This one’s all about improving the success rate of the 51% of the population we’ve done such an exceptional job of excluding from the cockpit for so long. Increasing the number of women in aviation is a worthy goal in my estimation.
Politics for Pilots
A correlation worth noting
This past week an inexcusably argumentative exchange between a controller and a pilot, a Certificated Flight Instructor, made its way onto social media. Aside from the entertainment value some may find in this exchange, it gives aviation a black eye by linking us to the worst characteristics of humans. Arrogance, resistance to authority, complacency, deflection of blame, refusal to accept responsibility, and as if that isn’t bad enough, this all took place during an instructional flight with what we can reasonably assume was a primary student.
Selfless collaboration beats selfish competition every time
Aviation is a relatively small but absolutely vital industry. For many of us general aviation is the entry point to this remarkable business, and in some cases becomes the desired destination. Together we can grow the size of the pie we work within or shrink it.
Homeward bound
No matter how much fun you have at an airshow, the trip home is always a welcome time.
Some limits are made to be exceeded
You never too young — or too old — to learn how to fly. The only thing stopping you is your self-imposed limits.
Something old, something new-ish
Breaking in a new engine requires heightened focus, along with some parameters for the first few hours of flight: Stay below 5,500 MSL to assure the engine can run at 65% power or better. Only conduct cross-country flights of an hour or more in duration. Full stop landings. No touch-n-go pattern work. No stalls and recoveries. Limit use of idle power to start up, taxi, and landing. And of course, use mineral oil exclusively for this break-in period.
Is this work or playtime?
For someone whose labors are often indistinguishable from what most folks would consider playtime, the desire to lay low, to do nothing, to disconnect from the workaday world may seem like a petty complaint. And maybe it is. This conundrum is complicated by the fact that I truly love what I do. Every bit of it. A truth that is evident in the existence of this column itself.
Don’t miss the best show in town
The lessons waiting to be learned just inside the SUN ‘n FUN gates may be exactly what your town or city needs to revitalize general aviation, boost your local economy, and push your school system’s educational potential up to the next level.
The shared challenges of the left and right seat
The CFI’s role is to teach. To demonstrate. To evaluate the performance of the individuals they work with. But that role also requires the CFI to encourage, support, congratulate, and celebrate each client’s successes, small though they may be.