I just wanted to let all my friends at Cutter Aviation know that I am retiring from professional flying. Appropriately, I finished my last flight, arriving at Cutter in an Eclipse the night of February 2, 2019.

I have been a licensed pilot for 64 years and have flown in the military and as a professional pilot for 59 years, and now it’s time that I spend a little more time with my wife of 59 years. It’s been a “great ride,” because I love flying, and because of all the great people I have known and worked with in aviation.

In particular, I want you and all the employees at Cutter to know how much I appreciate your professionalism and friendship. Please pass on my personal thanks for their making my time in aviation in Albuquerque most enjoyable. As the saying goes, they have made “the worst day of flying better than the best day of real work.”

While I’m retiring from professional flying, I will not be gone. You will still see me around the airport in my Mooney!

My ex-wife was from ABQ so I have visited Cutter ABQ more times than I can count. (The logbook says 70.) I even proposed in their conference room. (Hey, it was romantic for me!) Still, I have always considered Cutter ABQ the "gold standard" when it comes to FBOs. It doesn't matter if you arrive in a G5 or a 50-year-old Prop, the staff consistently provides friendly and helpful first-class service. They don't charge egregious fees and the ones they do have are usually waived with a fuel purchase. They even gave me a fuel discount for being an AOPA member. If your travels take you to or through ABQ, remember these three words: "Taxi to Cutter!"

So I flew into Cutter in my more-than-humble 1947 Ercoupe and parked next to a Lear. Yikes! But you know what? The staff treated me like a king! They literally brought out the red carpet (but then didn't know where to put it because Ercoupes don't have obvious doors if you've never seen one before). It was a hot day, and my teenage son appreciated being handed a bottle of cold water right off the bat. The linemen--and linewoman--were helpful and friendly, as was the front desk staff both in the evening and the following morning. It didn't faze anyone that I only needed a few gallons of gas, and they found hangar space for me for the night, including locating a cord for my pre-heater. The next morning my plane was on the line and ready for me right at the requested time. The facilities are very good, with every thing you could want, with fast Internet and comfy chairs; but I found it was the Cutter people who really made the difference. They were extraordinary.