Over the course of my career as a flight instructor and aviation advocate, I can’t even count the number of people who have expressed a desire to become a pilot. Flying is cool. Undeniably so. It’s a sexy job. Being a pilot carries an element of panache that many seek, but only a few attain.
On the intersection of time and decision-making
Pilots are cool. They’re dashing. They’re commonly thought of as adventure seekers. Smarter than the average Jane or Joe on the street. And yet, they are human beings that must by dint of nature go the way of all human beings in the end.
Plant a seed
I planted a seed, nurtured it for a time with intention and care, then let it grow at its own pace, in its own way. Anyone could do that. In the garden, or at the airport, or with students from your local high school or college.
Infallible me
As pilots our mission is not to fight the power and push back against regulatory agencies to prove our infallibility. Rather, it is to train, to learn, to practice, to put our safety and the safety of others at the top of our personal checklist. To do all that we can to enhance safety while mitigating risk.
A little empathy goes a long way
When you get right down to it, the airport manager slot is a service position, not all that different from the one a kid has when they get their first job working in the food service industry. But while the kid eats the food his restaurant serves, more often than not the airport manager does not utlilize the services their facility offers.
The one sheet wonder
I would suggest we are one sheet of paper away from grabbing their attention in a meaningful way.
Membership has its privileges
I spent the first portion of my career as a complete independent. I was completely solo. I didn’t belong to any organization, association, or group that required membership. That decision felt right. It wasn’t.
Sights, sounds, and connections that last
The machinery of the air fascinates me. It always has. What I didn’t expect — what I didn’t realize at all until I got into aviation on a full-time basis — is that the people who live in this world are even more compelling than the machinery they fly and maintain.
Keeping the record straight
My paper logbooks hold an emotional connection to a lifetime of effort. Notes in the margins tell the tale of wonderful flights and at least a couple terrifying incidents. They carry the signatures of pilots I’ve flown with and respect. Some are gone now. Some remain friends.