Congratulations. You did it. You passed your checkride and now you are a private pilot.
What’s next? For the first six months or so you’ll try to fly every week or so, but soon you’ll note that boring holes in the sky in pursuit of the $100 hamburger loses its thrill.
The next thing you know, a year has passed and you haven’t been in the air at all. You may feel like you have to relearn everything. If you don’t want this to happen to you, you’d be wise to find ways to keep aviation interesting.
Here are some suggestions:
Join an aviation club. There are several out there ranging from local organizations to large type clubs and international groups such as the Experimental Aircraft Association and the Ninety-nines. Very often these groups have fly-out events and safety programs for their members. It’s a way to interact with other pilots and often the social contact inspires you to fly more.
Pursue additional training. Many insurance companies offer lower rates for pilots who have an instrument rating. You also may opt to add an endorsement, say high performance or tailwheel, to your ticket.
Become a volunteer pilot. Angel Flight, the Civil Air Patrol and organizations that provide transportation for animals are always looking for qualified pilots. You may find that flying with a purpose brings a new level of enjoyment to the activity. Do a search on the Internet to find volunteer groups near you.