Plastic Pilot

In an older post, I wrote about what is left when the aircraft is back to its hangar, at home-base: souvenirs, and possibly new stamps in my logbook. Yes, I’m one of these pilots getting their logbook stamped when they visit new airports.

Other important stamps are those collected after examination flights (PPL, IR, renewals, …), but this is not the topic for today. The gallery below contains photos of some swiss airports and airfields. The Grenchen (LSZG) one is also signed by the person on duty when I flew there, as it was part of my solo navigation, with Bern (LSZB).

Yverdon (LSGY) has also a special place: it is the first airport I flew to, after completing the basic part of the training (including solo) in Geneva. Neuchâtel (LSGN) and Les Eplatures (LSGC) are the two first airports I discovered all by myself, after getting my license.

Lugano (LSZA) and Samedan (LSZS) were collected on the same day, when I flew Lausanne - Lugano - Samedan - Altenrhein - Bern - Lausanne with a friend. At three airports I flew to (Zurich (LSZH), Prangins (LSGP), Saanen (LSGK)) I forgot to stamp my logbook, or there was no stamp available.

Another one that I missed it the “Lac Noir”, the frozen lake which can in rare occasions be used as an airport. There was a stamp there, but I was so impressed and amazed that I did not even think of having my logbook stamped. Doh !

In a next post, I’ll share photos of stamps I collected in other countries, and also stamps and endorsements for the various ratings I hold. If you have some that you want to share, send a picture to me, I’ll be happy to publish them.

And if you’re already a pilot, feel free to use these 10 reasons to bring new members to the flying community.

Take the intellectual challenge
Pilots don’t have to be big-brainers, and holding a Master of Aeronautics is not a prerequisite, but learning to fly is also an intellectual challenge. Particularly if you get an instrument rating, the workload, decision making, and flight management will certainly stimulate you.

Meet interesting people
Whether you fly in a club, school, or within an owners group, you can be sure that you’ll meet tons of interesting persons. Other pilots, instructors, airport staff, engineers, they all have captivating stories to tell you.

Save time
Visiting remote places is much easier as a pilot. You can use the extra-speed to visit family members living away more easily, save time, and make more out of the 24 hours you get each day.

Technical interest
If you like technical things, you’re probably already attracted by airplane. Becoming a pilot means that you’ll develop your technical knowledge in various fields: aerodynamics, avionics, engines, … If you’re not upset when someone calls you a geek, try flying a glass-cockpit light aircraft, you’ll find it even better.

An impressive hobby
The social impact of having “flying” as a hobby can be surprising. I got married the day after my introductory flight, so this is not how I seduced my wonderful wife, but I’m sur it works. The way your colleagues, friends and other relative perceive you will certainly change when you’ll become a pilot. Note that green integrists might not like that…

The 100$ hamburger
Flying to a remote and exciting location is good, but flying to a nearby airport with a good restaurant is not bad either. Even if the concept of 100$ hamburger shall probably be adapted to the 250$ hamburger because of all the cost increase, it’s still really cool. Take your passengers on board, fly 30 minutes, eat on the airport restaurant’s terrace looking at other planes, and fly home.

Change the way you see the world
That might seem a silly, romantic thing, but it’s true: flying and seeing the world from above makes it look different. Pilots also learn to read the weather signs, and get a better understanding of how things are working, on a more global scale.

Can be a second job opportunity

Never say never. Getting a commercial pilot license requires more theory and training than a simple private pilot license, but it could open new opportunities someday. Getting an “upgrade” from private to commercial is also possible within a couple of months. Many pilot jobs do not pay that well, but who knows ?

Help the community
I already posted on this blog about Angel Flights, and other ways general aviation is helping the whole community. There are many of them, and numerous associations need the help of volunteer pilots.

Fun
Last but not least, flying is fun !

Anything else to add ? I’m waiting for your comments !

It seems to me that over the last months, time no longer going-by, but kind of going away. My new life in Frankfurt is cool, but with all the new things to handle, there’s not much time left for reading aviation magazines.

The single survivor is AOPA PILOT, the magazine from the US AOPA. I continue to read it because it comes to me per mail. If I had to buy it in a kiosk, it would probably be gone as well. I already told all the good I think of Rod Machado’s column (click here to read more about it), and I continue to read it, but it’s no longer my favorite one (sorry for that, Rod). There will always be a special place in my heart for the “Never again” column, but it also went down a bit in my personal hierarchy.

One of the things I know yet about aviation is that it’s not only about going from A to B, but also about how to do it. And most imporant is with whom to do it. Aviation is a small world, but no one will ever know all the passionating persons making it.

Without the “Pilots” column of the AOPA PILOT magazine, what were the chances for me to hear about Joiwind Alexander, Dennis Flanagan, or Deana Martin ? I don’t know them personally, but knowing a bit about what they do, and want to do makes me feel optimistic about aviation.

It’s always good, when in doubt, to read about above the average persons. There are many ways to be an exceptional pilot, and not all of them are infamous or mediatic. They probably don’t even look for that, but if the result is that aviation looks more friendly, fun, cool, attractive, this is a very positive side effect.

So, if you want to know a bit more about a less ordinary pilot each month, check the “Pilots” column - now my favotire - in the AOPA PILOT magazine. No need to go through the table of contents to find that page: it’s the last one.