Complacency

Monday, June 20, 2022 at 06:30 PM ET

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Preflighting your airplane without a checklist is just one of the many signs of complacency you should recognize and correct every time you fly Photo Credits: USAF

Key Takeaways:

Even highly experienced and proficient pilots are susceptible to complacency, a dangerous sense of security that can lead to a lack of awareness of potential dangers or overconfidence from routine.
Complacency hinders the effective use of aeronautical decision-making tools, causing pilots to overlook crucial steps like using checklists or rehearsing emergency procedures.
The author's personal "wake-up flight" demonstrated how complacency can quickly lead to being "behind the airplane," rushing procedures, and missing critical details despite extensive preparation.
Countering complacency requires conscious effort, including consistently using risk management checklists (like IMSAFE), asking "what if?" questions, and maintaining vigilance, as it's an inevitable risk in aviation.

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My family is moving to a new state soon. Every time we go there to do adult stuff, I carve out a little time to get to know the local flying scene. I had a fun 172 checkout with a CFI at the closest FBO, and have since done some sightseeing flights with friends and relatives. During our last trip there, I picked a convenient afternoon and reserved a Cessna 172 with a plan to visit some local airports. I’d already flown to most of the “big” nearby airports on charters; I wanted to visit the fun places, like where the local EAA chapter meets.

The weather was marginal VFR: Ceilings were a little low, but not bad enough to force scud running. There were some scattered rain showers and visibility was good. This is pretty typical for that area. I didn’t even think there might be a problem.