By Natalie Miles, EAA 1478672
“She’s a pilot,” said my instructor after I handled a high oil temperature issue in flight during a solo cross country.
You learn so much about yourself when you are flying solo. Anything can happen, and it is your responsibility to be prepared for all possible outcomes. That one sentence my instructor told me has stuck with me and motivated me throughout my training and boosted my confidence as a pilot. “She’s a pilot.” Yes, I am a pilot, and now I am officially a commercial pilot.
I have worked endless hours studying, flying, and absorbing all the information possible to become not only the best pilot I can be, but to become the best person I can be. As it goes with all training, commercial had its ups and downs. The cockiness of getting in the airplane and thinking you are unstoppable with an instrument rating and private pilot certificate soon becomes humbled as you start to fly new maneuvers and are held to much higher standards. My first flight as commercial was a local flight to the practice area to learn the new maneuvers. I was cocky, I can’t lie. I knew I could fly the airplane and wanted to impress my new instructor. As I started to fly the new maneuvers, I became frustrated. I did not understand why I couldn’t perform maneuvers and landings to the highest of standards I had set for myself. I had yet to realize that this was still training. It’s a process, and you will always be learning and improving. You will never be perfect the first time you perform something, and that is okay. What is important is that you understand why and what you can do next to become better the next time. And with that thought in mind, each flight progressively improved.
Ten solo night landings to a full stop. This requirement allowed me to fly solo for the first time since November. I was nervous. Although I am capable, safe, and legal to fly the Cirrus by myself, not having my instructor there beside me made me feel uneasy. Although, as soon as I started the airplane, my confidence kicked in. I completed all my landings safely and was even able to squeeze in a quick flight to Tuscan and land behind a SkyWest airplane (Caution: wake turbulence).
After my local solos and maneuver work, I flew three cross-country flights with my instructor. We flew to Carlsbad, California; Page, Arizona; and Santa Barbara, California. These three flights were some of the most fun times I had throughout commercial, after which came my solo cross-countries. (I previously wrote a short piece on it.) My solo cross-country flights were the most amazing experience I have had to this point in my training. Flying off the coast of the Pacific Ocean, seeing the Blue Angels, being overtaken by a FedEx heavy, watching Southwest take off and United land as I am holding short of the runway, witnessing an airport emergency, funny ATC conversations, driving BMW and Mercedes-Benz crew cars, and flying to states I had never been to before. Time building for the commercial is not only time building but is experience building. I am so grateful to United Aviate Academy for allowing me to learn and grow with them. Sadly, the cross countries reached their end, and I was back to flying maneuvers and perfecting my abilities for the checkride. At the end of June, I became a commercial pilot.
I want to thank my instructors, United Aviate Academy, EAA, my family, and my friends for helping me reach this point in my training. I strive to grow as a person, a pilot, a mentor, and a friend to all. Thank you for allowing me to share my story, and thank you EAA for the opportunities you have given!