Faking it

Richard Branson, the billionaire entrepreneur, said, “If somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes—then learn how to do it later.” Bill Gates famously made Microsoft’s first sale, the Altair Basic software, before he had an actual finished product. Rhonda Byrne’s 2006 book, The Secret, on this law of attraction, has sold a staggering 30 million copies. But does the concept apply to aviation? Ours is an industry that demands complete competence and proficiency. So, when we don’t feel totally comfortable in a new airplane or flying situation, there is a tendency to believe we aren’t ready, or worse, that we aren’t capable at all. However, I would argue that because flying is a hands-on, learn-by-doing activity, most pilots could probably practice the fake it till you make it mentality at several points in their flying journey.

A checkride applicant recently called me to cancel her certificated flight instructor ride. “I just don’t feel ready yet,” she said. “I’m going to keep training for another month until I can be the flight instructor those students deserve.” While I appreciated her work ethic, I also knew this applicant was already well-prepared according to her instructors. We rescheduled for a later date, but before we hung up, I couldn’t help but mention that sometimes in aviation you must do things you aren’t completely comfortable with until you gain more experience. “You sort of fake it until you make it,” I told her. She laughed and said, “Is that what that phrase means? I thought it meant faking skill and knowledge.”

No, pilots can’t afford that sort of chicanery and live to tell about it. But here’s what we can do: When the you don’t belong here voices start to get loud, take a rational look at your skill set. Have you put in the required work and met the standards on whatever test or checkride would deem you safe for that airplane? If not, go get more training. But if you’ve put in the work, it’s time to take that first step. Luckily, there are ways to make the confidence building process easier.

Start small: When I was building solo hours for my private pilot certificate, the syllabus called for steep turns, slow flight, and short- and soft-field landings. My instructor knew I was nervous, so we came up with a plan to fly a familiar cross-country route to build most of my solo time rather than spending hours alone maneuvering or in the traffic pattern. That way I was able to build my confidence in a situation that felt more manageable.

Build a safety margin: When I first became a flight instructor, I didn’t feel entirely comfortable in the right seat, let alone adding new student pilots to the mix. So, I set some conservative personal minimums, flying only in friendly winds and visual conditions. We practiced stalls at higher altitudes and padded approach speeds by five knots. Once I became more confident in my own abilities as a CFI, I was able to accept more challenging situations with my students.

Fly with someone more experienced: When I upgraded to captain on the Beechjet, I again struggled with confidence. My jet experience was limited to that year I had flown for the airlines. Plus, the corporate Beechjet flights were so sporadic, I never really felt at home in the airplane. But I had studied hard and performed well on the checkride, so I moved to the left seat and talked to my boss about my concerns. He made sure I always flew with an experienced first officer by putting retired airline pilots in the right seat. While I had more training on that particular airplane, they had enough experience in the jet world to help me build confidence safely.

Remember that feeling uncomfortable is normal: The training class at my first airline job was mostly men in their early twenties, a demographic famous for bravado and notoriously tight-lipped about self-doubt. I felt like the only one who couldn’t rebuild the jet engine or fly with ease at 300 knots. But aviation has a way of humbling us all, male and female alike. I was riding the employee bus after a stressful flight where we had done a go-around because I wasn’t configured in time to make a stable landing. I was telling another new hire the story, and he laughed. “I did a go-around last week for the same reason! Most days it feels like I’m hanging on by the tail. Sure hope it gets easier soon.” It certainly got easier for me after that, just knowing I wasn’t alone.

The next time you’re presented with a new flying opportunity for which you are fully qualified, remember that you have passed rigorous training and testing standards. It’s OK to be a little uncomfortable. Growing pains let us know we’re moving in the right direction. So, press on and trust that the confidence will follow.

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