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Flight controls free and correct?

By Dave English

You have a religion that says if I want to live, I’m going to run the checklist. Robert Hulse Last week the NTSB released lots of details on a fatal accident that will keep lawyers and human factors academics busy for years. It involves rich high-profile (newspaper publisher) passengers, an iconic Gulfstream IV jet, the failure of a basic airplane safety system and the repeated failure of basic airmanship. Maybe the best account of this two-factor crash is the online piece Deadly Failure On The Runway by McCoy and Purcell of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Fascinating reading. (The NTSB press release … Continue reading Flight controls free and correct?

No perfect flight

By Dave English

I’ve spent six months in airliner jumpseats observing flight crews, recording their threat and error management behavior during three separate Line Operations Safety Assessments (LOSA). And I never saw a perfect flight. There is no such thing. I watched some master aviators come close, but we all can do more, do better. I’ve become resigned to the idea that I’m not perfect. In reviewing these hundreds of hours aloft by high-time professional crews, it’s clear that no one ever has a perfect flight. I just found a great explanation of not only that idea, but the bigger idea that expecting … Continue reading No perfect flight

Love the one you’re with

By Dave English

“If you can’t be with the one you love … love the one you’re with.” While ‘make your passion your work’ is a good idea, it’s a little simplistic. And sometimes unrealistic. Thankfully, an article in yesterday’s New York Times titled Rethinking Work, shows us a better way — we can put some passion into our work. Work that is adequately compensated is an important social good. But so is work that is worth doing. Half of our waking lives is a terrible thing to waste. My bringing mindful attention to our jobs, our flying, we end up happier. By putting … Continue reading Love the one you’re with

How the best become fulfilled

By Dave English

A creative man is fulfilled by accomplishments and a competitive man is fulfilled by beating others. I’m all about accomplishments. Ride the biggest wave. It has to do with me. I can always grow and keep accomplishing things.  Laird Hamilton Fascinating article in the Huffington Post by Sasha Bronner about maybe the best surfer in the world, and why he does not enter competitions. Outside of Reno Air Races and some silly US college competitions there aren’t many competitions for pilots. And that’s good. The real competition is with yourself, not against others. Flying is a multi-dimensional set of skills that … Continue reading How the best become fulfilled