Chapter 3: Finding My Ride (Living in the Now)

I found an aircraft. Finally! After looking all over God’s creation for a new one that fit my needs, I finally found one. I had been looking for a brand new one, but as I mentioned, in order for it to fit my needs, there were no new ones available. If I wanted to wait for another year for one to come off the assembly line already adapted for my needs, I could do that, but that would cost more money and, of course, take time. I didn’t care about the money. I cared about the time. So ... I went to Denver and took a look at a Cessna Citation Longitude that had been updated and configured so that a single pilot could fly it from the left seat with no assistance, save for the autopilot, autothrottles, and separation system. Not to mention an auto landing system in case the pilot got the runs and couldn’t get out of the head in time. (Kidding.) No human assistance, that is.

After flying fighters and commuter aircraft for twelve years I felt I was fully capable of handling the Longitude by myself. The FAA certified me and provided a waiver for me, but only for that specific aircraft. I had all of the qualifications for time in the seat, time using instruments only, all of that, so I called the insurance company, and they immediately said ‘No’. After discussing my background, I made them a deal, posted a bond with them covering the cost of replacing the airplane and stipulated that if anything happened that was the fault of only having one pilot, i.e., pilot error due to inattention, inability to keep up with the flight controls, confusion, or anything like that, they could have my premiums that I would pay, which they brought down to a normal rate, as well as the bonded money. Win – win. They get twenty million dollars plus if I blow it, with which they could replace my airplane, or provide it to my successors, and I get to fly alone, if I wish. If the damage wasn’t due to my being a single pilot, they were on the hook, as any insurance company would be for a legal and normal claim.