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What will you sacrifice?

By Dave English

Newall Hunter is a 53-year-old communications contractor and IT engineer, who has climbed 7 of the world’s highest peaks and trekked to both poles. He gets honest about what it takes in this Red Bulletin magazine article. What will you give up to do what you really want? “If it doesn’t feel right, you should turn around. You can come back and do it again. If you get it wrong, you won’t be coming back.” It’s cool to post inspirational memes. And any of us can be the best pilots of old-rental aircraft or in our employers planes — but … Continue reading What will you sacrifice?

David Lama on managing risk

By Dave English

“Regardless of the outcome, any expedition still offers hundreds of experiences you can learn from.”   David Lama is an elite climber who has scored many ‘firsts’, but seems grounded in a deep understanding of risk, rationality and unforgiving reality. Both these quotes come from an article in this month’s Red Bulletin magazine that’s well worth the short read. Like pilots, mountaineers must understand the consequences of bad choices.   “In mountaineering, you constantly have to check your perceptions against reality. After all, a plan is only an idea. And an idea is a fleeting thing.”

1 in 5 biz jet pilots are stupid?

By Dave English

Ripped from the aviation press headlines: One in five business jet pilots don’t do a full flight-control check before takeoff. Actually one in five is a bit of an exaggeration. The would be 20%. The more precise number is 17.66%. And that’s actually a per-flight percentage, so maybe the percentage of pilots is a little less. But WTF Batman! 17.66%? You may have read about the fatal 2014 Gulfstream G-IV crash caused by the crew not doing a flight-control check and then trying to takeoff with the gust lock engaged. Well, now the airmanship onion has been peeled back a … Continue reading 1 in 5 biz jet pilots are stupid?

Jeff Clark on Mavericks

By Dave English

Jeff Clark is a surfing legend. He discovered the huge wave surfing site Mavericks in California, has surfed there 40 years, and has been featured in several super cool surfing movies. I was reminded of his eloquence and deep insights into managing moving mass by an article in this month’s The Red Bulletin magazine. He also is quoted in the article as saying: You could break something, you could lose your life. That’s not why I’m in it. I surf big waves because I am motivated and excited to dance with that power and make it back successfully to the … Continue reading Jeff Clark on Mavericks