Aviation for Women is the flagship member publication of Women in Aviation International. Articles feature women who have made aviation history, professional development ideas, and current-topic articles.
Issue link: https://afwdigital.epubxp.com/i/715635
38 Aviation forWomen S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 1 6 Getting Started Ready to hop back in the saddle? Make an appointment with an AME to get your medical; then it's time to jump in and start learning. To find the most successful—and cost-effective—route back into the cockpit, Dave suggests pilots identify their flying goals and ensure they have set aside enough time and money to get their training done. If the pilot has already started reviewing the basics, she can opti- mize the time with the instructor. "It makes it much more fun for the in- dividual and instructor if the pilot is ready to rock and roll," Dave says. To find a good CFI, talk to fellow pilots for recommendations and vis- it flight schools in your area. Talk to the instructors to find one who meets your needs—someone who is not only a knowledgeable instructor and expe- rienced pilot, but who also has a per- sonality that is a good match for you and your learning style. "Each inst r uctor has a different niche," says Laura Jeffrey, WAI 68825, a private pilot and a C-130 navigator in the Wyoming Air National Guard. "I think its cool to get those different perspectives." Laura obtained her pri- vate pilot certificate in 2010. Between her full-time job and her guard ser- vice, she has had trouble finding time to fly regularly. When her unit offered the opportunity for her to attend the International Women in Aviation Con- ference last March, she jumped at the chance. While in Nashville, Laura no- ticed the Rusty Pilots seminar on the schedule and thought it might be a good way to get back into civilian fly- ing. After completing the seminar, she now plans to work with CFIs in her guard unit to start flying again. Staying Active Once you've earned your wings back, establish a plan to keep flying. Many lapsed pilots have had multiple false starts in returning to aviation. Make flying regularly a priority to avoiding laps- ing again. Tom has a standing lesson with his CFI on the calendar every week to get his f lying fix. Just having it on his schedule helps him stay focused. "When you have someone else relying on you, you're going to stick with it," he says. And, if you find yourself slipping and haven't been up for a few weeks, ta ke act ion. "The m inute you feel yourself starting to get a away, grab a CFI and go up," Tom warns. Sherry Parshley, WAI 4954, echoes his sentiments: "If I ever don't fly for three weeks, I'm really uncomfortable. I want to be the best pilot I can be." Sherry and her twin sister started flying when they were 14 years old and soloed on their 16th birthday. Sherry eventually went on to get her commercial certificate with instru- ment and MEL ratings and her CFII. She was diligent about staying current and proficient until a job change and relocation kept her out of flying for a couple years. Another job change and a move back to Phoenix allowed her to get back into flying. Sher r y a nd a pa r t ner boug ht a n RV-6A and reconnected with many of t he pi lots she k new before she moved. "We bought an experimen- tal, so you need a network," she said. "We re-engaged with our network." Immersing yourself in the aviation community, perhaps joining a flying club or aviation organization, can help ease you back into flying and prevent you from lapsing again. Participating in fly-in breakfasts, poker runs, edu- cational seminars, or other activities with fellow pilots expands your expe- rience while you're meeting new peo- ple and having fun. "If you find people that make it fun, that'll give you the drive to go out more often," says Laura, who has had the opportunity to fly variety of air- craft—a Stearman, a Citabria, a Navy T-34, and more—through her connec- tions with other pilots. No more excuses. Don't let another beautiful day pass while you are on the ground wishing you were back in the air. When asked if there was any- thing he wished he had done differ- ently in returning to the cockpit, Scott says, "I should've done it sooner." He adds, "Get yourself a good CFI and get current." Time to saddle up and rediscover your passion. Happy (con)trails! ✈ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cassie Peterson, WAI 64202, is a freelance writer, active CFI, and former rusty pilot, based in Illinois. Rusty Pilots Back on Track AOPA offered more than 60 seminars in 2014, with 18 percent of participants go- ing on to complete the fly- ing portion of their flight review. In 2015, the orga- nization hosted more than 100 seminars, with 25 per- cent of attendees complet- i ng t hei r f l ig ht rev iews, Katie Pribyl says, noting that over 1,800 pilots have returned to flying status. AOPA plans to offer even more of these free seminars by the end of 2016. Build- ing off feedback from flight s c ho ol s a n d a t te n de e s, AOPA has updated the 2016 Rusty Pilots seminar cur- riculum to provide a more interactive, scenario-based presentation. To find a Rusty Pilots seminar, go to www.AOPA.org. Laura Jeffrey