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Go or No Go?

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Pilots frequently face marginal "go/no-go" decisions due to weather or mechanical issues, and the author emphasizes a conservative approach, often choosing not to fly despite temptation.
  • The article observes that low-time and high-time pilots tend to make more conservative decisions, while mid-time pilots might be more inclined to push marginal "go" decisions.
  • To prevent second-guessing and reinforce safe "no-go" decisions, the author developed a unique strategy of having a beer immediately after the decision to finalize it.
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Every pilot has been faced with a marginal go/no-go decision. Sometimes it’s marginal weather that, if it gets no worse, is a go. But, if it gets even a little worse, it’d be no-go. And, sometimes it’s a mechanical issue that might not quite rise to the level of being unairworthy. But it could.

For me, there have been times when I wanted to go, was tempted to go, and probably could have gone with no trouble, but being conservative, I didn’t go.

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