Finally Soloed!

Well, I finally did it, I had to update this prior to getting my license because I'm so freaking happy! I have more time to get my license than I thought aaand I've soloed within the time frame I was shooting for, early/mid august :D.

I had a misunderstanding for the solo requirements but I've got more than one cross country done including 6.1 out of the 10 hours needed prior to earning my license. Double-checked Part 61.109 for the helicopter and now all i need is about 4 hours general solo time, YAY.

Flying alone is very different, and considerably more stressful. The first cross country flight I did by myself was very stressful and it was quite rainy out, but I did it nonetheless. Every day this week I've flown and only once with an instructor. I was so stressed my first flight I could feel the pressure behind my eyes. By the second and third flight, I was much less stressed. Then I found out from my instructor I could do whatever I wanted after my first cross country, so I just did more patterns at a couple airports thus unknowingly knocking out the rest of my pattern/take off/touchdown requirements.

I get a little nervous prior to flights wondering what the traffic will be like, but once I'm in the air I do quite well, my confidence is definitely in check and I know its about time I got off them training wheels!

The only thing I gotta focus on when alone is looking out for traffic, the rest I'm not too worried about. I get a taaaad bit nervous when I cant figure out where someone is right away, and seeing how I fly an R22, I have to yield whenever I don't think I'll make it to a runway before other fixed wing. I also prefer our red helicopters over the white one because theyr'e so much easier to see...It makes all the difference to someone who's not used to flying alone!

Tomorrow I'm taking the helicopter to Alpine Air (Alyeska Helicopter's parent company) for its 100-hour inspection. I'm looking forward to a short, easy flight. I NEED a break this weekend! Flying solo reminds me that I can't get cocky when flying around near airports, anything can happen at any time and any location. It's a Friday and things will probably be busy at Merrill Field (its in the dead middle of anchorage) so I gotta keep my eyes alert! May need shades. At least the flight will be much shorter than my others this week...

A Change Of Attitude

Um...It's been a while since I've updated this blog. I've been updating my journals on DeviantArt more frequently since I'm more active there. I don't even know who reads these entries, if anyone does anyway.

Seems my last update was in 2009 0_o. Holy crap things have changed since then. Activity with flying as student helicopter pilot had slowed down considerably until just this summer of 2011. I stopped focusing on ATC and am now doing Aviation Management. I'm getting my Associates Degree in Aviation Administration the Fall Semester of 2011 and then I have about 16 classes left for my Bachelor's degree.

I'm finally picking up the pace with flying. Lots has happened there.

1.) My flight school finally moved to Merrill and they have an empty lot of property they can build on with in the next year or so (awesome news for them).
2.) I've increased the frequency of my flights and am flying 2-3 times a week with a lot more ground school. My deadline to solo is this August 13th, sometime before the Fall semester starts. I'm cleared to go for it medically and mentally - I'm more motivated than I have been in a long time for various reasons...

For one, I'm not in a long distance relationship any more- I was forced to move on. Second, I discovered that around the same time of my break up with my ex, who was my first love apparently, I had anemia. That caused increased fatigue and stress. I was unhappy, doubting myself in every way one can possibly think of, and loosing passion. But now all that I thought I lost is coming back, and I've got so much energy I'm wishing I had more of it last year when I needed it.

I no longer have anemia, I'm less stressed, getting better grades, and focusing all my energy on flying this summer. No summer classes, just an easy going job and volunteering. I still have time to focus on my other hobbies too - art and writing. And I also have time for plenty of hikes with friends and families.

So, I'm super confident that I can get through this first goal I wish to accomplish in my life - I can't back out of it because I'm simply THAT stubborn and I've put so much effort into my training...I WILL get it done. My instructor is very pleased with my progress and consistency is rapidly no longer becoming an issue. I feel more confident every week, and no longer worry about having what it takes or being meant for such a challenge. No one said flying helicopters was easy. I just have to catch up on the knowledge behind it all.