Waypoints: The places you’ll go

My kids grew up in airplanes, so launching off on some long weekend to a location hundreds of miles away was not uncommon. As I mentioned in last month’s “Waypoints” (see “Tailwinds, Richard,” July 2018 AOPA Pilot), one of the greatest lessons Richard Collins taught me was how to use an airplane. And while our little airplanes are no match for some weather situations, with a little patience and flexibility, we can go a lot of places in a short period of time. Flying cross-country and being exposed to different weather conditions and new airports help build our skills and confidence. And with that comes more comfort in the airplane. And that leads to even more flying. It’s a good thing!

Too often, though, pilots only learn to fly, not how to use an airplane. When the examiner signs off on a private pilot certificate, the new pilot is probably proficient at flying in the local area on good weather days. But then what? The challenge and deadlines associated with the flight training experience are complete. What happens next? How do you learn to, well, stretch your wings?

One way is to team up with other pilots—especially more experienced pilots—to go on a few regional day trips. Maybe to a mountain strip for the day. Or the beach. From there, try a few one-night trips, keeping an eye on the weather, but not obsessing over it—easier said than done, I know. But with all the weather apps we have today and a little flexibility on takeoff and return times, you will be amazed at what you can do.

Flying clubs are a great way to connect to other, more experienced pilots and to get access to a variety of aircraft. Some clubs and flight schools organize fly-outs from time to time. Many aircraft type clubs also often organize regional fly-outs where you can accompany others, gaining advice on flight planning and weather avoidance. For example, the regional Bonanza groups associated with the American Bonanza Society plan numerous fly-outs each year. The Cirrus Owners and Pilots Association also conducts many organized fly-outs. And, of course, there are fly-outs attached to the AOPA regional fly-ins each year.

One of the challenges with using an airplane is finding new and interesting places to fly. For that, AOPA has developed a number of tools. The newest is a free, twice-monthly email newsletter called AOPA Travel Pilot. The newsletter highlights some of the latest travel articles added to our website. Over the past 18 months, we have added hundreds of GA-specific travel articles. The newsletter provides just a snapshot of the locations, and it is a helpful gateway to the Travel section of the site. The newsletter launched in April, and as of early summer already had nearly 20,000 subscribers. It is created by those of us on the AOPA Media team who often travel by general aviation, and by a professional travel writer who is also a pilot.

At some locations, ground transportation is necessary, as are overnight accommodations. For that, AOPA has partnered with a travel company to offer deep discounts on hotel rooms. That, combined with relationships with various rental car companies, simplifies the ground portion of any stay. Find all the details, including how to subscribe to the newsletter online (www.aopa.org/travel).

To find your way to these destinations, the AOPA Flight Planner and airport directory pages also have been updated with a host of new features. The Destinations airport directory tool allows you to search for airports based on your favorite activities, such as golf, skiing, fishing, and amusement parks. Soon, the Flight Planner will also showcase destinations we have written about along your planned route, presenting all sorts of interesting side trip and fuel stop opportunities.

There are few things in life more rewarding than personally piloting an airplane to a fun and adventurous location, exposing friends and family to the wonders of general aviation flying. Your AOPA membership includes plenty of resources to help you make it a reality. This summer, spread your GA wings and try a few new destinations.

As Dr. Seuss said: “You can steer yourself any direction you choose…. You’ll be on your way up! You’ll be seeing great sights! You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.” Let us know the places you’ll go.AOPA

Email thomas.haines@aopa.org