Pilot DAR
25th Dec 2015, 21:49
I was thinking about experience today. My wife asked my 12 year old daughter to carry wine glasses to the dinner table, while her 25 year old sister had already taken a few. My wife asked my 12 year old to carry them one at a time. 12 year old pointed out that her older sister was carrying two at a time. "Your sister is more experienced" my wife replied. Whereupon my 12 year old picked up two, and carried them both by their stems, freely waving them around as she waked. I pointed out to her my dis satisfaction with her action (knowing that these are exotic glasses I'm afraid to pick up at all!). I trust that my 25 year old can handle two glasses perfectly well, and text while she walks across the room with them. My 12 year old demonstrated to me that she's not there yet. After not following instruction, she loosely waved the glasses around by their stems. She showed that she does not have the experience to be trusted with the task - she won't even follow the instruction!
So what's this got to do with piloting? I think about discussions of experience here. We all want to be more experienced, and in aviation, no one has ever reached the top of the experience hierarchy. The experience we all seek is generally available from those who have gone before in that realm, and learned the lessons. And, frequently, it is those people who control the use of the aircraft too. These wise oldtimers know that we seek the experience on their aircraft, and they might help us achieve it - if we demonstrate that we respect their preferences about how they are operated.
I think about reading John Farley's writings about training new pilots to fly the single place Harrier - from standing on the ground, away from the jet blast. "Do this, then return for a debrief, before undertaking the next phase". Most pilots did, and few others how were not so conforming.... with someone else's expensive fighter jet.
So like my wife wanting my 12 year old to pay two hand attention to a single wine glass, the owner of the aircraft would like to see the inexperienced pilot ease into piloting the "next" type in their learning. The following the "rules", and respecting the preferences of the oldtimer is a part of that for its own sake - whether the new pilot likes (agrees with) it or not. The experience of the new pilot will be evident to the oldtimer, as they see new pilot simply take it easy and respect the rules - whatever they are.
When the new pilot is seen to be a rule follower, and cares about how they do things, their experience will be evident. It's the trait of a pilot with a professional attitude. A person who seeks out and personally adopts best practice. It is more about the quality of the "piloting" rather than the quantity, in many cases.
I read here about new pilots who insist on having an Ipad for use as a primary reference in the circuit, and other similar non conforming conduct. This could be normal if an experienced pilot did it, but should be left to the pros. I think to myself, "Yup, that new pilot may get there one day, but their inexperience is still showing, and slowing their acceptance by the very people upon whom they depend for their advancement.
So what's this got to do with piloting? I think about discussions of experience here. We all want to be more experienced, and in aviation, no one has ever reached the top of the experience hierarchy. The experience we all seek is generally available from those who have gone before in that realm, and learned the lessons. And, frequently, it is those people who control the use of the aircraft too. These wise oldtimers know that we seek the experience on their aircraft, and they might help us achieve it - if we demonstrate that we respect their preferences about how they are operated.
I think about reading John Farley's writings about training new pilots to fly the single place Harrier - from standing on the ground, away from the jet blast. "Do this, then return for a debrief, before undertaking the next phase". Most pilots did, and few others how were not so conforming.... with someone else's expensive fighter jet.
So like my wife wanting my 12 year old to pay two hand attention to a single wine glass, the owner of the aircraft would like to see the inexperienced pilot ease into piloting the "next" type in their learning. The following the "rules", and respecting the preferences of the oldtimer is a part of that for its own sake - whether the new pilot likes (agrees with) it or not. The experience of the new pilot will be evident to the oldtimer, as they see new pilot simply take it easy and respect the rules - whatever they are.
When the new pilot is seen to be a rule follower, and cares about how they do things, their experience will be evident. It's the trait of a pilot with a professional attitude. A person who seeks out and personally adopts best practice. It is more about the quality of the "piloting" rather than the quantity, in many cases.
I read here about new pilots who insist on having an Ipad for use as a primary reference in the circuit, and other similar non conforming conduct. This could be normal if an experienced pilot did it, but should be left to the pros. I think to myself, "Yup, that new pilot may get there one day, but their inexperience is still showing, and slowing their acceptance by the very people upon whom they depend for their advancement.