Within the ranks of pilots that span a wide spectrum from student to Airline Transport Pilot with so many stops in between, there is an enormous amount of specialization. So much so that the word “pilot” becomes little more than a broad category that suggests an industry more than it explains what a given individual does.
Be a gateway to the future, not a barrier
If your reason for getting into an aviation organization of any type is rooted in the desire to keep others out, I’m pretty sure you’re doing life wrong.
Pick your prognosticator
Unlike the news reports and financial predictions on television, the weather reports and forecasts actually matter on a day to day basis. Hourly, even. The fronts, the troughs, the ridges, the high and low pressure systems and, of course, those occasional tropical problems all catch the attention of pilots and dispatchers. As they should.
Life goes on
Each one of us has the opportunity to set out on our own adventure. Whether we win or lose in the long run is anyone’s guess. Whether anyone remembers us or what we accomplish is beside the point. Try. Push on to the next big thing. Your next big thing. Even if nobody else cares.
Qualified or competent?
You might have checked all the boxes and met the technical standard for the completion of the training for your pilot certificate or additional rating. But are you competent? Do you have the confidence to perform under pressure? The difference between being qualified and being competent can be very small, but it is a critical distinction.
Winning through failure
Frankly — and I think it is long past time the following statement should come into common usage — failure isn’t such a bad thing. Accept failure as a periodic occurrence. Welcome it, even. For failure only comes our way when we aim high and fall somewhat short.
The value of friendships
As the holidays approach, it’s a good time to put some conscious thought into those things of great value that require no price tag. Friendships don’t come into our lives with an offer of gift cards, discount coupons, store credit, or easy one-day delivery. Yet, they matter.
I’m telling mom…
I hope you never encounter a truly unsafe pilot as I recently did. But if you do, I hope you safely and appropriately make an effort to address the situation. Our collective safety depends on it. You never know, that potentially uncomfortable phone call or filed report just might save a life or two.
The case against flight instruction
Being a CFI can be a dull, repetitive, low-paying position where you work under a chief instructor who does little more than deride and insult their staff. However, the CFI trade can also allow us the ability to do high quality work that benefits clients tremendously. It’s entirely the choice of the individual which path they take.