Every certificated pilot has had the pleasure of flying with the FAA or an agency-designated pilot examiner. It can be a stressful experience. The plane, the pilot and the preparation are all under a higher level of scrutiny than on a normal flight. You want to do everything right, and generally portray yourself as a risk-averse pilot on this flight, even if you might not be. There’s the pass/fail element also, and you’ve spent a lot of time and money to get ready for this moment. You don’t want to blow it. While every flight will not contain the same pressures as a checkride, the stakes are always as high, if not higher.
Treating each flight, from preflight preparation to parking, as if the FAA is sitting over your shoulder can be one of the most effective methods of combating hazardous attitudes. Throughout the planning, preflight and in-flight phases, the “one weird trick” of asking yourself two simple questions can help combat unsafe attitudes and prevent the normalization of deviance in your everyday flying. The first question to ask yourself is: “Would I do this if the FAA was on board?”
