Well, made it through another year of not dying in a flaming plane crash...
When people ask me what is it that pilots do, I tell them it’s a constant cycle of fly the plane and making sure we’re not on fire.
Well, made it through another year of not dying in a flaming plane crash...
2. Get @2-Bit Speed started on getting his cert
Plane uptime was 75% and person uptime was 85%. Combined uptime was 60%.Hopefully have airplane uptime better than 50%.
Goal is always 150 hours per year. Might get my Commercial done.
Yikes, not so good.Be safe.
I logged 308 hours in 22. Would like to equal that.
Would like a greater percentage to be fun flying with family.
Get my MEI.
Get insurance on the 414 without huge increase.
1) Mixed success. 2023 actuals are down 30% from 2022. However, I flew 182 hrs in 2022 and I'm at 172 hrs as of today. So my hours are cheaper this year!2023 Goals
1) Maintain current (2022) OpEx budget
1b) build some capital for a purchase
2) GA International trip (Bahamas, Canada, etc)
3) More XC trip hours than ‘22
Stretch goals
- West Coast!
- Buy a plane!
146 hours in 2023, plane went into the paint shop in August and expected back in January.Fly 100+ hours
Instrument rating (written passed in ‘22, so clock’s ticking!)
Make two or three long XC trips (4+ hours or ~500+ miles one-way)
Attend more fly-in gatherings / meals
He’s got his medical back and I just got awarded the 767-400. 3 days of training at the end of January so I should be able to fly with him in February for a few more years until he has to retire.Fly with my dad at Delta. He’s just waiting on the FAA for his medical
Things changed with the work situation so I actually got IR on 7/1Finish up IR (should be done end of March)
Fly 150+ hours
Start flying some PALS flights
2-3 1500+ mile XC trips ( 1 so far this year hopefully launching on number 2 Monday)
Plus one. I am a few years older.Continue to fly and instruct.
I will turn 75 in July and I never expected to last this long of be having this much fun.
Life treats me well.
2023 goals
1) multi-engine rating
2) fly a jet
3) high altitude endorsement (thinking C421)
4) complete the annual inspection without a heart attack
5) ponder about the CFI ticket or seaplane rating (seaplane but not CFI)
6) new destinations, a couple of them would be nice, Colorado, Tahoe, Cali, Alaska, Grand Canyon, Toronto, revisit GA/FL again (enjoyed that before) (Alaska, Montana, Idaho, Washington state, & New Orleans)
7) hit 500 hours
8) complete a paid one off gig, ferrying an airplane or something
9) not get banned from PofA
Hmmm.Ratings:
CP-SES (scheduled, start tomorrow!)
CP-MES
CP-Glider
Endorsements:
Tailwheel
High Altitude
Fly the club twin some more. IPC.
At 85 just finishing the next year would be fine.
Well this didn't go to plan.1) Get my commercial ASEL before my written test expires.
2) fly in actually IMC more often
3) get used to flying in the 3rd person. (Drones)
Wrapped up what should be the last big trip of the year, so I guess I can do my year in review. Turns out I missed almost all of them lol.After a review of last year's goals...I want to fly 160 hours in 2023, which will put me over 700, and knock out the last three airports on my illinois completion list. I also intend to continue my streak of never falling out of instrument currency/proficiency, and do an IPC anyway to make sure I'm as competent as I think I am.
Harder goals would be spend less than $5k on maintenance and upgrades and fly 6 "lifeline pilots" flights.
Stretch goals.... let's go with 12 lifeline flights and making tangible progress towards the commercial rating.