Editor's Log - Complacency

Editor’s Log – Complacency

Joseph E. (Jeb) Burnside

Wednesday, July 22, 2020 at 10:44 AM ET

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Pilots training for the instrument rating can again log up to 20 hours in an approved aviation training device. Flying

Key Takeaways:

Reduced flight activity among pilots has led to less crowded airspace and airports, potentially making pilots feel less rushed.
This decrease in traffic can foster complacency, leading pilots to potentially neglect critical safety practices like traffic awareness or thorough flight planning.
Despite the quieter environment, all fundamental aviation risks, such as weather and pilot proficiency challenges, remain unchanged.
Pilots must actively combat complacency by consistently applying risk management and safety strategies, maintaining focus on continuous improvement regardless of traffic levels.

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I don’t know about you, but I haven’t been flying as much as I normally do this time of year. The reasons are many, but the bottom line is I’m not getting airborne as much as I used to. I suspect there are more pilots like me who, among other things, might not have anywhere to go with all the business closures in effect at popular destinations.

One outcome is that airports, FBOs and airspace aren’t as crowded right now as they might otherwise be. Although there are signs that the airlines are starting to recover and add back flights they discontinued, other metrics like reduced control tower operating hours demonstrate that demand for air transportation remains soft. That translates into fewer overall operations in the airspace even as some operations like cargo, corporate and charters may be expanding.