Pilots who are honest with themselves about their skills, capabilities, and conditions generally make better decisions. [Credit: Adobe Stock]
Key Takeaways:
Professional pilots cultivate self-awareness through honesty about their skills and conditions, coupled with a commitment to continuous learning and knowledge expansion.
They exhibit methodical organization and preparedness, meticulously planning flights and using checklists, while remaining flexible and adaptable to unforeseen changes.
Effective pilots possess confidence rooted in thorough preparation, maintain a calm and courteous demeanor, and demonstrate decisive judgment, readily learning from mistakes to improve future decisions.
With a tip of the hat to Stephen Covey, just what are some of the habits and characteristics that define the highly effective pilot?
We often call these folks professionals, or for short, “pros.” However, professionals don’t need stripes on their sleeves or epaulets on their shoulders. It’s simply an attitude and the way we approach each and every flight.
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Frank Ayers is a Professor of Aeronautical Science at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and a retired US Air Force pilot. He is an experienced B 52 instructor pilot, ATP, and CFI, and he is the proud owner and pilot of a 1976 Cessna 177B. Frank has been an active pilot for over 50 years and has flown well over 6,300 hours in a wide variety of aircraft, large and small. He combines his love for aviation history and his knowledge of the techniques and procedures that professional pilots employ, to share with our readers on a monthly basis. Frank and his wife Debbie travel the length and breadth of the country in their beautiful Cessna Cardinal and love to share the joy of their aviation adventures with everyone they meet.
