Right Seat: In Charge

When you consider the history of aviation and the extreme risks many early pilots took just by climbing aboard, the concept of a lone tough guy who could handle it all made a lot of sense. Not to mention that the military has spurred many of our pilot booms over the past century. Although the culture has softened and evolved, some kernels of grit remain.

Take the concept of pilot in command, a self-evident term that conjures the fearless captain guiding his ship through a stormy night. The FAA’s definition of PIC further reinforces the notion. Among other things, it says the PIC has final authority and responsibility for the operation and safety of the flight. Cue the dramatic music and moody scenes.

You don’t have to be John Wayne to be a pilot in command. Any John Doe can learn the skills and gain the confidence necessary to do so. Learning the basic skills of flying may comprise the majority of the time spent in the airplane during training, but ultimately the real lesson to take away is how to act as PIC.

It’s not an easy lesson to learn. Being authoritative, uncompromising, and supremely confident does not automatically make one a great PIC. The role requires a certain amount of decisiveness and action, sure. That’s not the same as bravado. Flying is a thinking game, and shoving on mindlessly in the face of adversity can be dangerous.

No, the ideal PIC is contemplative and calm in the face of challenge, sometimes analytical, and very often patient. He or she must also be ready to shoulder an enormous burden.

Being pilot in command is a great responsibility. In a situation completely unfamiliar to most nonpilots, the PIC has wide latitude. You think the controller’s request doesn’t jibe with what you’re seeing? You can say no. Think it’s better to take off on a different runway than everyone else? Under certain circumstances you can do that, too.

While that translates to a lot of flexibility, it also means taking the sole blame for situations that can have multiple players and many extenuating circumstances. Reports from the National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA repeatedly blame pilots where conventional wisdom would say they share the blame with others. In other words, you better have a very good reason for ignoring the controller or charting your own course. That’s PIC authority in action.

This month we delve into the who, what, where, when, why, and how of pilot in command. Writer William E. Dubois parses out the differences between acting as pilot in command, and placing pilot in command experience into a logbook. No, these are not the same thing—and yes, it’s confusing. Dubois’ story “Who’s the Boss” starts on page 42. It will give you the knowledge of all things related to pilot in command. Acting as a good PIC? That’s up to you.