After the Checkride: Hit ’em all

The concept is simple. Sign up, receive a “passport” or another type of book to keep a record, and get a stamp at every designated airport, museum, or FAAST seminar. Some programs award prizes such as leather jackets. The state of Maine has offered live lobsters as incentives to pilots who completed the Maine Flying Trail competition.

Even if there’s no official program in place where you live, that shouldn’t stop you from exploring the airspace in your own backyard. Make a plan to visit all the airports in your state (where you can legally land) over the next year (or two, if you happen to live in Texas or Alaska). If some have runways that are shorter or narrower than you’re comfortable with, take along a flight instructor or get some additional training in short-field operations.

Checklist

• Use an up-to-date chart to study terrain and airspace near unfamiliar airports.

• Call ahead to ensure an airport’s fixed-base operator has fuel available.

• The little green books formerly known as airport/facility directories are now called U.S. chart supplements. The supplement for your state or region is your best resource for information on lighting, navaids, communications frequencies, special notices, and operational procedures.