It Comes Down to This: In Garmin We Trust

Sweaty palms and button pushing are all part of being a pilot.

Monday, February 10, 2025 at 09:02 AM ET

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FLYING contributor Ben Younger says there is simply no world where his skill set and ability to execute will ever be able to beat his avionics. [Courtesy: Ben Younger]

Key Takeaways:

Modern autopilots are critical safety tools, helping pilots manage disorientation and reducing cognitive load, especially when unexpectedly entering challenging Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC).
The author argues that relying on advanced avionics for precision flying in demanding single-pilot IFR scenarios (e.g., approaches to minimums) is often safer and more reliable than hand-flying.
While acknowledging the importance of hand-flying skills, the article stresses that critical IMC conditions are not the appropriate environment for practice; instead, automation should be utilized when safety is paramount.

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On a cool, early October afternoon, I was climbing away from Runway 32 at KMIV (Millville, New Jersey) on the LEEAH 5 departure.

Accelerating to 120 kias, I picked up the gear and started the required 180-degree right turn toward the LEEAH intersection. The ASOS promised 900-foot ceilings. Sometimes they lie in the brochure. I was in the soup at 600 agl and quickly found myself a touch disoriented—and a little behind the airplane.

Ben Younger

Ben Younger is a TV and film writer/director, avid motorcyclist and surfer—but it’s being a pilot that he treats as a second profession. Find him on Instagram @thisisbenyounger.