On a singular night in 1994, I learned that while there are many risks in flying, like in most other activities, succumbing to fear and panic is the worst possible way to deal with those risks. Flight training, while continuing to place the emphasis on risk avoidance, should highlight rationality in dealing with those risks, instead of reliance upon teaching risk avoidance by worsening our fears.
Panic Over Pacific Thunderstorms
Key Takeaways:
- During a solo transoceanic ferry flight, the author encountered a severe tropical thunderstorm, triggering intense panic largely due to prior flight training that instilled extreme fear of such weather.
- Despite the terrifying visuals of lightning and extreme rain, the actual turbulence was minimal; the author realized his overwhelming, irrational panic was a greater danger than the storm itself.
- Recalling advice to remain calm and fly straight, he successfully navigated the brief storm, concluding that panicked reactions posed a higher risk than the weather phenomenon itself.
- The experience highlighted a critical lesson: flight training should prioritize rational risk management and coping strategies for unexpected events over simply instilling fear as a method of hazard avoidance.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
See a mistake? Contact us.
