I Could Get Used to This…

2000ft above Oakland International Airport (OAK) enroute to Petaluma (O69) for business meeting on May 2, 2011.

Being able to walk up to a plane and fly it practically anywhere I want (and can afford at the time) is one the greatest joys in my life. Over the last year, I’ve begun to not only fly my friends around the great state of California, including some surprise trips with my girlfriend, I’ve also begun to use the plane as my business travel vehicle. While I’m nowhere near being a G-6 pilot and flying myself around the world for meetings, I’m probably only a dream and some dedication away from doing it.

On March 30, 2011, I took what is perhaps the first major step towards that dream. I had a brief discussion with my boss to let him know that later this summer, I plan to leave my current job and expand my consulting practice. Trust me that decision was not easy, but it became easier the more I thought about it. Someday, I would like to be able to have consulting opportunities all across the world, be able to fly myself to those destinations, and even speak in the local languages with my clients (should they be in countries that speak Spanish or Italian).

Yet, right now, I only possess a private pilot license and can only afford regional trips in the state of California. For me to really see value in obtaining my Instrument rating and moving up to larger and faster aircraft, I’ll need the revenue and business case to justify it. Last year on my business trips to Petaluma airport, I had to dodge the late afternoon summer marine layers. However, if I earned my instrument rating, then I could get up and out of those conditions at anytime…allowing me more consistency in being my own business pilot.

N4352G on my recent business trip to Petaluma (O69) on May 2, 2011.

So as I transition into the next phase of my career, I’ll look to map my business goals to my pilot goals. First up…expand my business and look to earn my instrument rating!