by Ken Ibold

Each pilot rating or certificate is a hard earned trophy that reward pilots for their efforts, not with a shiny sparkle from a shelf in the den, but with heightened skill for flying the airplane. They stand as testaments to the pilot’s ability to eke utility out of the airplane safely.

But like trophies of the more conventional kind, they need to stay polished if they are to retain their appeal. Neglect leaves them dusty at first, and they’ll soon tarnish if they’re ignored. …