Dear Dave:
The “Quitting While You Are Ahead” article by Dean Zakos (https://midwestflyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/MFM-Dec2023Jan2024-issue.pdf, beginning on page 18) was spot on in all regards. I had both of the experiences he wrote of. Thanks for including it in my story (https://midwestflyer.com/flying-a-stearman-for-the-first-time-you-can-do-it-too/).
I had to let my plane partner know he should not fly despite him having a valid medical and flight review. I had been hoping he’d not pass his flight review but did. One day I finally bit the bullet and had “the talk.” He agreed without much argument – noticing deterioration in his skills himself.
Meanwhile, because I take anti-anxiety drugs, the FAA declined my third-class medical application. I felt I was ripped off since many pilots are allowed back with treatment for this. But the hoops and expense one goes through is daunting. I tried, with no luck, short of spending $3,000 on a psychiatric review that I could not find anyone to do – and the FAA might still decline. I tried AOPA and an aviation attorney too. Neither helped. So, in the end I gave up trying (as one psychiatrist suggested!) and just flew with my partner as PIC.
Over time I had begun to notice less than sharp focus on what was going on, skill loss and errors on my part too, and came to the odd conclusion, “the FAA was right.”
We sold the Cessna 150 to “take away the keys.” I still fly it once in a while – it now has awesome new avionics, is well cared for, and is closer to home! But flying it is with my CFI/owner friend along.
It was tempting to fly illegally, but even the most minor incident (i.e. a safe forced landing) is “news” and soon there are others nosing into your business. Best to avoid that.
So, as Dean Zakos said, and I said, “There are alternatives.”
Allen Penticoff
Brodhead, Wisconsin