discipline

How you do the little things

By Dave English

How you do the little things everyday is important. Why is explained by former RAF Tornado F3 fighter pilot and Red Arrows display pilot Justin Hughes in his 2016 book The Business of Excellence. The full quote is: How you do the little things is how you do everything. You don’t choose a different behaviour just because it’s a big important job and you’re under a lot of stress. In fact, it’s quite the opposite; when you’re really under a lot of pressure, you revert to default wired-in behaviours because you have too many other things to worry about than … Continue reading How you do the little things

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?

If you’re looking for a formula

By Dave English

Quote is from the book Tools of Titans. It’s not fast or exciting or sexy. It’s more diligent checklist than Top Gun Mach 2 hair on fire. But it’s how the good get great. Maria Popova is a Bulgarian writer, blogger, and critic living in Brooklyn, New York. She is known for her wonderful blog BrainPickings.org. Original photo is two KC-135 Stratotanker pilots from the 74th Air Refueling Squadron reviewing checklists prior to an approach (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo).