Basically, the discussion boils down to the fact that with the flying hours each of us are allotted each month, it's a real challenge to stay proficient, or skillful, in our flying machine. The military realizes this, and through major command, wing, and squadron specifies what is necessary to maintain proficiency. There are currency items, and each must be accomplished over a period of time. Completion of the events Is documented for us in the computer, and we can conveniently monitor our requirements at any time. There are more than 4,OOO blue suiters participating In general aviation, with Air Force Aero Clubs alone.
Proficiency is much more individual and personal in the general aviation community.
The private pilot is master of his own destiny there. Perhaps the coldest hard fact of all in the private pilot world is that proficiency can be linked directly to your dollars. With fuel and maintenance costs continuing their upward spiral, the cost of general aviation flying grows higher and higher. Dollars are something we seem to have less of these days, and there are many necessities competing for those dollars. That means much less Is left over for the luxuries such as private flying.