In “When to Give Up,” an article from several years ago, I recommended giving serious thought before every takeoff about how to handle an emergency. Rather than trying for a “miracle save,” it was usually better to accept the unpleasant certainty of bending some metal but probably surviving.
Giving Up Flying…Again
Key Takeaways:
- The article primarily addresses the difficult challenge for aging pilots to recognize and accept their declining physical and mental capabilities, and ultimately decide when it's time to gracefully stop flying, especially solo.
- It provides numerous anecdotes of senior pilots whose continued flying despite clear impairments led to dangerous incidents, violations, or embarrassing situations, often due to denial or others' reluctance to intervene.
- The author urges pilots to be "their brother's keeper" by having tough conversations with aging friends and encourages self-assessment, regular proficiency checks, or imposing personal flight limitations (e.g., VFR only, no night flying) to ensure continued safety.
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