External Variables Can Change a Pilot’s Decision-Making Processes

People watching is a bit different when the eyes are on you.

Friday, November 15, 2024 at 08:51 AM ET

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FLYING contributor Ben Young says the decisions he makes as a pilot when I am alone versus when someone is watching are not the same, though both reflect a genuine part of myself. [Courtesy: Ben Younger]

Key Takeaways:

A pilot's decision-making is significantly altered when they feel observed, often leading to less genuine or unsafe behaviors due to social pressure.
The author illustrates this with an incident where he attempted a dangerous maneuver to comply with ATC's perceived expectations, resulting in poor airmanship.
He argues that common hazardous attitudes are difficult for pilots to self-identify, highlighting a general lack of self-awareness regarding external influences.
Ultimately, prioritizing self-preservation and safety above social pressure and external judgment is a crucial, though sometimes challenging, aspect of pilot decision-making.

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I love people watching. I could sit in the park all day and just stare.

Might as well be at the zoo. Implicit in the activity is the understanding that the person being observed not be aware of the examination. It is believed that once someone knows eyes are on them, they act differently. The behavior exhibited is no longer genuine. I would argue that the behavior may be different, but it is no less real.

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.