My Flying
Notes from the left seat.
For years, life, work, and family came first, and my dream of becoming a pilot had to wait. At 41, with my loving wife’s encouragement, I finally started training, and I went on to earn my private pilot certificate.
Today some of my favorite hours are spent in the air with family, seeing familiar places from a whole new angle. Each flight is another page in a logbook that started with my grandfather and my father.
Ready for a flight with my daughter, Lauren.
Night flying from the left seat.
How I fly
When I fly with friends and family, I follow the FAA rules for private pilots. A private pilot may not carry passengers for compensation or hire, so I don’t sell or offer flights. When costs are shared, FAA regulation 14 CFR 61.113(c) applies:
“A private pilot may not pay less than the pro rata share of the operating expenses of a flight with passengers, provided the expenses involve only fuel, oil, airport expenditures, or rental fees.”
In practice, that means I always pay at least an equal share of a flight’s fuel, oil, airport, and rental costs.
Safety First
Every flight I make with passengers begins with a pre-flight safety briefing covering seat belts, headsets, cockpit conduct, emergency procedures, and what to expect in the air. Everyone on board follows the pilot’s instructions.
As pilot in command, I have final authority over every flight. I’ll delay, cut short, or cancel a flight whenever safety calls for it, whether that’s weather, the aircraft’s condition, weight and balance limits, or someone’s fitness to fly that day. No flight is worth taking a chance.
Want to learn to fly?
Real discovery flights are offered by flight schools with certificated flight instructors. If you’re curious about learning to fly, these are great places to start:
• AOPA Flight School Finder: search for flight schools near you.
• AOPA Learn to Fly: a guide to getting started as a student pilot.
• EAA Young Eagles: free introductory flights for young people ages 8–17.
It’s never too late. I started at 41.
My Flight Hours
From my pilot logbook. Last updated Nov 1, 2026.
These numbers are a close approximation and may not be exact.
113.9
Total Hours
73.8
Training Hours
39.5
PIC Hours
6.7
Cross-Country Hours