For the last month or so I've had this insidious and steadily increasing desire to get back into flying, and finally get my pilot's license like I originally planned to do when I was 16 (because of the relative priority I gave to the idea, I remember musing that it was very likely that I'd find myself having a pilot's license but no driver's license — needing my parents to drive me to the airfield when I wanted to go up, hehe). Even the harrowing experience of landing in a light jet in tropical storm-force winds hasn't done much to allay my enthusiasm. As a recreational pilot, I can simply choose not to fly if the weather looks like it could turn ugly.

It would just be so cool to be able to file a quick flight plan and go up anytime you want. Of course, once again, I wish I were in the States; a private pilot's license there would be much more useful. The operating range of a Cessna 172 is 660 miles; in the US, there's quite a lot available within a 660 mile radius. I could actually consider GOING places. Here, there's not really much that's interesting within that range. It'd be perfect for making the short hop over to other nearby islands, which means I could go visit Rose in St. Thomas relatively easily, but aside from that, I don't know anyone on any nearby islands. So all I can really do with a pilot's license here is go out flying over the island sightseeing. That would certainly be fun and enjoyable, but it just seems like it'd be much more useful in the US. But I'll be back there before long, and it certainly wouldn't hurt to go ahead and get my license now.

The minimum number of hours required for a private pilot's license (or at least, as of eight years ago) is 40 hours with an instructor and 40 hours of solo time (Edit: Apparently I misremembered. Now that I'm actually taking flying lessons, I know that the requirement is actually a minimum of 40 hours total, with at least 20 of those hours spent with an instructor and at least 10 of those hours solo). I remember calculating that, taking into account plane rental, fuel costs, and instructor fees when applicable, that came out to a minimum of about $3500, which seemed completely unattainable on my $5/week allowance. Now, it's much more feasible, especially since the cost is spread out over the course of the weeks it would take to complete the training. So the financial aspect is no longer an impediment.

However, I face a different, seemingly insurmountable barrier — back when I was considering it the first time, my grandfather expressed his strong disapproval of my plan. He was convinced that small private planes are unsafe. A friend of his was out flying once and had mechanical problems and had to make an emergency landing in the middle of the island, which consists mostly of mountains. He was lucky to find a flat area which could serve as a landing strip. Anyway, because of this mistrust of small aircraft, he tried to convince me to give up my private pilot aspirations. When I remained steadfast, he turned to bribery. I forget how much he offered me — probably something like $50 — but I accepted and promised him I would give up my dreams of becoming a pilot.

I wonder how long that promise lasts. Is there a statute of limitations on such deals? Can I just give him back the $50? :) Realistically, I imagine now that I'm significantly older he wouldn't consider that original promise to hold, but I don't think I should just assume that without getting his feelings on the issue first.

Oh well, as an alternative (or perhaps as a stepping stone), I'm thinking of getting back into the safer, cheaper, and not forbidden hobby of R/C model airplanes. This is a field I do have some experience in, though not very illustrious. I crashed my first plane on its second or third flight out, and never got around to finish building my second. In fact, the partially assembled second plane was the primary component of the mess that occupied my bed for a year or so (you remember; the one that I didn't feel like cleaning up, deciding it was much easier to just sleep on the floor for that year).

So I'll probably get back into that, if I can find a local model airplane airfield. And perhaps later I'll have a talk with my grandfather and see how he feels about me starting training for a real pilot's license.