Plastic Pilot

When I listed smart things to do when non-flying, making projects was on top of the list. If I logged all the time I spent imaginating next flying activities, the total would probably be 5 to 10 times higher than my total flight time.

I temporarily suspended my flying activities because of my new job and our move from Geneva to Frankfurt. My strategy is still the same for the moment: keep my PPL and IR ratings valid. As I prefer to renew my PPL via the experience way rather than via a proficiency check, I will have to fly 12 hours between August 2008 and August 2009, 6 as PIC, and land 12 times.

The big question now is… where ? I can find a flying club here in Germany, go back to Geneva for a couple of days, visit a friend of mine which is instructor in London, or go in Cannes once again.

The German option involves discovering a new flying environment, and don’t require to use days off. It also requires to find a new club, instructor, and so on…

Going to Geneva and fly there in a familiar environment seems easy. There is still one Saratoga, the C172-TDI, and a new DA40 with G1000… appealing. And why not a tail-wheel training on the SuperCub ? But going there for just a couple of days is risky in terms of weather. As this could be combined with a visit to family and friends, it won’t be all wasted by bad weather.

Cannes is a safer option in this respect. Better weather, and a fleet of DA40s, and one more chance for my site qualification in La Môle. This option also requires to take days off, but can’t be combined with anything else. If weather is bad (unlikely, but not impossible) this would be a simple waste of time.

Going by friends in London is also an easy option. I have a club, and instructor there, and everything I need can easily be organised. Weather is certainly risky, and even riskier than Geneva, but this would not by a flying only trip, so even if I can’t fly, these days won’t be wasted.

The only thing that is not on the list for the time being is a trip to the US. My priority is to keep my JAA privileges, not to obtain new ones by the FAA. Going there is certainly something I will do later, but even with the very attractive Euro / Dollar exchange rate, this does not fit in my strategy. For the time being, I have to save time and money.

And why not mix all of these options ? All I need is twelve hours in one year after the 5th of August. On the plus side, I have time to make projects… at least until August. If you know other options that could interest me, like friendly places where I could rent a JAA plane, let me know. Any suggestion is welcome.