Sunsplashed

I went to Jack Brown’s Seaplane Base in October 2014 with no flight experience. After eight days of intense ground school and flight training, I was able to solo in the Piper Cub on the last day. Needless to say, it was an experience I’ll never forget! When I got back to Charleston, South Carolina, I felt “withdrawals” from aviation. So, I began to learn to fly land-based Cessnas, and I passed the private pilot checkride on April 24.

Clay Bryan
Charleston, South Carolina

Captain Hal

I want to compliment Ian J. Twombly on his “Right Seat” article in May Flight Training. He aroused about every emotion that I possess. The article hooked me with a surprise statement: “What we’re probably living in is a brief flash in time between the beginning of the airplane and the end of the pilot.” That struck me with finality. No more pilots? The thought never occurred to me. Very depressing.

He continued to toy with my emotions as if I were a yoyo. He reinforced that demoralizing statement with examples of how unmanned vehicles are commandeering human tasks. Then he began to justify why the demise of the pilot should be expected. I wasn’t liking this at all.

Then he gave me hope with the example of how transportation moved from water to land and sky, but the sea still lures us. As the curtain was dropping, he salvaged my emotional state with a wonderful conclusion as to how we pilots will always be present because it is just too much fun to be denied.

Thank you for stirring my emotions while giving me another perspective.

Jerry Marstall
Asheville, North Carolina

I am of the opinion that there won’t be flying cars for quite some time. I also believe that airline pilots will be around for quite awhile, as there is way more to airline flying than just stick and rudder. Keep in mind no one cares if a drone inspecting a pipeline or fighting our wars doesn’t immediately detect the smell of electrical smoke or can’t manually lower a stuck landing gear. And Predators have pilots.

As an aside, keep in mind that technology advances don’t just affect flying. In my opinion, it will affect every profession, from doctors and lawyers to accountants, actors, and pharmacists. Google “The Technological Singularity” or search for “Humans Need Not Apply” on YouTube.

By the time we are able to send 300 people across the Pacific with no trained pilot on board, who’s flying airplanes won’t matter, because our human paradigm will have radically changed.

Louie Remigio
Seaford, New York

Debrief: Caitlyn Jenner

I am writing to you because Flight Training has decided to cast its vote in the politically charged arena of the transgender debate by granting Bruce Jenner a spotlight to shine in. I am not sure exactly how we have a generation that cannot tell the difference between a boy and a girl. In flight, we trust our instruments—not our feelings—when in the clouds. Yet rather than follow their moral compass, some dress according to their feelings and lose their way in the storm.

Flight Training has literally thousands of people to interview at their disposal. I am extremely disappointed you have cast your vote in this manner.

Grant Funk
McGrath, Alaska

As seen on Facebook

“Just passed my checkride. I’m a pilot!”
—Jim Welsh

“First solo flight today at London, Kentucky.”
—James House

www.facebook.com/AOPAFlightTrainingMag

What do you like best about AOPA Fly-Ins?

Connecting with other pilots and AOPA members 10%
Meeting AOPA staff 2%
Attending educational seminars 12%
Watching airplanes 10%
Enjoying the food 1%
More than one of the above 64%

Aviation eBrief poll

Join fellow pilots at the next AOPA Fly-In August 20 in Bremerton, Washington.

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