2025 flying goals

Regain instrument currency
Fly to Oshkosh
Move supercub project to the airport
Power up avionics
Hang engine
 
From last year…

1) CFI
2) Maintain budget and XC hours from 2023 levels
3) Pass 135 ride

Stretch goals:
- Add 1 more client
- west coast trip
- 1100TT

So… 2025
1) Flying: Transition to majority travel trips (I did lots of time building in ‘24)
2) Rating: CFI

Stretch goals:
- Add a client
- west coast trip
- 1500TT
 
Fly the Parrakeet more-- a lot more. Between reassembling the plane and working on the fuel system since I brought it home in June and now cold weather, I only got about 4 hours flying time in it this year, and even less in the Hatz before trading it for the 'keet.
 
Get my flying act together and actually go flying. After two years of down time, finally got lifetime number 3 plane fixed and flying again, only to sell it and buy lifetime plane #4, a total basketcase that needs all new everything - multiple structures reskinned, panel, interior, paint… the works. Hope to have it all back together by summer (probably minus paint) and actually go camping with it. Ideally, fly another family in to camp with us, as well. Fly to family this summer. Use it to hunt and fly fish this fall. Basically, in 2025 I’m hoping to go from being just a plane owner, to an actual plane operator again lol.

…at least #4 was my childhood dream plane, a TU206G. Hopefully the madness will stop there for a while!
 
Need to look in the book, I may be due for a flight review. If only I knew of a new CFI who needs customers…hmm.
My -II ride is at the end of next month, if you need an IPC, you might know a guy who can provide that too ;).

Merry Christmas man!
 
- Fly more hours than last year - which I didn’t do this year (<30!).
- Add a 3rd state to my destination list (beyond TX/LA)
- Make progress towards IR and plane ownership- although the club meets my current op needs
 
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1 Get my hangar built
2 Fly more 75 hours minimum
3 Get new panel and autopilot installed
4 Take longer trips, out west and maybe Michigan in the summer
 
- Improve IFR skills
- Build more actual IFR time (currently less than 5 hours pretty sure)
- Regain proficiency in high performance airplane
- Fly to a college football game
- Fly to Sun N Fun
 
Simple: Fly more. Hopefully build new skills. Take my kids flying more.

You absolutely should. Message me any time to chat about the process.
I've flight-planned trips to the EU. The Mooney is easily capable of doing it.

But then I think about what I'd feel like if the engine quit over the North Atlantic, even if I'm "prepared" for it. Naah. I'm too old for that. Give me a twin at least.
Class date
Shave
Are they still requiring that? Seems like the ol' oxygen mask seal thing has been pretty well debunked. Unless that's only for Canadians and their metric beards.
 
Replace the aircraft that was totaled by hurricane milton. And start flying some more cross country trips.
 
My flying habits changed a lot this year. Got my CSEL in January and flew to the Bahamas in February. Baby boy was born in April, and I only ended up with about 28 hrs outside of the Bahamas trip. :(

This year, I’m tempering my goals. I was asked to come on as an instructor part time at the local flight school this summer, so my targets are largely related to that.

CFI by May, CFI-I by August. End of list.
 
-Get at least 100 hours on airplane

- Get Avionics installed with a less than 2 month down time

- Start A&P classes in fall

- Eight Angle Flights

- Fly the FISK Arrival to Oskkosh for the first time - and not be the subject of a "Pilot Debrief" video

Stretch goals:
- Re Start Commercial training
- Have a fewer days plane is at the A&P vs on the ramp and flyable :biggrin:
 
2025 goal

get my 1st class medical
fly 250 hrs to get that 1500
send out applications and hunt for jobs
 
Today was my last day at the flight school where I've worked for 14 years. Because of my age, the company can no longer get insurance to cover me. Logged more than 3,100 hours of dual instruction given during that time. My goal for 2025 is to try to find some work as an independent CFI. Flight reviews for pilot-owners, probably, as I no longer own an airplane.
 
Yikes. I know and have seen several “seasoned” CFIs. Surely there is an another flight school or club that will cover you.
 
Fly to and visit Air Force museum
Fly to and stay a few days Outer Banks (Buxton or Oracoke)
Oshkosh again
Fly to airport near my childhood home (KCOI, Merritt Island)
Fly to and visit Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, or etc.
I so want to do a few days at Ocracoke. That was on my list in 2024, but plane ownership got into my budget. I might look too pull off a long weekend there.
 
I've visited several nearby airports. No luck so far, but there are three more to go.
How about flight clubs? Gads - hate to hear insurance is taking away CFIs, especially ones who know what they are doing and won’t bounce to the airlines leaving a student high and dry.
 
How about flight clubs? Gads - hate to hear insurance is taking away CFIs, especially ones who know what they are doing and won’t bounce to the airlines leaving a student high and dry.
There are two flight clubs in this area. I cannot instruct at the one at my local airport, because the flight school has an exclusive contract for instruction at that airport and will challenge any independent CFI with legal action. The other one, about a half hour away, has three instructors as members, so probably won't have much need for number four.
 
because the flight school has an exclusive contract for instruction at that airport and will challenge any independent CFI with legal action.
That can’t be correct. A public airport can prevent competition? How?

won't have much need for number four.
You’d be surprised. A lot of folks join our club because they want to take lessons. More CFIs, more
dues paying members.

We have one CFI who is an instructor for our club as well as a few other places; she picks and chooses who to instruct.
 
That can’t be correct. A public airport can prevent competition? How?


You’d be surprised. A lot of folks join our club because they want to take lessons. More CFIs, more
dues paying members.

We have one CFI who is an instructor for our club as well as a few other places; she picks and chooses who to instruct.
It's a bit complicated. The FBO has a contract with the city that owns the airport, giving them exclusive rights to provide rentals, flight instruction and fuel sales. In order to compete, you need to be an "approved vendor" which has requirements for a classroom, lavatory and insurance. As I understand it, the FAA or perhaps the state regards an independent CFI as a "flight training facility."

I hope you are right about the club, but when I met with the chief instructor, he told me he is retired and usually available to meet all demands.
 
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