Register

Redefining What it Means to Be a ‘Lazy Pilot’

At a certain point, when a pattern becomes so repetitive with zero deviation, you stop looking for the change. It’s confirmation bias at its worst.

The author, pictured with his Bo, learns a valuable preflight lesson and redefines the term 'lazy pilot.' [Courtesy: Ben Younger]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The article challenges the adage "a lazy pilot is a good pilot," arguing that true laziness – complacency and lack of vigilance – can lead to dangerous oversights.
  • During a landing, the author experienced an unexpected pitch-up due to unextended flaps, caused by a popped circuit breaker overlooked during preflight due to a complacent routine.
  • This incident underscores the critical need for active observation and physical confirmation of checks, even in repetitive tasks, to prevent insidious failures often missed due to confirmation bias.
See a mistake? Contact us.

They say a lazy pilot is a good pilot. This adage has always rubbed me the wrong way. I understand the underlying meaning: You should always be ahead of the airplane. So much so that you’ve imagined every possible outcome and simply cannot be surprised, thereby rendering you an inert lump in the left seat.

The problem for me is I can never move past the word itself. Lazy: not liking or willing to act or work. I can readily think of times where I have been a lazy pilot in a more traditional sense of the word, and it was not a great look. Or a great outcome. 

Ben Younger

Ben Younger is a TV and film writer/director, avid motorcyclist and surfer—but it’s being a pilot that he treats as a second profession. Find him on Instagram @thisisbenyounger.

Ready to Sell Your Aircraft?

List your airplane on AircraftForSale.com and reach qualified buyers.

List Your Aircraft
AircraftForSale Logo | FLYING Logo
Pilot in aircraft
Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox.

SUBSCRIBE