Pay attention in the cockpit and treat aviation with respect, for inattention and complacency can kill you, especially when you operate in the instrument
environment. [Credit: Adobe Stock]
Key Takeaways:
Pilots must actively combat complacency by ensuring all navigation data, including GPS databases, charts, and NOTAMs, are current and verified for every flight.
Always prepare for potential technology failures by carrying charged electronic devices and paper chart backups for critical procedures.
Thoroughly brief every approach, adhering strictly to published procedures and descent profiles, regardless of familiarity with the airport or route.
Conduct comprehensive pre-flight planning, per 14 CFR 91.103, and avoid attempting VFR flights into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) at airports lacking instrument approaches.
In theory, the more you fly, the more proficient you become. But you can also become complacent, especially when doing the same approaches in the same airplane over and over again—then one day, something changes.
Here are some IFR gotchas to watch for:
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Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
![Pay attention in the cockpit and treat aviation with respect, for inattention and complacency can kill you, especially when you operate in the instrument environment. [Credit: Adobe Stock]](https://www.flyingmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/FLY0326_1.jpeg)
