A lifetime of learning when to fly....

[PilotDAR]

Two recent posts from Pelmet and cncpc on the PA-32 crash thread hit the spot well... so well I think that the topic of "when to fly" is worthy of more consideration beyond the discussion of that sad event.

One of my many pilot mentors once said to me that it takes a few dozen hours to learn how to fly, and a lifetime to learn when to fly. Wise words, which were probably not original to him. And, pilots earn a PPL, which we then remind them is a "license to learn". After a thousand or so hours, that PPL probably comes back to the club house, a little tail between legs, saying quietly - "yeah, I understand that better now..." and hopefully embraces lifetime learning mentality.

When I was a few thousand hour pilot, and simply competent on type, I would occasionally be sent by the boss for a causal "go fly with Joe, he's going to [place] for lunch. Okay, a nice ride. I began to figure out for myself, that in some cases, Joe, the millionaire, who could afford an airplane I could fly, but never dream of owning, got to be a millionaire by being a sharp, "type A" businessman. Good for Joe! But now, Joe, who could finally afford in life to take up flying, and buy the airplane of his dreams, had a few hundred hours in a rental 172, a checkout in what we were riding together in, but sadly very little "life" flying experience in it. Joe was flying a very capable airplane, well beyond the 172 which he had learned to tolerate, and now wanted to go one adventures!

Yeah, slow down a little Joe! This airplane can do that, but I'm not completely confident that you're ready for the adventure itself, nor the exponentially complex risks (compared to the 172 hamburger run) which this airplane can take you to...

I began to find that a respectful heart to heart with Joe before the flight generally calmed down adventure expectations. A few real world examples of risks, and resolutions contributed to putting everything in context for Joe. I can only think of two "Joe's" in my mentoring history, to whom I kindly said: "This airplane is beyond your training, and I cannot close the gap for you.". I didn't say it was mostly attitude on their part! They were Type A in worst way, and beyond my skill set for human interaction. I know one of those Joe's is super skilled in his day job ( hear him on the news from time to time), but he should never fly an airplane again!

So, I lay this at the feet of instructors. When you're training Joe, the obviously successful, perhaps a little type A businessman, in the club 172, he's probably pretty safe. But it's worth the discussion that when Joe completes his training with you, and embarks on the next phase of his life's flying adventure, in the awesome airplane he's thinking of buying, not only will he need more "how to fly [the new type]" training, but a whole bunch more "when to fly" training.

(And, perhaps new instructors, who haven't much time in the awesome type Joe's been talking about, you yourself could benefit from some up to date refresher "when to fly" familiarity with respect to the capabilities of the new type too! No offense, but I have encountered Joe taking his old instructor for a flight in his new plane, and I could not tell who the "experienced" pilot on type was aboard. That's okay, as long as everyone keeps things really low adventure, and low demand on experience for a while!)

[rookiepilot]

This is a good post, but as the “target market “ characterization for it, I will make a few points, before the inevitable, clownish stupid businessman pilot comments that will surely follow on this thread. (I guess its no longer doctors as the example to be highlighted, killing themselves in their Bonanza’s).

I am a businessman who learned to fly later in life, when I could finally afford it. Like every venture I have tried, I have approached it as a student. Anyone successful in my particular line of business, and most businesspeople I have met in any field for that matter, is a serious, permanent student too, because the world is always changing. To not be a student means certain failure, its only a matter of time.

I approached flying the same way, getting my PPL, requesting extra dual CC time, immediately getting my night, getting extra night CC time and hood time, then after some experience, moving on to my IFR and CPL.

I wrote a series of SOP’s, rules for myself to cover my personal flying and any volunteer flying I did. I sought out mentor pilots, and gradually built experience in different conditions.

I bought a faster, more capable plane, and familiarized myself with its systems, first with a highly experienced mentor pilot, then on my own, starting in good day VMC conditions.

I spent many, many hours studying everything on my own, from weather, to my avionics and navigation systems, to understanding my plane’s guts when it was in the shop getting serviced. It’s not golf. I don’t play golf.

All of this was an obvious path to a student, and I know several other businessman pilots who have taken the same approach.

My point is this, a disregard for risk does not originate from ones profession, it originates from attitude. I have been told by a CFI I know, he had ex AC pilots he would not rent their 172’s to — their flying was so bad.

