The following story is from my Confessions of a Thankful Pilot series.

My first attempt taking the IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) flight test was on June 14, 1994. But with only about 15 minutes of flying left, the flight examiner discontinued the test because of bad weather conditions. My second attempt on August 23^rd succeeded and I became an FAA certified instrument rated pilot, approved to fly through clouds.

Fourteen days later, on Tuesday September 6, I filed my first IFR flight plan as an instrument rated pilot.

Byron (Fuji) Hasegawa, a fellow Willoughby firefighter, wanted to go to Kalamazoo, Michigan to spend a few days with his wife Faith who was on a work assignment there. Instead of a 4 1/2 hour drive, he opted for a 1hour and 45 minute flight with me.

The plan was to fly him from Cuyahoga County Airport (CGF). to Kalamazoo-Battle Creek International Airport (AZO) on the 6^th, then come back on Saturday, September 10^th to pick him up and fly him home. Continue reading →