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:

The pilot experienced initial disorientation when unexpectedly entering IMC, immediately engaging the autopilot to manage the workload and regain control.
The article advocates for the strategic use of modern autopilots in IFR flying, asserting they can surpass human precision and reduce pilot error, especially in challenging conditions.
While valuing hand-flying practice in suitable environments, the author stresses that critical single-pilot IFR approaches to minimums are best handled by the autopilot to enhance safety and allow the pilot to focus on monitoring and decision-making.

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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.