Nearing the end.

Well, not totally, but at least the end of the Commercial license is nearing an end. The written is out of the way, and I have about 50 hours so far, and need 60 for the license, so maybe next week will be ride time? Sooner than later anyway. I'm not stressed out yet, but talk to me as it gets closer...it's been some time since I have done a ride...May 2007 to be exact...eeks.

So the other day I did my first trip in the R44. I'll be doing my ifr on it, so I guess it's time to start to get used to it. Mind you the jetranger was in the shop, so that might be why. ;) But it was a pretty stable platform, and I think it will suit me well for the instruments. I mean, I love the jetranger, love...but it has no instruments that I need, so the Robbie it is.

Last week I also did my solo xcountry. How cute. ;) So I did my planning (how is it that I could plan a entire freaking day and file ifr, yet it takes me 45 min to do a vfr one? God I miss IFR!!) And then I called FSS to file my flight plan and get a wx briefing.

So we are chatting about stuff, and get to filing. As we get to 'Pilot's name', I say mine, and he says..."Wait. Just wait. Helicopters? What the hell? And where have you been?"

*sniff*

He remembered me. That made me feel just awesome. So I filled him in on what has been going on, and he said it was very nice to have me back, as I am one of the few pilots around that actually brighten their day. That was about the kindest thing anyone has ever said to me. Seriously.

So on my trip my instructor had asked if I felt comfortable dropping a part off at the maintenance base. I said sure, but I need to know where it is. So they gave me a point on my map, and showed me a few pics taken from the air. Uhm..ok. so this is a circle in an industrial complex, surrounded by buildings, trees, powerlines, and a hill. Yikes! As I was tooling along I wasn't having any luck finding it. I found the highway and hung a left, and kept looking to my left. Still nothing. Fuck!! The last thing I wanted to do was to have to return to base without completing my mission due to my inability to spot something from the air. But I was about 30s from doing that when I saw it. And it was even smaller than the pictures!! So I circled around to see where I would approach from, looked like over the powerlines was my only option due to the winds. Ok then, here we go.

So I arrived. And I felt like a working pilot again. One that was accomplishing something other than hours in a log book. And really, I was pretty happy that they trusted me to do that. :D

On the way back to base I made a position report on 126.7. And then I heard..."Heya Dagny!!". Now that made me smile. And I REALLY felt back then. I have missed it all. The chatting on frequency with friends. Keeping in touch with my weather people. All of it. And no, I probably won't be working for a bit yet, but I got a taste. A taste of what my life used to be like. And I missed it. Horribly. But I'm getting it back. And that brings a smile to my face.