[PacMan4x4]

JEP...

Since moving to OK in Oct 06, I signed up to finish commercial rating at Univ of OK (OU) and did like 3 flights in Jan 07. It was difficult to scheduled in with my continuously rotating work schedule and TDY's/deployments....so, not flying then was my fault. I went back to AK on vacation in Sep 07 and knocked out my IPC, Flight Review, and did some solo flying to enjoy it again. Before going to NJC 07, I stopped by OU to let them know I wanted to get back in the saddle again and finish up my commercial (at least fly off what I had pre-paid). I had also made a weekend trip to Skymates and got a few hours in the Seminole -- it was something different. After not hearing from them (OU) for a few weeks I stopped by to give my availability for flying and was assigned an instructor a few days later..she let me know that both Arrows were down for Mx and one would be up a week later, but they were back logged on aviation program students who had to get their flights in and she wanted to review my logbook to see where I was at and would get me scheduled once the second Arrow came back on line. I've know from the beginning about the college program students getting priority and I'm completely behind that, but fast forward from Oct to last week (early Feb 08), I hadn't heard a peep from the school. I had enough waiting and drove down to tell them that I wanted my pre-paid money refunded and I would seek out other flying options. The Asst Chief Instructo asked what my name was and who I was assigned...next, the instructor I was assigned (also who I have never met) explained what had happened. As she is a student at the school, her availability changes with each semester as well as the other student instructors and she was surprised nobody had called to let me know they needed another availability form filled out from me so they could reassign me an instructor. I said to her "my availability has never changed" so that shouldn't have really been a prob. Basically, the ball got dropped and I fell off the radar scope. I was already at the school to get my $$ back and just pressed on with that.
Long story short....I haven't been flying as much as I would want and couldn't seem to get motivated to finish the commercial rating (and I'm so close). The other flight school in the area is about an hour drive away and recently got a C-182RG for commercial training. They want something like $180 for rental and another 40 or so for instructor. For that price, I'll just got hit up a school like CPS or some other school where I can just focus on flying and put aside all other distractions and knock out my CSEL. I'll get back into it again, but for now will go make some $$ on the side turning wrenches again. I've gotta decide what is the best route for me after retiring from militray--no need to dump $$ into flying for other ratings if I will have a better QOL turning wrenches. If we end up moving to another location where there are more and closer flight schools that I could part time instruct at, then getting more ratings would prove beneficial. It's just up in the air right now.....probably a lil' more of a response than you were looking for :-)


Pac Man