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Exploration is the heart of discovery, not to mention a significant perk for a traveling physician. When taking an assignment in a new area, our ability to explore is often limited by two things—time and distance. Consider taking to the air on your next locum tenens adventure and explore the U.S. from a new angle.
Less than 1 percent of the U.S. population is licensed to fly. This exclusive club of highly trained and independent Americans shares some traits that are common in many doctors as well. Phoenix East Aviation, a flight school focused on training professional airline pilots, lists characteristics that they look for in pilots:
- Great study habits
- An ability to manage stressful situations
- Sensible judgment
- Respect for safety precautions
- Fantastic attention to detail
Hmm…those look familiar, don't they?
What to fly?
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has specific requirements for certification on different types of aircraft. Ultralight vehicles don't require a pilot's license and provide an interesting way to put aeronautical knowledge to use without the hours of instruction and testing required for other aircraft. Ultralights must be single-occupancy vehicles used for sport or recreation only. The FAA has different weight restrictions for powered and unpowered vehicles. If ultralight aircraft seem exciting, training facilities can help with the specifics.
For licensed aircraft, the FAA maintains exhaustive regulations and references for student, recreational and private pilots. Access to flight schools, private plane cooperatives, and local clubs may vary depending on the location of your locum tenens assignment, but are all legitimate rental opportunities for traveling pilots.
Where to fly?
Even in a plane, our range of exploration is limited by time and geography. For pilots, however, those boundaries are pushed out. They are stretched to open up opportunities to see and experience more than we otherwise could. Pilot Getaways, an adventure resource for traveling aviators, hosts an interactive map of flight excursions across the U.S.