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Stupid pilot tricks. (featuring a cast of thousands). What is the stupidest trick of them all?. Hint: all in this room are performing this trick right now. It can happen to me. It might? It will. Two ways to stay safe.
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Stupid pilot tricks (featuring a cast of thousands)
What is the stupidest trick of them all? • Hint: all in this room are performing this trick right now.
It can happen to me • It might? • It will
Two ways to stay safe • Be really smart: Think of all the things that can go wrong, and figure out ways to prevent them • Be rather stupid: Pay attention to the problems other pilots encounter, and learn what you can from them. • Goal: Make it a bit less likely that you’ll fall into the known traps.
Ego • Face it: This is a really bad pastime for anyone with a big ego. • You will look foolish - regularly • People can be bluffed; weather, gliders, air, gravity etc. remain quite unimpressed • Ego interferes with perceptions that help you succeed • EM: “Soaring is about seeing things as they are, not as we wish them to be.”
Case study: The R-101 Conclusion: Human nature is complex and not especially rational. It intersects with aviation and its hazards in many strange ways.
Mental rigidity • The monkey trap • The pilot trap
Case study: Final glide at2005 Senior Contest Conclusion: Pilots can have trouble letting go of the rice. EYA!
“Can do” • A positive, confident attitude is expected of pilots • But it isn’t the best approach in every situation
Case study: aero retrieve atNew Castle Conclusion: Your response should be appropriate to the actual problem at hand. EYA! Other cases: Problem early in tow Tail dolly left on
Margin for error • Form the habit of thinking about how close you are to a problem • Experiment with “virtual” limits Final glide to a point above the field Landing at a chosen spot
Case study: Tree landing at2005 Senior Contest Conclusion: When you plan a maneuver with a low margin for error, don’t expect to get away with even a small mistake.
Assembly problems • If it can be done wrong, it’s only a matter of time until it is done wrong • Your job is to postpone that problem • Other pilots will show you where your time & attention should be spent • PCC vs. CAC
Case study: ASW-20 Why does this problem keep happening?
Checklists • Proven value • “Proper & purposeful prior preparation persistently prevents poor (perhaps pitiful & painful) performance” • Often ignored, skimped, skipped • Standard vs. customized
Case study: gear-up landing Conclusion: A “nearly correct” checklist “sort of” properly applied isn’t worth much. If problems form a pattern, it’s time to pay attention.