I am a helicopter pilot.

Last Friday, I achieved a huge milestone in my life. I took and passed my private pilot rotorcraft, check ride. I cant begin to explain how rewarding this has been for me, but I will do my best.

That evening, after passing, I did what any excited guy would do. I hit the phone. Everyone got a call. The two calls that really stuck with me and even helped to enhance my high, were the one to my Dad and to his Dad, my Grandad. My Dad has been the single most support (second to only my wife) for me during this program. Through the highs and lows he was always there for a supportive and encouraging word (thanks Dad). And while talking to my Grandad, It was just obvious in his voice how excited he was for me. Being a retired airline Captain, he went on to tell me that he (at 84) can still remember the day he got his private rating. He described it as "the best day of his life". He told me that in aviation I will meet the "happiest people who love and know how to party". Yup, his words. He told me that aviation did wonderful things for his life and that he was elated that there was now another pilot in the family, and excited to see what aviation does for my life. Well, I am excited too, Grandad.

So, you probably want to story about the check ride. Or should I say checkride(s). Yup, I had to go up twice. Can you say discontinuance.

My strong point (so I thought) was always in the cockpit. I felt most comfortable with the pedals under my feet and the cyclic and collective controls in my hands. Given this, I thought I would have the flight nailed. I was wrong.

The check started off with 3 hours of ground. Yeah, it is just like it sounds. I sit in a room with an FAA examiner and he verbally tests me....for three hours. Surprisingly, the three hours went by with little problem and I passed the ground portion of the check! Awesome, now on to the easy stuff. I was wrong... again.

Out to the helicopter I go, pre-flight complete, DPE all strapped in. Lets do this! And unfortunately, my "lets do this" attitude turned out to bite me. As it ended up, I was all to engrossed with getting it done, than I should have been. To make a long story not so long... I continued the check ride, performing maneuvers in a fricken torrential down pour and winds I probably should not have been flying in. You see, being focused on getting it done left little room in my head for other things... like oh... I dont know... SAFETY! I can laugh about it now...

So half way through an autorotation, I caught a pretty good down draft and was told by the examiner to restore engine RPM and recover from the maneuver. Now keep in mind, during a check ride, you are the pilot in command and you surely do not want to hear the examiner tell you to stop what you are doing. It usually means that you are not safe. And I wasn't.

"Okay lets take it back to the airport and talk about the flight" were the next words out of the DPE's mouth. aww crap.... lump in throat... longest 7 mile flight EVER!

We got back and I was debriefed. The DPE made it really clear that I was not making good

decisions and needed to work on my ADM (aeronautical decision making). After the stress of "get

it done" went away, I could see clear as day the mistake I had made. They pound it in our heads

over and over not to let stress or pressure make anything mandatory. And thats what I had

done. I wanted to get it done so bad, nothing else mattered.

Well the DPE didnt fail me but gave me a discontinuance for weather, and told me we would

pick it up on another day. So now, I had to go home and for just about a week, stew in my

mistake. The first few days, anger, then disappointment etc. I went through all the emotions that

week. But in the end, I learned a valuable lesson about safety. And on top of that, the way I see

it, I am lucky to have learned it so early into my aviation career.

One week later, I went backup with a different DPE (scheduling) performed 5 maneuvers,

brought it home, shut it down and got that ever so important handshake. Never has a handshake

meant so much. I had passed, and I was a pilot.

Although a bumpy road, I have done it. I set my mind and heart to something almost 9

months ago, given everything I had to this program, lost sleep, (and weight) sacrificed anything

that resembled a social life, but I succeeded. Flight school has by far been the hardest, yet most

rewarding thing I have ever taken on, second to only my marriage (not that my marriage is hard,

but you get what I'm saying).

So next Monday, I start on my instrument rating. Ill keep ya in the loop! thanks for reading.