It does not explain the AC pilots who nearly caused the worst disaster in history at SFO, a professional crew, and tried to cover it up. (I think they should have been prosecuted for that)

It’s not that simple, and I do reiterate its an excellent post. For every pilot.

[Bede]

My point is this, a disregard for risk does not originate from ones profession, it originates from attitude.

Exactly. However, it's common for middle age men (me included) to apply their confidence from one domain (ie their careers) and apply it to a domain at which they are novices.

I'm a case in point. I have a lot of experience and confidence flying but I have found myself out of my league on the water a few times. Im still alive, but I've learned my lesson.

The doctor/lawyer/businessman trope can be attributed to the careers that afford them the money to get themselves into trouble.

[rookiepilot]

My point is this, a disregard for risk does not originate from ones profession, it originates from attitude.

Exactly. However, it's common for middle age men (me included) to apply their confidence from one domain (ie their careers) and apply it to a domain at which they are novices.

I'm a case in point. I have a lot of experience and confidence flying but I have found myself out of my league on the water a few times. Im still alive, but I've learned my lesson.

The doctor/lawyer/businessman trope can be attributed to the careers that afford them the money to get themselves into trouble.

To be fair, I’ve found myself beyond my comfort zone flying on a few occasions, because I underestimated a single risk factor.

Thankfully, I haven’t underestimated multiple risk factors at the same time , perhaps due to my rules, and perhaps thats why I’m still alive.

I believe its the violation of several different kinds of risk factors at the same time (think fatigue, IMC, icing, fuel reserve, maintenance, night, terrain) that is often the cause of fatal accidents.

Its remarkable how risk skyrockets at night.

The OP’s point worth considering is some businesspeople pilots fly a lot at night, (and I have done my relative share) being very busy during the day. I have some strict rules involving night.

Few of those simple rules to this point have been:

No night flying north of North Bay / Sudbury.

No night IMC. Crappy VMC (think bad haze) is Ok.

Even in VMC, request vectors to final at an unfamiliar airport at night.

No night flying in mountain areas.

[Big Pistons Forever]

My experience generally mirrors Rookie Pilots. Most of the high achiever pilots I have observed applied the same discipline to flying as they did to what ever line of work that got them successful. They also were self aware enough to learn from their mistakes.

The one constant however was time challenges. These people are usually very busy and carving out enough time to concentrate on flying knowledge and skill development could be an issue.

Ultimately how "safe" you are as a pilot is a personal choice. I don't think rich people are any more dangerous in an airplane than regular guys, they have the same competence bell curve as the rest of the pilot population.

[pelmet]

Two recent posts from Pelmet and cncpc on the PA-32 crash thread hit the spot well... so well I think that the topic of "when to fly" is worthy of more consideration beyond the discussion of that sad event.

Perhaps this one……

viewtopic.php?p=1270346#p1270346

I think part of the problem is that some of these businessmen are already fully loaded with their job and family. I have plenty of respect for Elon Musk for investing but I would be have heightened concern going with him in a Bonanza in marginal conditions……too many other things on his mind. What is he doing with spare time? Likely not coming to the AvCanada accident and Incident forum to pick up good flying safety tips from somebody called Pelmet

For a few years, I was into skydiving and scuba diving….significantly risky activities. I spent a lot of time finding and reading publications. Not with focus on where to go but publications that had at least some focus on accidents/incidents. Why? Because I am well aware that I am average at best.

While I don’t do those activities any more,I operated conservatively and made it through with great experiences. I am toying with the idea of getting motorcycle experience. The plan would be the same.

[Squaretail]

The doctor/lawyer/businessman trope can be attributed to the careers that afford them the money to get themselves into trouble.

Well we don't talk about poor folks doing stupid things in airplanes, because poor folks can't afford airplanes. So folks who own airplanes tend to be either a) smart successful businessman/lawyer/doctor and b) not so smart successful businessman/lawyer/doctor. Or somewhere on that spectrum. category a) will realize that there is not a direct connection to not getting killed in an airplane and what has made them a success. Those in category b) will not realize this.

While the scope of training can maybe enlighten, and should provide tools to use to aid in making correct decisions, its up to the individual to use and/ or heed them. The small time an instructor works with a student on a PPL is not going to change that person's core personality traits which they have developed over their lifetime.

[pelmet]

My experience generally mirrors Rookie Pilots. Most of the high achiever pilots I have observed applied the same discipline to flying as they did to what ever line of work that got them successful. They also were self aware enough to learn from their mistakes.

