Always Learning

Do you go for it, and possibly regret the decision because controlling the airplane may be challenging and the ride uncomfortable? Or, do you play it safe and stay on the ground? After all, the old saying is that it’s better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air, than in the air wishing you were on the ground.

What’s the thought process behind our go/no-go decisions? While gusty crosswinds create anxiety for many student and private pilots, other considerations include cloud ceilings, visibility, night flight, runway length, current proficiency, and personal wellness—to name just a few. Because these items are quantifiable, an effective method to eliminate uncertainty about whether or not you should fly is to determine your personal minimums for each of these conditions and write them down (see link to AOPA’s VFR Personal Minimums Contract, above right). If any of these conditions do not meet your personal minimums, don’t fly. It’s that simple.

Other go/no-go considerations that are less quantifiable also may add stress to your flight: turbulence, talking to air traffic control, time constraints, precipitation.

When I started flying during my junior year in college, I learned to differentiate between what I call good stress and bad stress. Good stress can result from pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone to do something you really want to do: your first solo flight, mastering crosswind landings, passing a checkride. Sometimes people say to me, “You seem stressed.” My answer is often, “It’s a good stress. This is what I want to do to achieve my goal.” Bad stress is when you find yourself in a situation not of your choosing: mechanical failure of the airplane or an encounter with unforecast poor weather. Good stress focuses your energy and can help you to make more effective decisions. Bad stress can be debilitating (without good training). Understanding these different sources of stress has enabled me to push through and take a flight when I had some stress because of self-doubt, or change plans when I realized the stress I was feeling was telling me I was not adequately prepared for the situation.

During training, your instructor will teach you how to determine when it’s safe to fly. After takeoff, she’ll be sitting next to you to offer advice in flight. And, once you start flying solo, you’ll still make go/no-go decisions in consultation with your CFI.

Once you have your private pilot certificate, the go/no-go decision is all yours. At first, you are likely to be well prepared and confident. Crosswinds, short takeoffs and landings, new airports, interpreting weather—all accomplished within your personal minimums and with minimal stress. But without frequent practice, these hard-fought skills will erode. You may start to feel uncomfortable with your decision making and flying skills after mere months of inactivity. On the other hand, if you’re flying frequently, you may find the personal minimums you have set are limiting your opportunities to fly. If this is the case, you can reduce your minimums by seeking additional training.

Many pilots talk themselves out of taking a flight that could have been safely completed. As long as your personal minimums are met, I encourage you to channel your good stress and go for it. If you take off and you’re not comfortable, you can always turn around and land. But in most instances, you find the conditions aloft—or whatever was causing you stress on the ground—are not as bad as you feared. The beautiful view, the freedom of flight, and the sense of accomplishment will remind you that flying is endlessly fun, challenging, and deeply satisfying at the same time.