How do you stay current when you can't fly?

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janikpilot

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janikpilot
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Hey guys. I've been a member for a while just haven't posted in a long time.

I joined this forum way back in high school when I was just starting my training. I worked my butt off to train and pay for my PPL and accomplished my goal of finishing it before I graduated high school, what a journey that was!

But now, I'm in college (studying electrical engineering if you're curious) and cannot afford to fly. Haven't been up since last summer. My goal is to become a commercial pilot one day or teach people how to fly, not sure yet. I'm going to train for commercial after I graduate college and have some more financial stability.

Question to all of you: How do you stay current when you can't fly?
 
I think you answered your own question. No, MS Flight isn't a substitute.
 
Sac Arrow said:
I think you answered your own question. No, MS Flight isn't a substitute.
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Let me rephrase that:

How do you stay involved and up to date with aviation, so that when you DO get the chance to fly again, you don't feel as if you need to relearn a bunch of topics?

I know the word "currency" means something slightly different than what I intended, oops :thumbsup:
 
You can stay current on knowledge by attending FAA/AOPA safety seminars, reading aviation publications, registering and participating on the FAA's faasafety.gov web site, and participating in aviation discussion sites like this, or even just hanging around the airport where the old folks like me sit around drinking coffee and talking about flying. The skill side is a lot tougher, and as noted above, playing with a flight game like MSFS on your home computer is not a substitute for stick time in a real aircraft. However, you can try to get some time in the air by hanging around the airport when you're not in class (bring your textbooks and study!) and maybe snag a hop or two with someone just going up for fun or lunch. Keep your medical current, and you might get some safety pilot time in there, too.
 
Do you at least do your BFR's every two years and keep your medical current?

If so I'd join some local groups and offer to be safety pilot. If you're lucky you'll make some local pilot friends and they'll give you some stick time in return for lunch or something.
 
You can attend safety seminars,join a local Eaa chapter,find out where the airport bums hang out,offer to fly as a safety pilot. If you get in with a good group,you will probably be offered the opportunity to fly.
 
frfly172 said:
You can attend safety seminars,join a local Eaa chapter,find out where the airport bums hang out,offer to fly as a safety pilot. If you get in with a good group,you will probably be offered the opportunity to fly.
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110% :yes: (I figured I would add 110% just to drive the engineer in you crazy . ;))

Find the local hangar bumbs and start hanging out there. EAA is a good place to start. Soon you will have the opportunity to go flying with the hangar rats, help out with projects, maybe even find someone who needs his planes flown for fuel only. :dunno:

You are not going to find pilots in the library, you'll have better luck at the airport.

Good luck. BTW, there will be plenty of time and resources for flying after graduation so study hard my friend.

South Florida??? I was just down there! There were planes flying all over the place with empty seats! :dunno:

Sun n Fun is coming up! Put out some feelers at the local airport and see if you can hitch a ride up to the show. :happydance:
 
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I am back flying again but to get back into it I work at a warplane museum doing maintenance on a C47 most weekends.
 
Flight sim is great for IFR stuff, VFR not so much.
 
Geico266 said:
110% :yes: (I figured I would add 110% just to drive the engineer in you crazy . ;))

Find the local hangar bumbs and start hanging out there. EAA is a good place to start. Soon you will have the opportunity to go flying with the hangar rats, help out with projects, maybe even find someone who needs his planes flown for fuel only. :dunno:

You are not going to find pilots in the library, you'll have better luck at the airport.

Good luck. BTW, there will be plenty of time and resources for flying after graduation so study hard my friend.

South Florida??? I was just down there! There were planes flying all over the place with empty seats! :dunno:

Sun n Fun is coming up! Put out some feelers at the local airport and see if you can hitch a ride up to the show. :happydance:
Click to expand...

I was thinking I'd join the local EAA chapter! I'm curious though, would it be understanding to 'hang out' for free and not have to pay the membership fees? Or is that considered bad practice or looked down upon in the community?

"You are not going to find pilots in the library, you'll have better luck at the airport." <-- solid advice ;)
 
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