AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2020 - 6

PRESIDENT'S POSITION

Spread your wings

BY MARK BAKER
President and CEO

You earned your pilot certificate-now what?

AOPA President
MARK BAKER

has a commercial
pilot certificate with
single- and multiengine land and
seaplane privileges
and private helicopter privileges.

6 | AOPA PILOT February 2020

AMERICAN AUTHOR MARK TWAIN ONCE SAID, "Twenty
years from now, you will be more disappointed by the
things you didn't do than by the ones you did do." From
personal experience, I can tell you Twain was onto
something.
I have spent a good portion of my life around the
aviation community, and I've yet to meet a pilot who
regrets learning to fly. More often, it's "I wish I hadn't
waited so long." Whether you pursued this skill to
advance your career, learned to fly as a hobby, or have
always dreamed of crossing it off your bucket list, I
applaud you. Earning your wings is an accomplishment
that should be celebrated, and it truly sets us apart from
most of our co-workers, neighbors, and acquaintances.
For me, learning to fly was one of the most thrilling, rewarding, and challenging experiences of my life.
However, there are a lot of pilots caught in a gray area after
getting their certificate. Like all things, the honeymoon
phase of taking up your first few passengers dwindles, and
many pilots begin asking themselves-now what?
Statistics show that many pilots let their skills lapse
over time, partly because they don't have a reason to
venture out of the familiar traffic pattern at their local
airports. But a multitude of opportunities exist-whether
the goal is to build time, volunteer, or challenge yourself
with a fun, new rating. Don't let your logbook sit on the
shelf collecting dust. Put your skills to good use and get
airborne. Enjoy all the freedoms that come with being a
pilot in a country where the sky truly is the limit.
If you want to make a career out of flying, now's the
time. Because of a growing number of retirees, a booming
economy, and an increased thirst for air travel, pilots are in
high demand. Aviation professionals are needed in legacy
airlines, regionals, Part 91, and Part 135 operators. Boeing
predicts a need for more than 800,000 new civil pilots to
fly the global fleet over the next 20 years. Collegiate flight
schools such as Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
have seen an increase in enrollment in the past year. Last
fall's incoming class at Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach,
Florida, campus had 1,950 students-an increase of nearly
18 percent over the previous year.
Today, there are many opportunities to build coveted flight time without going down the traditional
flight instructor route. In fact, many Part 135 operators
are accepting pilots with fewer hours than previously
demanded. Such positions are great opportunities to build
time to qualify for the regional airlines. Some on-demand

operators are recruiting first officers with as few as 300
hours total time. Aerial photography, air tour pilots, pipeline patrol, and skydive operations are all great ways for
low-time pilots to get more experience, up their confidence, and jump-start their careers. Plus, I can't think of
any entry-level job with better office views.
But if you aren't keen on making flying your career,
you can find value and put your newfound skills to
good use in other ways. Many pilots get satisfaction
from volunteer missions such as helping sick patients
get to medical care, flying rescued animals, or even taking the local Boy Scouts up for airplane rides. Joining a
flying club or type club can also be a great way to surround yourself with likeminded aviators and find new
places for fly-outs or meetups. Local pilot groups are
one of the best ways to make friends and learn things
that 100 formal flight lessons could never teach you.
Consider the Recreational Aviation Foundation, a group
of backcountry enthusiasts committed to preserving and
maintaining remote airstrips for recreational access.
This grassroots organization was started by a group of
pilots sitting around a campfire in Montana. Now, they
have a following of adventure-seeking pilots who showcase the fun and exhilaration of GA flying.
For others, a challenging new rating or endorsement is what keeps them flying. If you've all but
perfected your touchdown on an asphalt runway,
consider splashing down on floats, or maybe even
skis. Surprisingly, only 3 percent of pilots are seaplane
rated, but I guarantee you they've got some of the best
stick-and-rudder skills out there. Our friends at the
Seaplane Pilots Association will confirm that water flying is the ultimate backcountry dream and some of the
most fun a pilot will ever have. If you're still thirsting
for adventure, a skiplane might be something to try,
although most are taildraggers, so you'll want to get
that endorsement if you plan on playing in the snow.
No matter your experience, ratings, or time logged,
we are all pilots with a passion for aviation. We all dared
to take the leap, sacrificed the hours, and sat shoulder to
shoulder with our instructors on a weekly basis. Should
you ever find yourself in a rut, just remember what a
remarkable achievement it is to become a pilot. Life is
bound to be filled with some regrets, but I assure you,
learning to fly will never be one of them.
AOPA
EMAIL mark@aopa.org

AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2020

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