Helicopter Flight School: research - check, prep - check, reality -WOW!

As I sit here and reflect over the last 9 months of flight school, I realize that I greatly under estimated what it would be like going through helicopter flight school at the age of 52. Let me clarify, its not the school work, I thoroughly enjoy learning about all things aviation. Being able to fly here in Hawaii is nothing short of amazing. My instructors and fellow students create an atmosphere that is energizing, fun, and conducive to learning. Everyone there is just as excited about flying as I am and love to talk about it, you know how pilots are! What I underestimated is life, and how fickle it is, ready to take the best laid plan and shred it so fine it would easily blend in to the sand on the beach.

Sun going down as we embark on a night XC

In July of 2023, just 3 months after moving to Hawaii, I applied to Mauna Loa Helicopters in Kona, and was accepted into the Professional Pilot Program in August. To say I was excited would be an understatement. Over the next 4 months, we got all of our finances lined up, budgeted for me to resign from my job, so I could start after the first of the year. I created this website, an Instagram account, and even a YouTube channel. I was going to document in real time my journey, showing others it is never too late to chase your dreams. On February 6, 2024, I walked in to Mauna Loa Helicopters, met my instructor, and hit the ground running. No time for real time reporting, school, and family. More on that in a later blog.

Me and Adi, my CFI, after my first flight!

Monday through Friday, and sometimes on the weekends, I drove 96.80 miles round trip from my house to the airport, so I could learn to fly. Ground school came fairly easy to me. I couldn't get enough of aerodynamics, components, weather, and yes, even the FAR's (Federal Aviation Regulations). All fascinating to me. The flying was a bit more challenging. I couldn't hover to save my life. If I heard "stop stirring the pot" once I heard it a thousand times, and every time my reaction was, "I'm not moving the cyclic!" Turns out I was, my video didn't lie. After awhile though, it got easier and then the improvements came by leaps and bounds. On May 8th, 2024 I passed my Private Pilot check ride! I was officially a helicopter pilot! Now on to the next stage in the program.

Just passed my Private Pilot check ride!

As is in life, you cannot foresee the future and plan for everything. If only! Finances became tight, as part of our plan did not come to fruition. I went from full-time student with no job to full-time RN and part-time student. This is where my struggles began. I was ready to leave the healthcare field behind, and now, having to work full-time as a nurse, it's taking time away from my true passion in life. I was shown, that maybe I'm not as resilient as I thought I was, or that maybe because of my age, felt entitled to do what I WANT, because I have already done what I HAD to do. I don't really think it is either, I feel as though everything happens for a reason, and that reason is still yet to be figured out.

Over the coming months, I will share with you a retrospective journey to this point in my training, my struggles and accomplishments, and how age and experience has helped and hindered me. You can join along as I progress through my Commercial (COM) / Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), then on to Instrument and Certified Flight Instructor - Instrument (CFII). This will not be the most polished blog you read. Some posts will be more interesting than others. This is just one person's journey through flight school. If I can share one thing that helps someone get through a rough patch in their adventure, or get them to start living their dreams no matter what age they are, well that is all that matters to me. Thank you for joining me. Let's pull pitch and see where this journey will take us!