The one constant however was time challenges. These people are usually very busy and carving out enough time to concentrate on flying knowledge and skill development could be an issue.

Ultimately how "safe" you are as a pilot is a personal choice. I don't think rich people are any more dangerous in an airplane than regular guys, they have the same competence bell curve as the rest of the pilot population.

Remember something……a lot of these successful businessmen are used to taking high financial risks. And many of them fail and go out of business. Using the Musk example again……he put everything he had from his previous business success into Tesla and was extremely close to it all crashing down around him. I have heard him tell the story multiple times because I like to watch his interviews…..these people are frequently high risk individuals when it comes to important things in their life.

Does that make it more likely that the high risk personality will also apply to flying where caution and conservative operation seems more appropriate than aggressiveness? I don’t know. Will have watch even more videos from another highly intelligent individual……Jordan Peterson to find out.

[Aviatard]

I am a businessman who learned to fly later in life, when I could finally afford it. Like every venture I have tried, I have approached it as a student. Anyone successful in my particular line of business, and most businesspeople I have met in any field for that matter, is a serious, permanent student too, because the world is always changing. To not be a student means certain failure, its only a matter of time.

I approached flying the same way, getting my PPL, requesting extra dual CC time, immediately getting my night, getting extra night CC time and hood time, then after some experience, moving on to my IFR and CPL.

I wrote a series of SOP’s, rules for myself to cover my personal flying and any volunteer flying I did. I sought out mentor pilots, and gradually built experience in different conditions.

I bought a faster, more capable plane, and familiarized myself with its systems, first with a highly experienced mentor pilot, then on my own, starting in good day VMC conditions.

I spent many, many hours studying everything on my own, from weather, to my avionics and navigation systems, to understanding my plane’s guts when it was in the shop getting serviced.

Sounds like you did everything the right way. From my own experience with pilots like you, the business people who start flying later in life, you’re not typical. So kudos to you. Also unfortunate that your airplane broke on you at an inopportune time.

[rookiepilot]

I am a businessman who learned to fly later in life, when I could finally afford it. Like every venture I have tried, I have approached it as a student. Anyone successful in my particular line of business, and most businesspeople I have met in any field for that matter, is a serious, permanent student too, because the world is always changing. To not be a student means certain failure, its only a matter of time.

I approached flying the same way, getting my PPL, requesting extra dual CC time, immediately getting my night, getting extra night CC time and hood time, then after some experience, moving on to my IFR and CPL.

I wrote a series of SOP’s, rules for myself to cover my personal flying and any volunteer flying I did. I sought out mentor pilots, and gradually built experience in different conditions.

I bought a faster, more capable plane, and familiarized myself with its systems, first with a highly experienced mentor pilot, then on my own, starting in good day VMC conditions.

I spent many, many hours studying everything on my own, from weather, to my avionics and navigation systems, to understanding my plane’s guts when it was in the shop getting serviced.

Sounds like you did everything the right way. From my own experience with pilots like you, the business people who start flying later in life, you’re not typical. So kudos to you. Also unfortunate that your airplane broke on you at an inopportune time.

Yeah, that sucked. Someone overtorqued the nose gear while moving it in the US with a power tug, I’m convinced, leading to the fracture. Course could never prove it.

[PilotDAR]

Geeze... Does this thread need moderation? Can't we just conduct ourselves with courtesy to the others who also make the effort to comment? It'd be nice to look respectable to the many people reading this, but not commenting! What must they think about a bunch of pilots poking each other for no good reason!?!

If ever I think I'm perfect at anything, I'll announce it here. Until then, I'm a pilot learning like everyone else - I've just been at it for a while (and some of the learning was pretty painful!).

Just play nice... Okay?

[pelmet]

The best thing a pilot can do in aviation is read up a lot more about the actual flying aspects of it.

[rookiepilot]

Geeze... Does this thread need moderation? Can't we just conduct ourselves with courtesy to the others who also make the effort to comment? It'd be nice to look respectable to the many people reading this, but not commenting! What must they think about a bunch of pilots poking each other for no good reason!?!

If ever I think I'm perfect at anything, I'll announce it here. Until then, I'm a pilot learning like everyone else - I've just been at it for a while (and some of the learning was pretty painful!).

Just play nice... Okay?

I’m not perfect either. Made a ton of mistakes, thankfully still alive.

