There are many things about flying that pilots and aircraft owners can control. They choose their own training and qualifications, how well the aircraft is equipped and maintained, and where, how and when it is flown. In fact, it’s been said that pilots are just control freaks acting out in all three dimensions. While there may be an element of truth to that sentiment, there are some things remaining completely out of a pilot’s control.
Weather is the chief item; with no way to control the weather, the industry has evolved a quite safe system of navigation and operation that considers all kinds of weather and all times of day. Still, there are weather conditions in which no aircraft should be flying. And there are pilots who shouldn’t be flying in certain kinds of weather.
That same need for and feeling of being in control of an aircraft can work against us. We become accustomed to going where we want, whenever we want. The utility and freedom a personal aircraft affords can be addicting. So, when we have plans to be somewhere else on a bad-weather day, we might be tempted to cut a corner or two, thinking we’re the ones in control, not the weather. Sadly, the aircraft may be capable of handling the bad weather, but without the training and experience required to use all of its capabilities, our desire to exert control over the elements ironically means we’ve lost control.
