Training for Fairytales

Some things in aviation never happen, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. And, it certainly doesn’t mean you’ll never encounter them.

maclawler

Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Aviation professionals must train for all possibilities, even rare "unicorn" clearances, as simulation practice smooths real-world execution when unexpected situations arise.
Even highly skilled and confident individuals can be overwhelmed by unexpected emergencies, highlighting that real-world experience is the greatest teacher for critical situations.
Complacency due to routine is dangerous; pilots must remain vigilant, continually learn, and never hesitate to ask for clarification on unfamiliar clearances or procedures, regardless of how busy ATC might seem.

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Being aviation professionals, we need to train for what is possible, even if it seems unlikely. It’s the things you least expect that inevitably will happen. If you’re not ready for them, you’ll definitely struggle.

The Unicorn Clearance

It was a quiet morning—the pondering kind. There weren’t many planes, maybe four, in my low-altitude sector of FL270 and below. I’m controlling the airspace southeast of KSEA and it’s a “Cleared direct destination” kind of day.