Safety in flight is not something that happens by chance. In the long term, pilots don’t get lucky. They plan and execute well, or they fly with reckless abandon and take their chances. Maybe they have an accident or maybe they don’t. But there’s no luck involved. It’s just timing. Anyone in any pursuit who […]
Set yourself up to say yes
It was Friday morning. The first day of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s last regional fly-in of the year in Tampa, Florida. I’d started the day early, but not bright. Les Smith, AOPA’s Senior Director of Pilot Community, and I met for breakfast before the sun dared show itself over the horizon. We had […]
Awesome by choice
When I was 15 years old I knew exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up. That’s rare, it seems. More often than not teenagers have very little idea what they want to do for a living. In my case, I pursued my dream for far longer than most young men chase their […]
Graciousness and gratitude in Texas
From time to time, each and every one of us has had a wish. We all hoped for something wonderful to happen, for a gift of such magnitude that all our worries will be wiped away, leaving only joy and contentment in out lives. Ironically, a disconcerting number of people who win the lottery tend […]
Rethinking the ROI of your life
It’s rare that a week goes by that I don’t get an inquiry from someone, somewhere, about their desire to become a pilot. Or if not a pilot, to find some role in general aviation as a real participant. Aviation is an attractive business. One might go so far as to say it’s sexy. At […]
It’s a short trip from rusty to restored
Years ago I read a passage written by Richard Bach that has stuck with me. While I can’t quote it, and frankly I can’t even remember which book it comes from, Richard left the impression that flight instruction was a noble calling. He wrote about the satisfaction that comes from passing on to a new […]
Downwind is not a state of mind
Every pilot owes their safety and security in some part to the predictable actions of their fellow pilots in flight. If only for reasons of self-preservation, it is entirely reasonable to conduct yourself as expected. Certainly, the FAA would like to believe your behavior is a reflection of your respect for its authority and wisdom. […]
Wielding the power to heal by air and sea
Historically, adversity brings out the best and the worst in humans. That’s certainly been true throughout America’s history. Lately, we’ve had plenty of adversity on our plate, a sad reality that presents the opportunity for individuals to show grace and generosity — which they did. It started with a storm named Harvey that blasted into […]
A best guess does not equal a good plan
Hurricane Irma came to visit the other day. Unbidden and unwelcome, she stomped up from the south through 200 miles of the sandbar I call home, came right up to our door, knocked with great vigor, and moved on to north. As of this writing I have no electricity, no Internet connection, very spotty cell […]