mindset

Aaron Rodgers mindset

By Dave English

“It’s all about the challenge. Innovate and evolve and stay on top for a while. It can’t be Groundhog Day. I can’t be Bill Murray. I’d go as crazy as he did in that movie.” Aaron Rodgers, NFL Green Bay Packers quarterback. The Packers are 4-0 this season. He is the best quarterback in the NFL right now. And with this mindset, he could continue to be one of the best quarterbacks ever. But this thinking man at the top of his game feels the constant need to “innovate and evolve”. So what are you doing to “innovate and evolve” … Continue reading Aaron Rodgers mindset

Am I a good pilot?

By Dave English

I think I’m a good pilot. Above average, anyway. For sure. Over 17,000 hours, 5 type ratings, published scientific research into pilot behavior, on and on. I work at it, every flight. Well, most every flight. But a paper recently published in Psychological Science: Journal of the Association for Psychological Science (I’m not a nerd, but I am a subscriber) has me worried. It’s titled When knowledge knows no bounds: Self-perceived expertise predicts claims of impossible knowledge. The authors found that “people overclaim [knowledge] to the extent that they perceive their personal expertise favorably.” People that think they are experts, … Continue reading Am I a good pilot?

It’s Not About Split-Second Skills

By Dave English

You never know when it will happen. It could be your first solo. It could be after 42 years of flying. As Captain Gann titled a book: Fate is the Hunter. Best be ready. BA Captain Chris Henkey was. The press has praised his ‘split-second’ skills in aborting the takeoff on the runway. But I think the more praiseworthy airmanship is measured in long seconds not fractional millisomethings. All airline pilots practice rejecting takeoffs, and there is little decision making ‘process’ when an engine quits. Good stick and (lots of) rudder skills to decelerate straight ahead. But what was telling … Continue reading It’s Not About Split-Second Skills