Embracing a constantly shifting continuum of uncertainty is more work than smiling because you passed a safety audit last year. But good flying demands we do just that.
Jimmy Chin on the Perpetual Pursuit
Legendary climber Jimmy Chin lives the perpetual pursuit so well that, “I think I’d be really sad if I ever found out what my potential was.” He has climbed (then skied down) Everest, and recorded his historic assent of Meru in the amazing 2015 film Meru. It’s a close and personal look at what risk-management and perseverance look like when lives are …
Higher Cause than Personal Safety
There are times when you devote yourself to a higher cause than personal safety. John Glenn, first US astronaut to orbit the Earth, on this day 1962. Maybe true for pioneering test pilots, less so for us regular pilots. Original NASA photo from a camera aboard the Mercury-Atlas 6 spaceflight captures Glenn as he uses a photometer to view …
Every Time I Go Out
Kai Lenny calls Pea’hi, Hawaii, his ‘other mother’ in this month’s Outside magazine. The best are always learning. It’s the perpetual pursuit.
Outraged Woman Asks Picasso
Outraged woman asks Pablo Picasso why simple bar sketch will cost 5000 Francs, since he drew it in only five minutes: “No, madam, it took me my whole life.” Maybe your old airline captain isn’t overpaid for that landing?
What Determines Your Success
“Follow your passion” is OK advice up to a point. But beyond that, what we really get good at, is what we will suffer for. It’s not all happy days and chocolate ice cream. Mark Manson explains in his book The Subtle Art of not Giving a F*ck
How You Do the Little Things
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 …
If I Appear Always Prepared …
Teach Yourself
Former Concorde instructor Captain Mike Riley on how we teach ourselves to fly. We need good lessons, but ultimately it’s an inner game. Photo from my flight in the Brooklands Concorde simulator. Quote in Mike’s The Concorde Stick and Rudder Book.
Aeroplane Does All the Work
This quote comes from Mike Riley’s little gem, The Concorde Stick and Rudder Book. You don’t fight an plane — you understand its ways and set the controls to let her fly well. Even, as it turns out, Concorde. Mike Riley was a British Airways captain who instructed in the B707, VC10 and Concorde. He also instructed in light aircraft, …