After reading, rereading and ruminating over an article on the direction of relative wind as affected by slips and skids, I still wasn’t getting it. Because I don’t have Peter Garrison’s number, I called another friend who has written extensively about all things aeronautical, and as expected, he patiently dumbed it down to where even I understood what the guy was trying to say. Our conversation then morphed into a discussion about readers who assume that because an aviation writer is so knowledgeable about the art and science of flying, he’s a de facto great pilot. My friend inferred he wasn’t—at least not anymore.
Unusual Attitudes: Head in the Clouds
Key Takeaways:
- The author, an experienced aviation writer and instructor, candidly shares a long personal history of flying mishaps and "bent metal" spanning many decades.
- She recounts numerous incidents, from minor ground errors and wingtip brushes to emergency landings, student pilot mistakes, and a significant uncontrolled aircraft event that ended her career as an FAA designated examiner.
- Despite her role in aviation safety advocacy, the article emphasizes the importance of acknowledging one's own fallibility, learning from mistakes, and continuously improving decision-making and risk management in flying.
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