They say a pilot never stops learning. But that’s not true. Complacency can set in right around the time we’ve forgotten what flaming tomatoes have to do with flying airplanes. We realize that most flights go just fine, and without a healthy spook now and then, we reach a learning plateau. My first spook hit me on a bright spring day over suburban Phoenix.
I Learned About Flying from That: A Near Miss
Key Takeaways:
- The author recounts a harrowing near mid-air collision in crowded Phoenix airspace where, despite following VFR procedures, they were forced into an emergency climb by ATC to avoid an unseen aircraft.
- This "spook" incident, alongside a separate GPS failure, underscored the central lesson that aviation inherently carries unavoidable risks, and even when a pilot executes everything correctly, threats can emerge.
- Ultimately, these experiences serve to break pilot complacency, move beyond learning plateaus, and cultivate a deeper appreciation for the unique blend of beauty and inherent vulnerability that defines flying.
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