I Blinked… and I’m 18 Months into Flight School?!?!

May 2024 after passing my RPH check ride!

It’s hard to believe that in February 2024 I walked into Mauna Loa Helicopters to begin pursuing my dream and making it a reality. I started my website to share my journey as well as slow me down, so I could enjoy the process, learn some important lessons, and take it in as I progressed through school.  Social media here I come! Grand aspirations of positing videos, reels, shorts, and pics.

I want to be an inspiration to those that are older and may be hesitant to take the leap and go after what they want. The old saying that life is short could not be more true. It’s never too late to go after what you want. There is no need to stay in a place, whether a job, city, country, that makes you unhappy. I say that, as the challenges later in life are much different from when we are young.

It looks as though it’s going to be more of a retrospective look on my journey through flight school. Maybe I can be better here on the tail end. Let me share a few of the lessons I have learned so far.

Lesson one. Be flexible. When I started school I had my mind made up that I was going to complete the professional pilot program in 14 months. I was cruising. I earned my private pilot certificate a little over three months. I was progressing well.  No one was going to stop me, and no ONE did, LIFE did. Things don’t always work out as planned. I had to start working full-time as an RN and flight school became a part-time journey. I did not react well to that and did not handle it well until recently (it’s a work in progress for me.) Flights don’t always go as planned. When planning a flight, you check your FADWAR: fuel, aircraft performance, delays, weather, alternate, and runway lengths. Alternate airport (landing area for us rotor folk) because sometimes plans change, weather conditions change, well things just change. We have back up plans and are ok with executing those plans. I entered school with one plan and was not flexible. Be flexible.

Lesson two. Good things come to those who wait. Things that come easy, quickly, and with little effort are not always appreciated. On the flip side, when one works hard for something that takes time and effort, the reward is more cherished. I also appreciate the journey, and it has not passed by in the blink of an eye. I have had the time to reflect on my successes as they have been spread over a longer period of time. My two friends who started the program on the same day as me are both finished. I felt as though I should be done too. We started on the same day I should be done with them. Which brings me to my next lesson.

Lesson three. Comparison is the thief of joy. Everyone is on their own journey. When comparing yourself to others, and looking at them, you miss what you have accomplished. You overlook your experience. It can take the fun and joy out of it, and after all, that is why we pursue our dreams. I have come to realize that, when I get done, I get done. Others will come and go and have an amazing time at school. Let me celebrate with them as well as enjoy myself. Every flight for me is amazing, I mean come on, I’m flying helicopters in Hawaii, and if it takes me longer, well then so be it.

Lesson four (last one I promise). A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor. I was in the Navy, but was only on a ship for a week. I had the honor of being a FMF Corpsman with the Marines. But I do understand what is meant by this. When new students start at Mauna Loa Helicopters, they usually fly between 07:00 and 11:00, when the winds are more calm, the lava fields are not as hot from the morning sun and the updrafts and downdrafts are not as intense. As you progress, you fly later in the day and the winds are increased. Oftentimes just setting the helicopter back down on the flight line you have a nice 10-15 knot left crosswind, LTE anyone? It challenges you and makes you stronger and more skilled as a pilot. My challenges and setbacks on this journey have given me the opportunity to learn and grow. Opportunities I would not have had, had my original plan worked out. 

So be flexible. Be patient, Look inward at your journey and not those around you. Embrace the crosswind, it is making you strong. If all goes to plan (I think I’m on plan D now) I will be finishing the program in early September 2025. If not, well that's just more time I’m flying in paradise.