The way I look at it, I simply screwed up and probably need remedial
training. ... I don't see how I can get around the penalty, since it's
justified.
First of all, I respect you for admitting that you done wrong, and not
simply portraying yourself as a victim. That kind of attitude tells me that
you are the kind of guy that I want to share the sky with, unlike the
multitudes of butt-nuggets out there who think that the rules don't apply to
them.
I'm pretty discouraged and haven't been interested in flying ever since
I left the FBO that day. I did my homework before the flight, always
prided myself on knowing the rules of the system... but when it came
right down to it, I just didn't fly right.
You are seriously down on yourself. To some extent, that's admirable. You
are being brutally objective in evaluating both your behavior and your
skills. Again, that's a signal to me that you have the makings of a very
good pilot. But -- and this is just my opinion -- I think you may be taking
this self-criticism too far. You are new to the DC area. You are new to
flying. The rules you busted are relatively new and subject to change on a
frequent basis. That doesn't make it right to break them, but it does make
what you did a bit more understandable. As someone with just under 100
hours myself, I can completely understand how my own modest skills could go
completely pear-shaped in the same situation. I think anyone who has ever
flown can relate to what happened, especially if they think back to their
own skill level back when they had just 100 hours in their own logbooks.
Now I'm wondering, as a renter, when I'll ever be confident of my skills.
Unless I continue pursuing my IR (aborted last year when I moved) and
really spend a lot of time up there (and a lot of cash), what good is it?
I'll just be a sucky 20-hour-per-year pilot.
When I finished my checkride, I got a lot of people giving me the
age-old-cliche that the Private Pilot's certificate is a "license to learn".
You only get better by doing it more, and one of the ways that you learn is
by making a mistake now and again. Sure, you made a mistake, but I can tell
from what you have written that you have learned a great deal from what
happened. I can understand a crisis of confidence, but the only way to get
past that is to get up there and fly some more.
So, I've got this letter presenting the order and several options. I
can appeal the order either formally or informally.
What would you do?
Scott, you don't sound like you are willing to go through the trouble and
expense of a formal appeal, but what is involved in doing it informally? Do
you have a number you can call to ask what's involved in an informal appeal?
At the very least, I would call AOPA and ask them what's involved. Heck,
since you are right there in Fredrick, you could even walk in and ask them
about how these things work.
I don't know how uptight the FAA is about the ADIZ. Maybe it is hopeless,
but they would have to be pretty heartless and blind to ignore the fact that
you are simply a low-time pilot who made a mistake, and they surely couldn't
help but notice the fact that you have learned from your mistake.
In any event, I hope that you don't just simply give up and turn in your
certificate. You invested thousands of dollars and a huge chunk of time to
get it in the first place, and you really seem like the type of person who
we need more of in GA. You have a good head on your shoulders, you are
willing to listen and learn, and you aren't so egotistical that you think
the rules don't apply to you. I wish there were more people like that in
this industry. I can understand not wanting to make a formal proceeding out
of this situation, but I would at least try to use the informal route to
save my ticket and keep learning.
And don't lose your confidence. From what I can see, you are a good pilot,
Scott. I've never even met you, and I'd already fly with you.
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