Tried to share my lower time experience and learning path as a GA pilot and perhaps relatable to the OP’s post.

Maybe it would have helped someone else.

And the Trolls win, and no engagement by many others we could learn from.

Had enough.

Talk to yourselves.

[fliter]

Not every businessman pilot is the Joe type, but they definitely do exist. I had the ¨pleasure¨of having one as my first ever student. He called the school to inquire about lessons, and his first question was whether he could do his ab initio flight training on a jet. Then, when he showed up for the school tour, he kept ignoring the flight school's 172s and kept trying to climb into private planes stored in the same hangar, without bothering to ask anyone if it was ok. He was surprised to learn there was no lav on the small planes and wondered how he would do longer flights, to which I asked: "Wait, aren't you planning to fly single-pilot?" to which he replied "Yeah, why?"; completely oblivious to the point I was subtly trying to make. And later, when I was giving him a standard spiel about the steps to get the license and how long it takes, he said that he had exactly two months before he had to leave the country for several months on a business matter, and that he was planning to book 2-3 times per week, but (I quote) "If other people take six months to a year doing it part-time, two will be plenty for me."

He was always a few minutes late. He was never prepared ("I don't have time, just explain it to me real quick, I grasp things much faster than other people.")

He was so over-the-top ridiculous, it sounds like I am exaggerating him into some sort of a caricature, but those were actually the things he said and did. Needless to say, he didn't get his license in two months (didn't even solo, which actually would have been a doable goal but not with that attitude).

[PilotDAR]

I had the ¨pleasure¨of having one as my first ever student.

And this is a theme of my post, a newer instructor who may feel intimidated by an established businessman type, who tends to dominate most situations he enters. It is an untrained instructor moral duty to be alert to people, whom even compliant during training, may have underlying tendencies to take, or not understand risks when they move to the post PPL phase of flying. One key indicator is an admitted businessman who intends to use their VFR piloting skill, in an advanced single as a business time saving tool. Certainly, done with caution it's a good time saving combination. But, that has to be done with the understanding that weather, night time, a remote route, or a defect in the plane may make the occasional trip take longer than driving. Averaged over the year, the VFR single was a business time saving tool. Averaged over two weeks, perhaps not. As long as the businessman can step back and accept that reality when needed, they're probably okay.

A part of our duty of care, and certainly the flying school and instructor, is to not oversell the utility of an advanced single in the hands of a new VFR pilot. While briefing it's a "circuits only" training day, the instructor should also explain that with a newly printed PPL, it would still be a circuits only day, and why!

[rookiepilot]

I had the ¨pleasure¨of having one as my first ever student.

And this is a theme of my post, a newer instructor who may feel intimidated by an established businessman type, who tends to dominate most situations he enters. It is an untrained instructor moral duty to be alert to people, whom even compliant during training, may have underlying tendencies to take, or not understand risks when they move to the post PPL phase of flying. One key indicator is an admitted businessman who intends to use their VFR piloting skill, in an advanced single as a business time saving tool. Certainly, done with caution it's a good time saving combination. But, that has to be done with the understanding that weather, night time, a remote route, or a defect in the plane may make the occasional trip take longer than driving. Averaged over the year, the VFR single was a business time saving tool. Averaged over two weeks, perhaps not. As long as the businessman can step back and accept that reality when needed, they're probably okay.

A part of our duty of care, and certainly the flying school and instructor, is to not oversell the utility of an advanced single in the hands of a new VFR pilot. While briefing it's a "circuits only" training day, the instructor should also explain that with a newly printed PPL, it would still be a circuits only day, and why!

Gee.

Just Maybe a couple of those “businessmen” would feel comfortable sharing too, and it would be productive for everyone, especially new GA pilots, but they observe the juvenile trolling and patronizing that dominates, and they say “forget it”.

Well done!

