2025 flying goals

eman1200 said:
NOT leave IT and NOT get a flying job that barely pays the rent.
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and also NOT have tailwinds. ever.


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I nearly convinced myself to leave the day job to CFI full time this month, but a dozen flights canceled due to weather sobered me up. I need to put on some more fat before winter.
Hope everyone exceeds their flying goals for the year!
 
Well, it's the last day of the year, so I guess I'll put down a few goals:

100+ hours flight time
Hit at least 50% goal for the Virginia Aviation Ambassador program
Commercial
CFI
First Pilots and Paws mission
First Young Eagles event
Rejoin CAP in the local area
 
Get and stay current in 3 of the four classes I am rated in: SEL, MEL, SES (but not MES as there isn't one around... :().
Tailwheel endorsement.
Get IR current again. Currently I only need the approaches and hold not an IPC.
Get my medical renewed. (Shouldn't be a problem, just checking all the boxes...)
Time will tell.
 
Complete transition training in the Bonanza
Get through my first ever annual without getting creamed (will include the prop AD)
Fly at least 2x per month
Make at least one "longer" flight (at least two states away) 6 hour duration each way
Total at least 50 hours TIT before insurance renewal in October.
Remember to use the little gear lever each time!
 
FSDO thought it could not be removed thus they say it's not portable meaning it can't be easily removed, so it's not a PMA part on a certified aircraft. This lead to a visit to the hangar and a look at my log books. The FAA grounded my plane. So in order to have my plane returned to service I had to have the material removed under the supervision of an A&P. Another choice was to have the material removed and apply for a ferry permit to fly it to my shop and have an A&P sign off. I decided to have an A&P at my hangar for the inspection. Once the product was removed the A&P provided a log entry approving the process and confirming no damage to the windows. If the installer or an A&P would have made a log entry when installed it would have been considered installing a non PMA part, congrats, they're busted.

I didn't have any entry not even by me. It's removable, it just cant be reused. My iPad is removable too......I don't know, it was just easier to comply and make it all go away. At least I can fly again.
 
Your FISDO has the time and interest in checking the level of tint on airplane windows? I’m flabbergasted.
 
WDD said:
Your FISDO has the time and interest in checking the level of tint on airplane windows?
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I wonder if they had an axe to grind on the fact that work was performed on the plane with no logbook documentation.

My plane came with a non-approved, non-documented (at the time of installation) carb temp indicator. Going through the logbooks I found an entry by an IA that read something like "Found experimental-only carb temp gauge P/N 12345-6 installed with no supporting documentation or logbook entry. Contacted XYZ FSDO to ask for guidance. Received direction to document installation and leave installed." That was it. Removed it not long after I got the plane, but it was interesting to see that someone at the FSDO took the time to think about it and say "no harm if you just leave it installed".
 
I don’t mean this in anyway as a pejorative; the FAA and FISDO are similar to the IRS. The country can’t function without the IRS. But the IRS is not your advocate/not your friend. They are built for enforcement. They look for infractions.

Thus, contact should be as needed and guarded.

Thoughts?
 
WDD said:
I don’t mean this in anyway as a pejorative; the FAA and FISDO are similar to the IRS. The country can’t function without the IRS. But the IRS is not your advocate/not your friend. They are built for enforcement. They look for infractions.

Thus, contact should be as needed and guarded.

Thoughts?
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This has not been my experience with the FAA whatsoever. In fact, I've been impressed with their professionalism and efficiency whenever I've had occasion to interact with them. That said, I've never put myself in a position in which enforcement might be warranted.

The FAA's "compliance philosophy" that they've been using for several years now (I can't remember when that started) means that if they catch you doing something unsafe and/or illegal, they'd rather have you change your behavior than beat you up about it. If you agree with the FSDO guy, say "I see your point, I'll take that into account for my future operations" everyone moves on and that's the end of the story. If you tell the FSDO guy, "**** you, you can't tell me what to do" then you're gonna be looking at enforcement action.

That said, there are two areas of the FAA where the compliance philosophy is not observed: Drug testing enforcement and Aeromedical. No second chances here.

Examples: I wrote in to the email for the charting office that was printed in the front of the approach plate books asking about something on an approach plate that didn't make sense to me. I don't think I even had an instrument rating yet. I got back a nearly immediate (but not automated) email saying they'd look into it, and less than an hour later a second email from the same guy saying that I was right, it was an error and they were going to correct it immediately. Chart was fixed on the next revision.

