Airmanship Quotes

Astronaut Chris Hadfield on negative thinking

By Dave English

“Self-help gurus are always advising us to think positively and envisage success, but it’s about as helpful as thinking about cupcakes. Just thinking about them isn’t going to help. It’s more important to think what could go wrong with a mission. Visualize failings, not success. That’s what’s essential to survival as an astronaut. I was an astronaut for 21 years, but I only spent six months in space. The rest of the time, I was looking into every detail that might have gone wrong during a mission. Once you’ve understood all the potential risks and you’re forewarned against them, fear no longer … Continue reading Astronaut Chris Hadfield on negative thinking

Automation and the FAA/NTSB

By Dave English

I’m going to let the dust settle before addressing this issue fully. But right now the Washington Post has a great article on the FAA/NTSB automation debate. And the full FAA IG report is online here. “We’ve recommended that pilots have more opportunity to practice manually flying the aircraft.” Robert L. Sumwalt, who spent 32 years as an airline pilot before joining the NTSB in 2006.  

Do what you love

By Dave English

How much longer am I going to do this? I don’t know. I love it, you see. Anthony Bourdain, Chef. Writing about 27 years of cooking professionally, in his book ‘Kitchen Confidential’. He wrote that in 2000. Fifteen years later he is still going strong. If you want to be good, you have to love the doing.

It is never finished

By Dave English

“It is never finished. I don’t have a sense of triumph or resting on laurels. I am quite a restless person. I just want to fly. I wish I was leaving tomorrow and flying on.” Tracey Curtis-Taylor. After flying an open-cockpit biplane England to Australia. Sounds like she knows of the perpetual pursuit … Her website is www.birdinabiplane.com, some great press reports of her 21,000 km journey in The Telegraph and The Guardian.