explanation

I thought I would explain some of the posts I have been making in recent days and months. Some have been positive and some have been negative, to be sure. But fear not, there is good reason.

You see, my intent is not to push myself away from flying or to push anyone else away from flying as a career. At times, it seems like I am harsh on certain airplanes, or harsh on the career itself. The problem is, as a blog reader, you can't begin to understand the true meanings behind what I am writing.

I love aviation. I love being free in the air and being able to go any where I please. And I love to share that freedom with other people, whether I am teaching a lesson or simply giving a ride. I have done many, many things so far for being only 22 years old. There are still two situations that given me the most thrill in the entire world: giving a first airplane ride and congratulating a student after he or she gets their license. There is no better feeling in the entire world. Of course, when they fail, I share that failure and feel equally as bad as they do - but failures happen in all forms and all situations in life.

You see, the negative comments I leave on this blog are simply random thoughts that I am venting. Quite frankly, I am tired of dealing with insurance companies, tired of trying to impress people, and tired of having to prove what I can do and who I am in the aviation world. Further more, I'm tired of trying to be someone I am not.

To all of the young(er) people out there who read this (I think there is at least one of you), do not worry. If flying the big iron is your ultimate dream, I cheer you on. I have no problem with that. What I am conveying on this blog is that flying the heavy iron or even some corporate jobs is simply not right for me.

Flying has to be a personal experience. At least it does for me. It needs to be meaningful and awesome, not another day in the office. Now, to some, flying people around in expensive jets is meaningful. Great! But what needs to be understood is that it isn't meaningful to me - it's just a job. Sure, it's flying, and that's great - but it is on someone else's terms and it means fighting weather which is no fun, either.

I leave you with this thought... I know I am young, but I have experienced a lot of the aviation world in a short period of time. I have washed airplanes, pumped fuel, mowed grass at airports, organized airshows, organized fly-ins, taught people to fly in everything from tail draggers to twin-engine aircraft, flown charter trips all over the country, spoken at schools about aviation, dropped skydivers, and given airplane rides to little kids just getting their first taste of flight. But it's not about what I've done so much as what does it all mean?

Define yourself. Do what makes you happy and you will never regret a single day. A very good friend told me that if you do what makes you happy, you are guaranteed to be successful. I believe he is right.

Don't let anyone else define who you are. If flying for American Airlines is your goal, go for the gold. If teaching people to fly old worn-out tail draggers is what makes you happy, we'll see you in the sky.


Clear skies,
Casey