Coms

In Memoriam

AOPA mourns copy editor Kristy O’Malley

AOPA is grieving the death of Kristy O’Malley, AOPA Media copy editor. An integral member of the Publications Division, Kristy died unexpectedly May 21 of natural causes. She was 52. Kristy brought her knowledge of grammar and style to AOPA in 2017, and while general aviation was a new frontier for her, she immersed herself in our community with great enthusiasm. She was key to the production of AOPA Pilot and AOPA Flight Training magazines. She also helped produce the AOPA ePilot and AOPA Flight School Business newsletters and other digital and online products. Kristy had time, energy, patience, and generosity for everyone inside and outside the association. We will miss her talent, her sense of humor, and her wonderful laugh.

aopa.org/pilot/kristyomalley

Letters

Reframing success

I just read Kollin Stagnito’s valuable article (“Always Learning: Get-Home-Itis”). When he wrote he admitted defeat, that conveys the wrong message to us as readers. What he did was admit he’s a genius and used his wisdom to make a good decision for a happy outcome.

As ambassadors of aviation the words we use are important for those who are using us as examples.

A better way of putting that would be I decided on a better choice, landed at my alternate, got a nice dinner, and woke up the next day alive and smarter. My new students are very hard on themselves. They feel they are failing on a daily basis while they are simply learning. It is important for all to know, me included, that deciding on plan B is a success.

It is a great article, and it is important for all of us to keep in mind that get there-itis is real and we all experience it at some point in time to some degree.

Neal Mcconochie
Punta Gorda, Florida

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