Yesterday at 17:05 UTC, I landed a DA40 TDI on runway 17 in Cannes, after what was my ultimate flight, at least for a while. I knew this moment would come since changes started in my life, which will require to put my flying activities in brackets.

I flew much less than usual during the last months, and I already went through a couple of “last flights”: last DA 40 flight in the Alps, and my IFR renewal flight was nothing less than my last PA32 Saratoga flight and last flight in my Geneva homebase as well as last view of the Alps from a plane as PIC. These were steps towards yesterday…

Years ago, after I started flying, I already thought on what could make me stop. I imagined my flying times coming to an end for medical or financial reasons, or because I would feel unsafe at a level instruction could not correct. The possibility of stopping IFR was in the air after I had an ear-lockage problem, but the effects finally disappeared. I know many private pilots who stopped when they got kids, but this was not my case – I even took our baby on a flight when she was 9 months old.

My career got on top and will stop my flying, and I don’t regret this decision. There are priorities in life, and a hobby can’t get over a job…

All these “last” flights went fine, I’ve not been overwhelmed by nostalgic or sad thoughts. As part of my clean cockpit strategy I try not to get disturbed by personal emotions. However I had to concentrate more on these flights, and while on final I thought “this is the last time”. I made my best to keep concentrated, and landings were fine.

The most emotional moment after yesterday’s flight was after reaching parking, and before switching the engine off. On french airports, the procedure is to make a final call on the ground frequency, requesting to leave the frequency: “F-XXXX, Au parking pour quitter”. When I said it, my voice was slightly shaky… I don’t know if someone noticed it, but no one said a word.

It took me one minute more than usual to gather my stuff, clean the cockpit and close the plane. Adding the last flight in my logbook was also an emotional moment, as the cockpit pressure was now gone…

I have now a better idea what it will feel like to stop flying. Even if I hope being able to resume flying, this will probably be in 2009… Be sure however that I will continue to edit this blog, as I still have much to share… and this will start with new pictures of the Cannes, tips on the G1000, and much more… so don’t leave the frequency.