Training for Fairytales

Some things in aviation never happen, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. And, it certainly doesn’t mean you’ll never encounter them.

maclawler

Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 08:00 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

Aviation professionals must train for all possibilities, even unlikely ones, as simulation training for rare procedures can provide crucial preparedness for real-world scenarios.
Even highly skilled individuals can be rattled by unexpected emergencies; genuine experience, though sometimes difficult, is an invaluable teacher that can temper overconfidence.
Complacency in routine operations is dangerous; continuous learning and clear communication are essential, with professionals encouraged to never hesitate to ask for clarification on unfamiliar procedures.

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Being aviation professionals, we need to train for what is possible, even if it seems unlikely. It’s the things you least expect that inevitably will happen. If you’re not ready for them, you’ll definitely struggle.

The Unicorn Clearance

It was a quiet morning—the pondering kind. There weren’t many planes, maybe four, in my low-altitude sector of FL270 and below. I’m controlling the airspace southeast of KSEA and it’s a “Cleared direct destination” kind of day.