Cross country flights used to be intimidating for me. A year ago, when I was training for my Private Pilots License, cross countries were a time of weaning. It was a time when I as a student was released into the real world of aviation; hands shaking, butterflies fluttering, yet confident in the training I had received. And as I reflect on that time of weaning, I realized that many and most of those flights I did solo were not enjoyed. It was not that the flights were miserable and dreaded but that I, as a new pilot, was so focused on what I was doing I had little time to really realize that I was having fun.
Now that I am far more comfortable in command of an aircraft, I can sit back an really enjoy the flight. On Saturday I took a flight to Dodge City Regional Airport in Dodge City Kansas. This was a milestone in my career as it was the first cross country to an airport of my choice, that I planned and had never been to before. In my private training, the instructors picked the destinations and had the students plan the flight. Hesston Aviation has their "milk run" routes for cross countries which usually consist of: Newton-->Topeka (Forbes Field)--> Manhattan Regional--> Newton, or Newton--> Hays--> Hutchinson--> Newton. However, now that I am in the commercial portion, I get to choose any destination I please as long as I can get the plane back in decent time (or back before the weekend ends). So this flight to Dodge City (KDDC) was very rewarding.
The day couldn't have been more perfect to fly! And after reaching my cruising altitude, a sense of freedom overtook me. The sky was clear blue and the air was clear, I could see for miles in every direction. Little patches formed all over the terrain where farmers divided up their farms and grain elevators marked where little towns lay. I can say right then I had my "aha!" moment. I felt so free up there in that little tin can of a machine. I smiled to myself and though, "I wouldn't mind doing this for the rest of my life."
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