We will all make mistakes. Many in fact. But if we insist on buffaloing into any and all situations as we see fit, something bad is likely to be the result one day. And it won’t just be the risk of ever seeing Michael J. Fox in person again and having to apologize for blowing a shot in a movie. It might be something much worse and tragically irreversible. A result we will have to live with forevermore, if we survive the experience at all.
Where real wisdom can be found
There very well may come a day when we can’t fly anymore. There will almost certainly come a day when we shouldn’t. We might still have the ability to climb into the cockpit, fire up the engine, and launch into a clear blue sky. Having the ability, however, does not mean it’s a good idea.
Romance aloft can be tricky
If you are one of these CFIs who believes it is perfectly reasonable to troll for a Friday night companion while in flight, I would like to offer you this well thought out and carefully crafted piece of advice without reservation or conditions: Cut it out.
The unconventional way works too
I began flying just as a hobby initially. I had no intention of turning it into a career. But it turned out that some of the twists and turns along my personal road put aviation into a much more prominent position than I’d have imagined possible.
The other DECIDE model
Students cancel lessons, show up unprepared, and generally fail to make significant progress toward their goal of learning to fly for one specific reason. They don’t really understand the process of learning a complex subject that includes multiple components of knowledge combined with mechanical skill.
The powerful importance of scheduling well
A CFI is a service provider. We charge the customer a specified dollar amount for instruction. If the service is good, customers come back. If the service is lacking, customers tend to go elsewhere. And as service providers we win or lose based on the quality and timeliness of the service we provide.
Fear not the feds
It is a head-scratcher for me to understand why so many of us are afraid to seek real help from the folks who have the greatest control over our future as active participants in the industry: The FAA. With air show season underway, FAA personnel are at the biggest shows ready to lend a hand, solve problems, and keep you flying.
How did I get here?
When I was 15 years old I had a plan for where my life would take me. It was a very specific plan, one that I followed for many years with great diligence. Then, I took a turn in an unexpected direction. That new road led me here. To where I am now. To a whole new place where I feel comfortable and content.
At SUN ‘n FUN or SnF adjacent
Aero-nuts across the land are looking to central Florida for their first big outing of the year. It’s all about SUN ‘n FUN for the next couple weeks. Getting there, reveling in the wonder of it all, and getting home again. It’s a process — one that requires a bit of planning and patience and perhaps a touch of persistence.