Gear Up: On Becoming a Better Pilot

Thursday, February 28, 2013 at 12:16 AM ET

Verified

** A DC-4 operated by Buffalo Airways sits in
the snow. As any true Ice Pilots addict
knows, it pays to think ahead and be ready
to adapt to changing conditions as needed.**

Key Takeaways:

Even after 45 years of flying, the author found significant new learning opportunities by transitioning to a crew environment as a Learjet first officer.
Flying alongside experienced captains revealed critical professional habits, such as immediately testing brakes on touchdown and ensuring complete runway clearance, which were previously overlooked.
The mentorship fostered greater precision in all aspects of flying, including centerline adherence, speed control, and strict glideslope, transforming his "sloppy" single-pilot tendencies.
This experience cultivated a proactive mindset of anticipation, preparedness, and resilience, leading to a more thoughtful and professional approach to aviation.

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Hold on. I know the title is trite. Your enthusiasm for reading further may be at a low point, but hang on for a minute. I mean to persuade you that this is something other than a cliched rehash of admonishments to stabilize your approach.

It is hard to believe that, after flying continuously for 45 years, I might be learning something new. It is hard to comprehend that after rocking along in the same airplane, a Cheyenne turboprop, for 13 years, that there might be some things I could do better. Yet both statements are true.