Do I fly too much?

[jmaynard]

I've come to figure between 1.0 and 1.5 hours flight time for each year not flown.

For me, it was about 7 hours back, after not having flown in 15 years, before I was comfortable solo in my own airplane - and that includes checking out in the new type. (I will add that telling the factory pilot "get out of my airplane!" felt very, very good. )

But when you've flown with as many non-proficient PP's as I have, and looked at their logbooks, you see certain trends.

I would be interested to see what you thought of my proficiency level. My CFI thinks I'm quite proficient, but he's just one opinion. Me? I think I can always do better.

 

[poadeleted20]

I would be interested to see what you thought of my proficiency level.

It's a long way from Maryland to Minnesota, but if you send me the ticket, I'll be happy to hop out there and fly with you. Or if you wait until next summer, I should be passing by on my way to the AYA Grumman convention at Red Deer, Alberta, Canada.

My CFI thinks I'm quite proficient, but he's just one opinion. Me? I think I can always do better.

Good thinking.

 

[KennyFlys]

Me? I think I can always do better.

Be careful. That's the kind of mentality that will keep you a safe pilot!

 

[flyingcheesehead]

Well, I just finished putting all of my time into an electronic logbook, and the information I can find now is rather interesting.

For one, I've flown 150.2 hours this year, my 2nd best behind last year, when I thought only about 6 weeks ago or so that I was going to end up not flying more than the 122 or so I had at that point. (Aaaaa! I can't stop myself from flying! )

Some of the other numbers I've been kind of guessing at are now solid - For instance, 65.0 complex, 10.9 tailwheel, and 462.7 all-inclusive cross country (ie, a landing anywhere other than the point of departure).

I was also thinking that I might have half of all my flight time in good ol' N271G. Total time is 692.2, and I have 141 flights for 333.0 hours in N271, so not quite (yet). I did come close at the end of September when I had 655.1 hours total and 326.8 in N271G - Another 0.8 in 71G would have put me at half. But since then, between doing two ratings and ferrying a plane to Maine, I've had very little time in N271G.

I've logged time in 46 aircraft of 28 types. 339.3 in 182's (349.0 if you count the RG), and 151.1 in Archers (234.3 in all PA28's - 161, 181, R-200, R-201, RT-201, 235, 236). In 385 flights (as logged), I have carried 116 passengers through 168 instrument approaches and 968 landings at 196 airports and three lakes.

Can't wait to add a few more lines.

 

[EdFred]

Kent,

How is the shoulder and elbow doing?

 

[Ghery]

I've done flight reviews with those who haven't flown ranging from a year to eighteen years. Even a few months proves some without a little skill, especially if it's only a few hours every quarter.

I'd have to go with Ron's average of fifty hours a year. That's only an hour a week and only just enough to keep the rust off, let alone truly be proficient. As far as IFR proficiency, the currency requirement currently in effect is a joke.

We'll see how it goes the next time I get to fly. It's been 5 months since I last touched the controls and that was for the club's annual review 3 days before I went in the hospital for surgery. Gee, I wonder why my flying wasn't all that great? Perhaps because virtually all the other flying this year up to that point had been under the hood with a CFII? And, it's amazing how worrying about a silly thing like cancer messes with your mind.

 

[Geico266]

Do I fly too much?

I think that is a physical impossibility.