[cdnavater]

I don’t know there rookie, unless the thread has been edited by the moderators, I’m not seeing what you’re seeing from other posters.
However you can’t help yourself, “My point is this, a disregard for risk does not originate from ones profession, it originates from attitude. I have been told by a CFI I know, he had ex AC pilots he would not rent their 172’s to — their flying was so bad”
What type of response do you expect to elicit from comments like that?
First, I’m not an ex AC pilot but I can tell you the ability to fly a 172 is not the same as flying anything at AC or Jazz or any 705 operator.
Your CFI friend is embellishing probably because he/she knows your feelings towards AC pilots, what does bad flying have to do with disregarding risk, are you saying this club wouldn’t check them out or would check them out and not tell them they are not ready. I can guarantee one thing, if I went to a club to rent a 172, I would expect a thorough check and and honest opinion, I’m not looking to head out and kill my self and they are not looking to have to replace an airplane.
I also remember a time when a good friend of mine called and asked if I wanted to go flying in his aircraft, neither of us had gone VFR low level in over a decade because he owned it but it was used in business and flown by his pilots.
Needless to say, we both realized that we were so out of practice, we should do more prep next time, review the airspace and the areas small airports and frequencies, have a CFS with us, etc.
You don’t realize how much you’ve forgotten until, you’re in the moment, I would not be in a happy place if I was up north doing the flying I did for many, many years before I moved to the airlines, I would be uncomfortable in that environment initially and hope it would come back quickly.
All this to say, we didn’t feel it was risky at the time, it was more an after the fact realization of the risk we took. Most pilots I know are risk averse and we spend are entire careers trying to mitigate risk not increase it.

[rookiepilot]

I don’t know there rookie, unless the thread has been edited by the moderators, I’m not seeing what you’re seeing from other posters.
However you can’t help yourself, “My point is this, a disregard for risk does not originate from ones profession, it originates from attitude. I have been told by a CFI I know, he had ex AC pilots he would not rent their 172’s to — their flying was so bad”
What type of response do you expect to elicit from comments like that?
First, I’m not an ex AC pilot but I can tell you the ability to fly a 172 is not the same as flying anything at AC or Jazz or any 705 operator.
Your CFI friend is embellishing probably because he/she knows your feelings towards AC pilots, what does bad flying have to do with disregarding risk, are you saying this club wouldn’t check them out or would check them out and not tell them they are not ready. I can guarantee one thing, if I went to a club to rent a 172, I would expect a thorough check and and honest opinion, I’m not looking to head out and kill my self and they are not looking to have to replace an airplane.
I also remember a time when a good friend of mine called and asked if I wanted to go flying in his aircraft, neither of us had gone VFR low level in over a decade because he owned it but it was used in business and flown by his pilots.
Needless to say, we both realized that we were so out of practice, we should do more prep next time, review the airspace and the areas small airports and frequencies, have a CFS with us, etc.
You don’t realize how much you’ve forgotten until, you’re in the moment, I would not be in a happy place if I was up north doing the flying I did for many, many years before I moved to the airlines, I would be uncomfortable in that environment initially and hope it would come back quickly.
All this to say, we didn’t feel it was risky at the time, it was more an after the fact realization of the risk we took. Most pilots I know are risk averse and we spend are entire careers trying to mitigate risk not increase it.

The thread was well purged by the moderators. Again. Personal attacks removed.

This was an explicit GA thread. But a lotta people think this is an professional pilot only site, and consider it their God given right to personally attack and troll anyone not in their world for dare commenting on anything aviation. No wonder GA won’t ever engage.

Anyway.
The CFI I know made the comment unsolicited, just that he had learned there was no blanket hard and fast rules about who they would comfortably check out based on past experience, that attitude seemed to be more important. FWIW.

[cdnavater]

I don’t know there rookie, unless the thread has been edited by the moderators, I’m not seeing what you’re seeing from other posters.
However you can’t help yourself, “My point is this, a disregard for risk does not originate from ones profession, it originates from attitude. I have been told by a CFI I know, he had ex AC pilots he would not rent their 172’s to — their flying was so bad”
What type of response do you expect to elicit from comments like that?
First, I’m not an ex AC pilot but I can tell you the ability to fly a 172 is not the same as flying anything at AC or Jazz or any 705 operator.
Your CFI friend is embellishing probably because he/she knows your feelings towards AC pilots, what does bad flying have to do with disregarding risk, are you saying this club wouldn’t check them out or would check them out and not tell them they are not ready. I can guarantee one thing, if I went to a club to rent a 172, I would expect a thorough check and and honest opinion, I’m not looking to head out and kill my self and they are not looking to have to replace an airplane.
I also remember a time when a good friend of mine called and asked if I wanted to go flying in his aircraft, neither of us had gone VFR low level in over a decade because he owned it but it was used in business and flown by his pilots.
Needless to say, we both realized that we were so out of practice, we should do more prep next time, review the airspace and the areas small airports and frequencies, have a CFS with us, etc.
You don’t realize how much you’ve forgotten until, you’re in the moment, I would not be in a happy place if I was up north doing the flying I did for many, many years before I moved to the airlines, I would be uncomfortable in that environment initially and hope it would come back quickly.
All this to say, we didn’t feel it was risky at the time, it was more an after the fact realization of the risk we took. Most pilots I know are risk averse and we spend are entire careers trying to mitigate risk not increase it.

