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Knowing What We Know

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Key Takeaways:

  • Brad Hayden's story highlights how a passion for aviation can rekindle later in life, and that the true feeling of "being a pilot" often emerges from shouldering full, unassisted responsibility for a flight, rather than just the initial solo.
  • The article explores how the perception of "being a pilot" is a subjective and evolving journey, progressing through stages from initial overconfidence to respectful humility and finally, a more solid, yet still humble, confidence in one's skills.
  • Pilots frequently experience "aha" moments, often during challenging situations, where they realize their genuine competence, but true wisdom in flying involves continuous learning and maintaining respect for the ever-present unknowns.
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Brad Hayden comes from an aviation family. His father and uncle had avionics shops, and he confesses to flying so much as a kid that he “kind of got sick of it.” Of course, that might also have been due to the airsickness he and his five siblings battled on all those hot summer flights in the back seat of a family plane. But in any event, none of the Hayden kids pursued a pilot’s license as adults.

Until this year. Three weeks ago as of this writing, Hayden, who’s the marketing director for Aspen Avionics (think affordable, retrofittable glass cockpit instruments for GA aircraft), got his private pilot’s license. At the age of 46.

FLYING Staff

FLYING Magazine is a one-stop resource for everything aviation, including news, training, aircraft, gear, careers, photos, videos, and more.

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