp
Canton, Georgia
Get the rating
Greg Brown’s case for an instrument rating is very well written (see “Flying Carpet: New Chapter,” October 2011 Flight Training). It makes an exceptionally good case for the private pilot to continue for an instrument rating.
Bob Reser
Tempe, Arizona