In fact, I've had this happen twice. Both times, communication and action were very quick and thorough.

I went to OKC to do the oxygen chamber training at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center. The instructors were fantastic, they had a great sense of humor (even poking fun at themselves using all the jokes we tell about them and more), and it was an excellent experience all around.

I've dealt with them after incidents with other pilots in which I was in management, both part 91 (flying club plane) and part 135, and it was clear that we were all on the same team and looking for ways to make things safer. They definitely will make sure your i's are dotted and t's are crossed but they didn't go overboard.

I would have no hesitation to ask them a question, if I really wanted to know the answer.
 
I'm glad you have had a good experience. I'm trying to also triangulate your post with "your rear window tint is too dark".
 
WDD said:
I'm glad you have had a good experience. I'm trying to also triangulate your post with "your rear window tint is too dark".
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Well, they didn’t take away his certificate, airworthiness certificate, or freedom. They just required that the airworthiness of the aircraft be restored through proper means. That the proper means constituted a headache is annoying, but the story fits into the compliance philosophy.
 
Was all of that helpful, had a net positive effect to make the plane and pilot safer. Or was it compliance for the sake of compliance.
 
WDD said:
Or was it compliance for the sake of compliance.
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As I stated earlier, I think their axe to grind was "undocumented maintenance". That work should've been done under the supervision of an A&P and signed off as a minor alteration.
Otherwise, today is window tint, tomorrow is a radio install, the day after you swap a jug on your own.
 
WDD said:
Was all of that helpful, had a net positive effect to make the plane and pilot safer. Or was it compliance for the sake of compliance.
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It’s compliance philosophy, not apathy or flexibility with the regulations that determine airworthiness.

Whether the regulations make sense is a separate question. But there really shouldn’t be a lot of individual discretion in deciding when to turn a blind eye to them.
 
Half Fast said:
Complete my engine OH and get airborne again. All other goals depend on how well that goes, especially how long it takes.
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Goal accomplished. Engine OH completed, I was back in the air on June 28. Break-in is complete and the engine is running well. Flying about once a week on average.
 
Jim K said:
Since @mandm won't do it :biggrin: ....here's the 2025 flying related goals thread.

Most of my 2025 goals are fallout from my engine failing again.

-Get my airplane back together and put at least 100 hours on it.

All contingent on getting the engine done and broken in:
-Finish my commercial
-6 Lifeline flights and 20 young eagles
-Add another state to the map

Stretch goals:
-Land at KEYW
-Complete the RV-14 tail kit and start on the wings
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This year shaped up way different than I expected a year ago.
-I did get my airplane back together.....4 months after I expected to. Surprisingly I still managed to put 110 hours on it.

-I made zero progress towards a commercial rating
-I failed to get six LL flights (4) or 20 young eagles (9). I held off doing these until I had 50 hours on the engine and timing never seemed to line up after that was done.
-I did add PA to the map

-Didn't make it to FL this year. Maybe in Feb.
-The biggest surprise though is that not only did I get the RV14 tail kit done, but also the wings and have a decent start on the fuselage. I find that building scratches the aviation itch, which means I'm getting a lot of RV work done, and less flying.
 
Jim K said:
I find that building scratches the aviation itch, which means I'm getting a lot of RV work done, and less flying.
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I am finding the same to be true of mx activities.
 
Sierra_Hotel said:
I'll be in Iraq till October, so with the remaining few months of the year it'll be simple, just fly at least once. Going to have to switch to Basic Med initially until my medical gets sorted out, will probably take a few months at least. Hopefully have the complete S-21 airframe kit purchased by the end of the year, the vertical tail and rudder just got to my dad.
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Flew twice! Did not have to switch to Basic Med, and did get the vertical and horizontal tails finished up on the plane kit, so I'd say mission accomplished. Did not get the airframe kit on order yet, but we're still working on getting a bigger workspace setup, so that's alright.
 
jsstevens said:
Get and stay current in 3 of the four classes I am rated in: SEL, MEL, SES (but not MES as there isn't one around... :().
Tailwheel endorsement.
Get IR current again. Currently I only need the approaches and hold not an IPC.
Get my medical renewed. (Shouldn't be a problem, just checking all the boxes...)
Time will tell.
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Well, medical has been a problem just due to my own business but I'm lined up for January. All others on hold for that...
 
