As pilots and aviators, we have to face the facts: 1. Accidents to happen 2. Most of the time it’s the pilot’s fault 3. Mortality rate in aviation accidents is not that great.

Undoubtedly, there are many decisions that go into making a successful flight. This starts the night before, making sure that you are rested, sober (from both alcohol and drugs, even some medications), and you have an idea of what’s in store for the following day’s flight.

Then there are the hundreds of little items you must consider in your preflight planning, walk around, engine run-up, and all the miscellaneous items in between that don’t really fit in a category.

Lots of little things. Lots of opportunity to screw up.

Truth of the matter is, we all make mistakes. As a pilot, it is inevitable that you too will make mistakes. Those of us that survive are the ones that make smaller mistakes we can learn from. Those that don’t, well, Fate is the Hunter.

But, that said, it’s important to realize that you are human therefore you CAN make mistakes.

Many things that you do in preflight, as we’ve named a few, have little consequence unless you push into the air when you know better. And, so the cycle goes. On domino, leading to a larger domino, leading to another.

So there are two types of mistakes; the initial ‘mental’ mistake, and how you handle that earlier mistake down the road. In other words, the second ‘decision’ can become a mistake if not handled correctly.

There is a saying out there in aviation that I have found to be applicable, and true:

“Flying is full with hours of boredom, speckled with moments of sheer terror”

What I believe is this: As aviators, virtual or otherwise, we are going to make mistakes and be faced with situations that seem beyond our control. We get to choose our path. PANIC or PERFORM.

I stumbled across this acronym a few months back, and I think it totally explains what happens when a pilot fails to answer the call the action. The call that will inevitably come to those who brave the skies.

PANIC

Pressured-And-Not-In-Control

I had a particular experience, which was well documented and discussed. Some friends and I had flown into an airport in Washington with a popular FS scenery, to see what the real scenery was like. The day was fairly normal, with light wind, and acceptable temperatures.

The runway, however, was shorter than I’m used to, although still completely doable for the Bonanza we were in. 2500 with the density altitude and load we had was no big deal.

The amount of trees around the airport, however, made me second guess every number and figure. But, we were set. It was fine.

On the departure, there was a sudden shift in wind because the way that the towering trees, and the terrain, were setup. Just as I took off (my mistake was I rotated a bit prematurely, my mistake #1) the wind shifted from a headwind, to an equally as strong left crosswind, killing much of the performance we had.

Barreling forward, trees at eye level, I had a choice to make. With my airspeed right at ‘stall speed’, I could pull up to avoid the trees, or I could determine myself to plow forward and trust all I had been taught, and what I knew to be true.

I could not pull up. I could not afford the airspeed. I was already milking every knot I could.

PANIC, and we were dead.

Thankfully, and with humility I don’t want to take credit for it, we came out the other side, missing the trees by mere feet.

WATCH THE PILOT-CAM ON THIS TAKEOFF

I was terrified, scared far more than I had ever experienced, but I didn’t panic. That, mixed with the experience I was able to gain over the years, was what pulled us through. I don’t have some huge amount of skill. I believe myself to be an average humble. I choose to be average, or at least view myself as such, as I believe it offers an extra layer of safety. I don’t need pride in my cockpit!

So, the moral of the story, and of this article, is that these decisions and situations will come up for you.

Based on the experience you gain, both through training and through the hours you spend in the air flying wherever your heart desires, you too can remain calm and collected during your moment of crisis. This moment, again, will happen to you. It’s not a matter of if, but when.

Hold to what you know is true, don’t be afraid to trust your gut, and pull through. Besides, as the Pilot-in-Command, it is entirely up to you to do so.

It is your duty, and your charge.

DO NOT PANIC!

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