Unusual Attitudes
Hazardous Attitudes
In primary training pilots learn about ‘hazardous attitudes’. This tip-of-the-iceberg lesson in psychology for pilots becomes more and more critical as the mission becomes more significant. Why is it that we even learn a little bit of psychology during training? And how about other areas of aviation? Does this training apply? I refer to the five hazardous attitudes.
The five well known hazardous attitudes that pilots learn in training are: 1. antiauthority 2. impulsivity 3. invulnerability 4. macho and 5. Resignation. And their corresponding antidotes are 1. follow the rules 2. slow down 3. It can happen to me 4. Don’t do anything stupid 5. I can make a difference.
We learn in our ADM (aeronautical decision making) training that before we take action we first evaluate our new situation. Before we apply corrective measures to this new situation we first stop and think. Right? So, in what situations might the modern aviator find himself? Today’s pilot doesn’t just have to deal with inflight decisions. There is a rainbow of current events that require our attention whether in the cockpit or not. In fact, much of what concerns us today is outside the cockpit. Public perception and approval, the results of reactionary law making, the implementation of equipment requiring pilot training and many more issues come in to the arena of a pilot’s life experience having to make decisions based on these factors. What are some of the current problems and situations that put the pilot experience into disarray? The increasing complexity of training, developing reactionary airspace constraints, legal concerns, insurance and fuel costs, etc. It seems that to whatever direction you turn these days in general aviation you’ll find a problem that needs solving. You might find difficulty buying or insuring your aircraft. You might find you’re not flying as much when grounded due to an ADIZ violation. You might decide to change your goals when your designated pilot examiner writes up a pink slip for something he disagrees with your instructor about. Or how about when the winds of politics kick your future plans into neutral such as user fees.
So what does all this have to do with practical pilot living? Apply the antidotes for the above hazardous attitudes and help general aviation flourish again. Let’s examine examples of how each of these hazardous attitudes and their corresponding antitodes relate to our pilot’s life experience with respect to the current general aviation condition. When we are faced with a new ‘temporary’ flight restriction due to a reaction from a recent event we might resign and say “what could I do? The FAA has the final say anyway.” But we apply the antidote. We say to ourselves that we CAN make a difference. We can talk, write, communicate, read, show, etc. Just read the history of the last few years to see that we can and do make a difference in what the FAA decides.
How about the impulsivity of needing satisfaction ‘right now’ in trying to complete training in a week? Again, apply the antidote. Slow down. Why compete with others? Flight training can be fun. Why ruin it by trying to accomplish everything in a day? And how about invulnerability? Yes, the Europeans have been living with user fees for a long time. But hey, it can’t happen here right? Is general aviation flourishing in Europe or is it on it’s last legs and only for the rich? Apply the antidote. It can happen to me here in the USA. Yes, user fees can happen here too. So, why not get a head start and get involved in this issue now before the fee bills are in your mail box? We’ve already seen accidents and incidents happen because a pilot refrained from calling ATC due to monetary considerations. Yes, it can happen here.
Besides the many question marks in this article I believe we can use our own piloting skills to get general aviation to flourish once again here in the USA and that means being able to fly more cheaply, more freely and simply just more. We can’t let the same character traits that made us into pilots put a damper on general aviation as a whole. It’s great to get to the age of 60 and have your flying buddies around to hangar talk about the old days but what have you done to contribute to the general aviation of the future? Have that $100 hamburger out in the greens but why not take a teenager with you who might otherwise get on the noise reduction bandwagon to close the local airport so that the illegal acitivities he’s considering won’t be bothered by an overflying cherokee. There are so many ways to get invovled. EAA chapters, AOPA meetings, local pilot groups, flying clubs, online forums, etc.
But most important is our attitude or should I say our piloting skills and using learned antidotes to cure GA’s ailments. Realize today’s situations. Use the antidotes. Recover!
By Elie Pashrel