flyingcheesehead said:
Simple: Fly more.
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Fail. 48.2 hours last year, 38.3 hours this year. :( Should be getting an order of magnitude more in 2026 though.

flyingcheesehead said:
Hopefully build new skills.
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Well, I got my ATP-CTP and written done. I now understand why they do the two-stage power addition at takeoff in big jets, and that even in a big jet with a lot of power, you should not attempt to power out of a high altitude stall, and other such random stuff. It was pretty fun overall.

flyingcheesehead said:
Take my kids flying more.
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My older son got 14.5 hours this year and 12.6 hours the previous year, so that's a small victory. The younger one got 4.8 this year and 4.6 in the previous, so very slightly positive.

The big win, though, is that they're both still airplane nuts. Earlier this year they were both off from school but mama had a teacher workday, so we had a boys' day together. I asked them what they wanted to do, and their response was enthusiastic and simultaneous: "Oshkosh!!!" So, we headed up to the EAA museum to get our airplane fix together:

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It's a real treat to have EAA only an hour away from home. They do a few family events in the museum each year, and they do a REALLY good job making it a good experience for the kids. We just did their Christmas in the Air event, and it was popular enough that they had the whole museum parking lot filled and they opened and nearly filled the Brown Lot in spite of all the snow on the ground, so it was extremely well attended. Santa arrived in a helicopter, local performance groups (dance/band/choir) performed, various businesses and organizations gave out treats, the education wing was open and had activities for the kids where they could earn an aviation Christmas tree ornament, and of course all of this was scattered throughout the various parts of the museum so everybody got to check out lots of airplanes. They've really helped keep my kids interested in aviation!
 
Kitch said:
Get closer to 200 hours for the year. Only 110 this year (didn't fly much first 4 months of the year)
6-8 PALS flights
Find someplace to do some aerobatic training that has an aerobatic airplane a gorilla can fit in (might not be possible)
Stay instrument current & proficient
More new airports
More weekends trips to new places

We'll see how many of these the work schedule can cancel.
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125 hours should get a few more before 12/31 but def short of 200
3 PALS flights (several more that were cancelled by the patient)
No aerobatic training, but I did get my ME rating
Successfully Instrument current and proficient
Added a bunch of new airports
Took at least 1 weekend trip a month GA May-September doubled up a couple of months

Overall work got in the way more than I wanted it to, but it does pay the flying bills so there's that.
 
Mine was a fail. Wrist surgery, together with the reason for it, really got in the way. Not only less flights overall, but shorter. Looking back, my longest flight was when I gave an IPC (and that’s only because my client likes to actually go places for them).
 
mcdewey said:
Fly to and visit Air Force museum
Fly to and stay a few days Outer Banks (Buxton or Oracoke)
Oshkosh again
Fly to airport near my childhood home (KCOI, Merritt Island)
Fly to and visit Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, or etc.
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Well, I made Oshkosh (40 kt headwinds going up, sigh) and flew up to Mystic, CT from MD.
 
WDD said:
-Get at least 100 hours on airplane

- Get Avionics installed with a less than 2 month down time

- Start A&P classes in fall

- Eight Angel Flights

- Fly the FISK Arrival to Oskkosh for the first time - and not be the subject of a "Pilot Debrief" video

Stretch goals:
- Re Start Commercial training
- Have a fewer days plane is at the A&P vs on the ramp and flyable :biggrin:
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162 hours on airplane 2025
Avionics installed 6 weeks
A&P Start in Spring 2026, missed Fall
Five Angel Flights
Flew the FISK, and so far no Hoover documentaries
Not doing Commercial
Plane is behaving, and not at A&P as much
 
MIFlyer said:
Complete transition training in the Bonanza
Get through my first ever annual without getting creamed (will include the prop AD)
Fly at least 2x per month
Make at least one "longer" flight (at least two states away) 6 hour duration each way
Total at least 50 hours TIT before insurance renewal in October.
Remember to use the little gear lever each time!
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50%
Finished transition
Annual was long (included prop AD OH) and I did some upgrades (STC for sliding seats).
Got transition done and am comfortable with the plane. Got about 35 hours in, but we moved cities and a lot of other things. 2026 should be a lot better and I'm getting the upgrades done in the dead of winter.
 
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