The thread was well purged by the moderators.

The CFI I know made the comment unsolicited, just that he had learned there was no blanket hard and fast rules about who they would comfortably check out based on past experience, that attitude seemed to be more important. FWIW.

Ok fair.
I think there could be a tendency for high experienced pilots to assume they could fly anything, however they probably don’t equate fly anything to fly anything well.
Like I said in my little story, we just blasted off with zero preparations, well we checked the weather on our phones, lol, we were very arrogant that we just kind of thought we could go VFR again with only distant experience and no prep, lesson learned

[digits_]

Some good points. Although I'm a bit disappointed in your use of the word 'adventure'. Airplane adventures do not need to be risky. Even crossing the border is an adventure for many. I'd encourage anyone to go on adventures. Plenty of aviation adventures to have on clear sky days with light breezes.

The stereotypical business man certainly exists, I've encountered one that was unreasonably demanding. But I've encountered some non-businessmen which could also develop problematic attitudes. I'm actually quite certain one flying school considered me as a problematic customer (not for flying safety reasons, but because I insisted on them meeting their agreed upon schedule. eg schedule me twice a week as you promised, not once a month because you signed up 30 other students after me).

Flying is generally expensive. That could translate into 'I finally got the money, now I want to fly my way'-kind of thinking. It might also make penny pinching techniques very ill received and sour a relationship that way. If you pay 600/hour for a twin rental, and then a school charges you a 15 dollar fee to receive a copy of an invoice from 3 months ago, that doesn't go over well and might get taken out on the instructor.

[goldeneagle]

I think part of the problem is that some of these businessmen are already fully loaded with their job and family. I have plenty of respect for Elon Musk for investing but I would be have heightened concern going with him in a Bonanza in marginal conditions……too many other things on his mind. What is he doing with spare time?

Just an FYI, in his spare time he flies an L39 that's decked out in SpaceX livery.....

[pelmet]

I think part of the problem is that some of these businessmen are already fully loaded with their job and family. I have plenty of respect for Elon Musk for investing but I would be have heightened concern going with him in a Bonanza in marginal conditions……too many other things on his mind. What is he doing with spare time?

Just an FYI, in his spare time he flies an L39 that's decked out in SpaceX livery.....

That only means that he is exactly what I said.....a businessman probably flying something that he shouldn't be flying and getting in over his head.

I'm sure Elon would agree with me though.

[rookiepilot]

I think part of the problem is that some of these businessmen are already fully loaded with their job and family. I have plenty of respect for Elon Musk for investing but I would be have heightened concern going with him in a Bonanza in marginal conditions……too many other things on his mind. What is he doing with spare time?

Just an FYI, in his spare time he flies an L39 that's decked out in SpaceX livery.....

That only means that he is exactly what I said.....a businessman probably flying something that he shouldn't be flying and getting in over his head.

I'm sure Elon would agree with me though.

Ask.

[Big Pistons Forever]

According to the FAA Airman’s registry, Mr Musk holds a PPL with Multi Engine and Instrument ratings, however his last medical was issued in 2000. I think it is highly unlikely he has been flying a L29 recently…..

[pelmet]

Just an FYI, in his spare time he flies an L39 that's decked out in SpaceX livery.....

That only means that he is exactly what I said.....a businessman probably flying something that he shouldn't be flying and getting in over his head.

I'm sure Elon would agree with me though.

Ask.

No need. He has already stated the same thing that I said......

Quote from Elon Musk....

"Sadly, I don't pilot myself any more, but do have a (lapsed) multi-engine IFR rating. I have to work. When I fly and have too many thoughts in my head to pay the necessary attention to the plane -- I can be absentminded at times, which is a really bad habit for a pilot.

Used to fly an L-39, Piper Meridian and Citation CJ2.."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/c ... 02502.html

So, Elon gave it up and now has professionals fly his business jets. Smart businessman.