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Slow Down

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Rushing in aviation increases the risk of mistakes; a slow, deliberate approach to all tasks is paramount for safety.
  • The unhurried mindset applies both before the flight, requiring thorough pre-flight planning and checks, and during the flight itself, where most tasks can be accomplished thoughtfully.
  • Except for critical phases like takeoff and landing, pilots generally have ample time to perform tasks deliberately in the air.
  • Cultivating a relaxed, unhurried attitude is essential for becoming a safe and competent pilot, even if it feels counter-intuitive.
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If you ever feel rushed while flying, take a deep breath, gather your thoughts and return to the task at hand — and whatever it was you were doing, do it more slowly. After all, very few things in aviation need to be done in a hurry. Rushing will only cause you to make mistakes. And mistakes increase risk.

Your unhurried approach to flying, in fact, should begin before you ever get to the airport. When I was taking flying lessons I remember a student who would show up on the flight line, rush through his pre-flight and post-flight, and be back in his car on his way who knows where before the rest of us could blink. He was a terrible pilot, and he washed out of flight school before he ever took his private pilot checkride.

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