Officially Retired From Professional Flying (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 3/13/2025 12:22:20 PM EDT
[Last Edit: EMSflyer][Edited]
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Had my last flight as a professional pilot on March 1st. 36 years of flying fixed wing EMS in King Airs and a Citation. No accidents or incidents. Line pilot and manager as well as training captain or check airman almost the entire time. We were careful with our money so was able to retire at 63. In the beginning I didn’t plan on flying EMS my whole career but it turned out I was where I was needed. The schedule and commute was really burning me out the last couple years and it feels great to get off the chronic fatigue roller coaster. I’ll probably start flying again when my son buys a plane in a few years Y’all be careful up there and don’t push your luck !!Attached File Attached File |
| Congrats! Glad the fire department saluted you! |
Ludwig Boltzmann, who spent much of his life studying statistical mechanics, died in 1906, by his own hand, Paul Bhranfest, carrying on the work, died similarly in 1933, Now it is our turn to study statistical mechanics...
| Nice that they gave you the shower. |
ProTip: Never pick a fight with a tree planter. He swings a hoedad for 9 hours a day, carries 30-40 pounds of seedlings on his back, and has 12-14 friends just like him hiding out on the other side of the junk butt pile. They will fuck your shit up.
Congratulations!!! Next time you are stuck in a traffic jam just think about how you could be soaring far above it, looking down at the tiny ants all parked on the highway of which, you are now one. Hopefully it works out and you can get some more flight time in the future. |
Liberals are a curious mix of communism and fascism, they want to destroy you but want to use your own money to do it.
I'm getting down to the last box, the others have all been destroyed...
I'm getting down to the last box, the others have all been destroyed...
Veteran of the Third Battle of Tannhauser Gate.
Joined:
Dec 2005
Posts:
83608
EE: 100% (6)
ID, USA
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In the beginning I didn’t plan on flying EMS my whole career but it turned out I was where I was needed. What's different about EMS flying that makes it a profession? (15 hours in a Tripacer, 50 years ago.) |
"The Creator may be seen in all the works of his hands, but none so clearly in the wise economy of the honey bee."
87% of the time, any question starting with "Why..." is answered with "Money."
87% of the time, any question starting with "Why..." is answered with "Money."
Pathetic earthlings... who can save you now?
Joined:
Sep 2009
Posts:
4238
EE: 100% (28)
TX, USA
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Congratulations! I hope you felt you did a lot of good for people in your career. Glad you only have to fly now only if YOU feel like it. 
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Pathetic earthlings. Hurling your bodies out into the void, without the slightest inkling of who or what is out here. If you had known anything about the true nature of the universe, anything at all, you would've hidden from it in terror.
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Originally Posted By FrankSymptoms: What's different about EMS flying that makes it a profession? (15 hours in a Tripacer, 50 years ago.) Originally Posted By FrankSymptoms: In the beginning I didn’t plan on flying EMS my whole career but it turned out I was where I was needed. What's different about EMS flying that makes it a profession? (15 hours in a Tripacer, 50 years ago.) It's just another type of flying career like airline or corporate flying. Full time job, 12 hour shifts, days and nights in the same week. At least we are trying to help people by getting the medical crew to the patient and back to the hospital safely. The medical folks can do amazing work. |
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Originally Posted By ske714: Do you have something to fly in retirement? No not right now. My son (AA 737 driver) is planning on buying a 182 or something similar in a few years. Until then I'll probably get checked out in a local 172 and fly every now and then just to get my aviation fix. Will keep a Class 2 medical. I had thought about volunteering at the Vintage Flying Museum at KFTW but since we moved out in the middle of nowhere it's not really convenient to get up there. |
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Can you give us a quick rundown of your flying background? Just curious, when/where did you get your ppl and go from there. What got you interested in flying? Tell us about some close calls or funny moments. Something that might help out a hobby pilot like myself. How was the jet configured? For a stretcher? What was a typical flight profile? Go and pick someone up or you delivered? |
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Originally Posted By EMSflyer: No not right now. My son (AA 737 driver) is planning on buying a 182 or something similar in a few years. Until then I'll probably get checked out in a local 172 and fly every now and then just to get my aviation fix. Will keep a Class 2 medical. I had thought about volunteering at the Vintage Flying Museum at KFTW but since we moved out in the middle of nowhere it's not really convenient to get up there. Originally Posted By EMSflyer: Originally Posted By ske714: Do you have something to fly in retirement? No not right now. My son (AA 737 driver) is planning on buying a 182 or something similar in a few years. Until then I'll probably get checked out in a local 172 and fly every now and then just to get my aviation fix. Will keep a Class 2 medical. I had thought about volunteering at the Vintage Flying Museum at KFTW but since we moved out in the middle of nowhere it's not really convenient to get up there. From one retired person to another - buy a Champ. 
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9 lives - 9 pellets... Coincidence?
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Congratulations! I’m a former medevac pilot myself. I’m ready to retire ASAP! Attached File |
"I will leave when I have your wounded." MAJ Kelly
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Originally Posted By oldcatawba: Thoughts on the medical flight that crashed in Philadelphia recently? Heard very little in the aftermath. My theories... Perhaps a catastrophic autopilot or flight control failure, or un commanded thrust reverser deployment? Maybe a flash oxygen fire in cabin? I used to always worry about that. Pilot flying could have had a medical event which led to a loss of control. |
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I'm still happy I left when I did !! It was a good time to go and I was ready. So far the first month has been a little different than we planned because my brother in law's marriage blew up in his face and he has been camped out at our place. He's about to be back on his feet (I hope) and we can get on with our plans. We should have been on some kind of trip by now but we had to put all that on hold. I do miss flying more than I thought, but I don't miss EMS at all !! |
| Congratulations on retirement and a very good career! I’m a few years out from retiring from a flying job… I’ve spent about 30 years flying rotary wing and over 20 as an instructor. Nights and all the rattling around of a helicopter take a toll. Get that GA airplane, fly on the good days and enjoy flying for yourself. I’ve had a plane since 2017, and even though I don’t get to fly it as much as I’d like, I enjoy the heck out of it. Enjoy retirement! You’ve earned it! |
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Originally Posted By EMSflyer: I'm still happy I left when I did !! It was a good time to go and I was ready. So far the first month has been a little different than we planned because my brother in law's marriage blew up in his face and he has been camped out at our place. He's about to be back on his feet (I hope) and we can get on with our plans. We should have been on some kind of trip by now but we had to put all that on hold. I do miss flying more than I thought, but I don't miss EMS at all !! Did several years of air ambulance, it is a very hard way to make a living. Hard on your body and your soul. Congrats OP  |
Sheep will spend their entire life fearing a wolf, only to be eaten by the Sheppard.
-AKCory762
-AKCory762
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Originally Posted By EMSflyer: It's just another type of flying career like airline or corporate flying. Full time job, 12 hour shifts, days and nights in the same week. At least we are trying to help people by getting the medical crew to the patient and back to the hospital safely. The medical folks can do amazing work. Congratulations on your retirement! I was able to do some PI work and find the video of your spray over. An awesome tribute! Always enjoy working with pilots like you that embrace the team mentality with the medical crew. |
'The horse is made ready for battle, but victory rests with the LORD' - Proverbs 21:31
