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Discretion vs. Valor

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The author, a senior editor, planned a flight to present an award but encountered significant adverse weather, including widespread IFR conditions, turbulence, and forecasted moderate icing across the route.
  • Detailed pre-flight briefings and recent observations revealed a high risk of encountering ice, particularly during descent and landing at planned fuel stops, with freezing temperatures and low visibility.
  • Prioritizing safety, the author made a "command decision" to cancel the flight rather than proceed under unacceptable risks, emphasizing that pilots should not push unsafe conditions.
  • The decision was validated by both the award recipient and another experienced pilot who also canceled due to similar conditions, reinforcing the wisdom of exercising discretion.
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I made a list of the people I had to call. There were 10 people on the list ranging from Bonnie, who was scheduled to house-sit for our Aussie shepherds, Rueben and Whoopi, to my mother, who watches the weather and knows-even before I do-where bad things are happening.

One of the names on the list was Hal Shevers, founder of Sporty’s Pilot Shop. I had to let Hal know I wasn’t going to be able to make lunch and the presentation of the Flying Editors’ Choice Award to Sporty’s in recognition of its DVD-based pilot training programs. I wasn’t sure how Hal would take my decision to cancel my flight to Batavia, Ohio. Because I am a senior editor of Flying magazine it’s often incorrectly assumed that I can deal with conditions that might have less experienced pilots waiting out the weather.

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