Flying Career Hits a Bump

The purpose of this post is to discuss the trials and tribulations that come along with attempting to get a pilot's license at age 65, having had a 4 vessel heart bypass in October of 2017.

In May of 2018, I reconnected with my grade school Principal at the 50th anniversary celebration at the Meridian Elementary School in Meridian California. Mr. Alexander Jamison Hyatt Jr. (A.J.) was the first real role model for me besides my Father. He was a young teacher with a big Texas voice and always a big smile. 1n 1968, A.J. was also a flying instructor with about 8 years experience and he owned a Piper J3 Cub. As a kid, I dreamed of becoming a jet pilot. Mr. Hyatt flew his Piper Cub to school once in a while and landed it on the football field. Along with shared stories of flying and being a pilot, he took me up in his Piper Cub for a ride. I had purchased a log book and saved up enough money to take a few lessons. I really don't remember learning much, but I enjoyed the flying immensely. Soon, I started high school and discovered girls and my flying career came to an abrupt end. I picked it up again just prior to my getting married, but again, it got put on hold by life. I again resumed my quest to become a Private Pilot in 2018 with Mr. Hyatt at age 84. I have decided to make an effort to become an aircraft Private Pilot. I applied for a Class 3 Medical Certificate in July of 1019 in hopes that my Heart Bypass Surgery would not disqualify me from obtaining a Private License. To this day, I have not received an answer to that question. In the mean time, Mr. Hyatt turned 85 years old and made a decision to retire as a Certified Flight Instructor. He is still an active, competent pilot and instructor. However he will not be able to sign off my progress in my log book. That means I have to either find another flight instructor to continue on a quest for a Private License, or continue flying with A.J. and continue to learn the art of flying and abandon my quest for anything but a Student Pilot license. The enjoyment has come from the friendship with Mr. Hyatt. The goal of getting a Private Polot license really does not have an end game. I am too old to ever be anything other than a low time Private Pilot puddle jumping around the valley in a Cessna 172. I am not ever going to be a professional pilot making money from my license. I really need to decide what my goal is and how I will proceed. More Later.

I have now had the conversation with Mr. Hyatt regarding how we will go forward. If I do receive the Medical certificate, I am planning to buy into the partnership on 71Lima. I will have a minority interest in the plane itself, but will have a full share in the operational partnership. At that time, I will arrange for another instructor to get to know me and my skill level and to authorize me to solo in my own airplane, or partially mine anyway. Once I have soloed, I am allowed to fly by myself locally to airports that my instructor has accompanied me to and noted same in my logbook. At this stage of the process, my instructor is responsible for me and dictates what and where I am allowed to go in the airplane

I can now do the solo work necessary to apply for my Private license, and I can fly with Mr. Hyatt continuing to learn and prepare for my private license, although I can not log any of the time or instruction I receive from Mr. Hyatt. The plan is to continue to fly with, and enjoy the friendship and mentoring of my long time friend A.J. Hyatt Jr. and in a round-about way continue working my way toward a private license if I should so desire in the future. If and when I would decide to get my Private License, I will need to work with another instructor to finish up the work needed to apply for my private license. That will include additional dual instruction, ground school, a written test, and the check ride. Wish me luck!