Retirement is near, thanks for the memories!

[Scott Dennstaedt, PhD]

I will be formally retiring at the end of 2026.

 

It’s hard to believe I’ve spent more than 45 years in the weather business, and nearly 30 of those years as a flight instructor. Weather and aviation have shaped so much of my life—my work, my friendships, and a whole lot of memorable days. Now it’s time to turn the page. I’m looking forward to slowing the pace, spending more time with my grandkids, and—over the next couple of decades—traveling to interesting places around the world with my wife. I have to say it out loud or it’ll never happen. So…what does retirement look like for me?

 

Mostly, it looks like making room for new adventures and gently setting weather and aviation to the side. I’ve shared what I can, and I don’t think I have much more weather wisdom left to impart to the aviation world. It feels like the right time to step out of the light and let the next generation take it from here.

 

That said, I’m not disappearing overnight. I still plan to manage and maintain my EZWxBrief progressive web app for at least a few more years. I’d hate to shut it down while so many long-time aviation friends still rely on it daily for preflight planning. I will, however, be ending my 1-on-1 online training at the end of this year—my day-to-day volunteer activities won’t leave me with the kind of open schedule that training requires.

 

You also won’t see me at aviation events like AirVenture or SUN ’n FUN as a vendor or forum speaker (including this year). Instead, I’d like to go purely for the joy of it—and maybe take my grandkids once or twice so they can experience the magic. Beyond that, I don’t plan to take on additional speaking engagements or hold classes past 2026. I’ve truly loved teaching pilots at every experience level about weather, but it’s time to pass the torch.

 

I do plan to keep writing. I’ll continue to provide occasional content to various aviation magazines, and I’ll keep selling my two books and the Weather Essentials recorded classes. That should keep me connected to the aviation world—just at a comfortable distance—for a little while longer.

 

And as for the forums… I’ll likely stop posting and reading most of them (at least the ones that haven’t banned me). But I’ll still be around, and I expect I’ll be answering the occasional email for the foreseeable future.

 

Thank you to everyone who’s been part of this journey with me. It’s meant more than I can say.

Edited February 6 by Scott Dennstaedt, PhD

[midlifeflyer]

Enjoy your retirement, Scott. With continuing writing, etc, however, you may find, like I did, that I can't figure out how I ever had time to work. 

[Paul Thomas]

Thank you for everything you've done to enhance safety by teaching us weather. I hope you get to enjoy a wonderful retirement.

[Max Clark]

I just signed up or ezwxbrief and cannot believe I never knew about it! Forecast conditions along your route with your minimums applied visually is incredible!

[Hank]

Congratulations, @Scott Dennstaedt, PhD! That's quite an accomplishment. You've certainly helped many people and improved the world around you.

Choosing the time and method of your retirement is also an accomplishment. Not all of us had that opportunity. Mine was forced when corporate shut down our location and did not offer to retain any employees at their 400+ locations in the U.S. and Canada. Then again, i never made the hard choice to venture out on my own . . .

Enjoy the life you have worked so hard building for yourself and your family!

[Greg Ellis]

@Scott Dennstaedt, PhD, thank you for everything you have done to help me learn about weather in aviation.  I appreciate all the hard work you have done to help out countless numbers of pilots fly safe.  I am so thankful for the two books that you have written as well as the Ezwxbrief app.  Enjoy your retirement.

[Scott Dennstaedt, PhD]

I appreciate all of the kind words. I will definitely be enjoying my retirement...maybe too much.