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Gear Up: Flying the Boss

Chief pilot Paul Proffett asks for the after-start checklist in Marsh Harbour in the Bahamas. Beverly Bell-Proffett
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The author consistently projected a parental figure role onto authority figures, a dynamic that profoundly shaped his perception of his chief pilot, Paul Proffett.
  • An early reprimand from Paul, despite his otherwise supportive nature, solidified his role as a definitive authority figure in the author's mind, leading to a more cautious and respectful approach to his job.
  • Paul Proffett served as a wise, experienced, and subtle mentor whose guidance, professional advice, and quiet leadership deeply influenced the author's career and remained a significant presence even after retirement.
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Each of us, or maybe just most of us, has a parental figure who looms large in our day-to-day lives. I know I do. My tall, imposing father held us kids to high standards, and for the most part we benefited mightily from these great expectations. As I grew up, I would project onto other authority figures the attributes that so defined my father — sometimes at my own peril.

Dick Karl

Dick Karl is a cancer surgeon who appreciates the beauty and science involved in both surgery and flying. Dick’s monthly Gear Up celebrates the human side of flying. He writes about his enthusiasm for both the machines and the people who fly and maintain them.

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