Insights

It's All About Attitude

Everyone has a definition of "professionalism," and most definitions are valid. But very few of the standard definitions of professionalism take attitude into account, and I always question why.

There was a time when the term "professional" was used only to refer to members of a handful of elite occupations such as doctors and lawyers. Today, though, whether or not you are considered a professional has more to do with the way you do your job than with the nature of the job itself.

The FAA's newly updated Aviation Instructor's Handbook says, "Professionalism exists only when a service is performed for someone or for the common good. It is achieved only after extended training and preparation. It is based on study and research. It requires good judgment. It demands a code of ethics. And it requires the ability to reason logically and accurately."

Most definitions, like this one, focus on training, preparation, and education. John Lauder, a highly respected former member of the National Transportation Safety Board, put it much more simply when he said, "Professionalism is much like pornography - you'll know it when you see it."

To me, aviation professionalism requires much more than training and study. It requires the proper attitude and the desire to maintain total proficiency. Pilots and instructors who don't have the right attitude cannot be professional regardless of their education or experience.

As an airline captain, I have flown with many new copilots who have little or no experience flying in hazardous weather environments like convective weather or icing. They have never made night crosswind approaches and landings on slippery runways in blowing snow. If they have the proper attitude when they first encounter these challenging conditions, they keep their eyes and ears open and learn the tricks of the trade from those with more experience. If they don't have the proper attitude, they usually retreat.

Those who retreat find themselves faced with a major dilemma. They want to fly, or think they do, but they never imagined that the job would be like this. They don't like the realities of flying for a living, but the paycheck or the job itself is too good to give up.

To save face, such individuals look for an out, and there are plenty - training departments, standardization departments, safety departments, and management are four potential hiding places. Ironically, moving into those types of jobs makes these retreating pilots seem exceedingly professional to outsiders.

Those who can't find a hiding place and must remain in the cockpit are miserable to fly with, particularly if they advance to become captains. Because they lack self-confidence and knowledge, they never learn to have confidence in their flying partners, regardless of ability. Crew resource management, a hot topic in recent years, talks about ways to use all of the information and resources available but fails to recognize that some pilots are unable or unwilling to take advantage of those resources.

I put these facts of life in writing for the benefit of young people who are planning an aviation career. You've made a great choice, and if flying is truly in your blood, I hope you do what it takes to become a professional in every sense of the word.

Just remember, no matter what certificates or ratings you hold, what schools you have attended, what airplanes you have flown, or what company hires you, you must be prepared for new experiences and an education that has no equal - all-weather flying. Prepare for your future by attending seminars, reading all available information, understanding how weather systems work, and asking lots of question when the person you're flying with is obviously a true professional. Then you can be one, too.