In an airplane, surely cheap thrills are better than costly thrills—but, frankly, a safer atmosphere in the cockpit may be boring thrills. Boredom in an airplane is good.
Leaving the Controls Locked on Takeoff
Key Takeaways:
- The author recounts a dangerous 1978 ferry flight with an authoritarian captain who rushed pre-flight procedures, leading to taking off with the flight controls locked and later discovering the landing gear pins were still in.
- This incident highlights the hazardous "captain as God" culture prevalent in aviation before modern crew resource management, where junior pilots felt unable to challenge glaring safety errors.
- The experience taught the author the vital importance of independent judgment and speaking up, even when confronted by authority, to prevent passive compliance and ensure flight safety.
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