Author: Dave English

How the Swiss Air Force learns

By Dave English

A great Swiss Air Force video shows us all how an enlightened high risk organization should use mistakes to get better, by moving away from a blame game and towards a learning culture. If people get blamed for their mistakes, the only thing one achieves is that people will keep their knowledge about mistakes, safety gaps or dangerous situations for themselves. Ask “why?” like a mantra to get deeper and deeper to the cause, to put yourself into the actor’s shoes and to understand, why the event had been happen. Mistakes or incidents can be seen as free lessons. If we … Continue reading How the Swiss Air Force learns

USAF training manual on flight discipline

By Dave English

The 260+ page US Air Force Manual 11-248 lays out the rules and procedures for flying their T-6 primary trainer. This extensive 2011 publication for students and instructors gives a great explanation of flight discipline on the second page: Powerful stuff. Adhere to the spirit and intent of governing guidelines while executing the mission in the presence of temptation to do otherwise. Our new aviators at least have a good guidebook.

Gene Cernan on passion

By Dave English

This quote is from the wonderful new documentary The Last Man on the Moon, that’s in cinemas and iTunes/Amazon right now. Cernan’s love of flying powered his amazing career as a Navy fighter pilot, aeronautical engineer, and astronaut. He flew in space three times, including the last Apollo mission where he walked (and drove) on the Moon. The picture was taken by Harrison Schmitt following their third Lunar EVA. His suit is covered in moon dust. (Credit NASA, http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/apollo/apollo17/hires/as17-145-22224.jpg)

We will not accept any kind of lapses

By Dave English

It became public this month that Qatar Airways has fired all four pilots in the cockpit when their Boeing 777 tail broke a set of runway lights during takeoff from Miami International last September. They mistakenly left from an intersection thousands of feet short of the planned full runway length. It was a serious accident, no doubt. There was a visible tear to the aircraft’s skin, the pressure vessel was damaged, and MIA airport needed some new approach lights. The crew continued with the overwater thirteen plus hour flight uneventfully, apparently unaware of their close brush with disaster. But damage of … Continue reading We will not accept any kind of lapses