What makes a good pilot?
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bush mechanics
I like your statement about "normally a genuine sort of person"
If someone is a genuine person and they treat others with respect then, that usually filters through to other facets of life and things follow on from there.
Attitude plays a big part in the success of a pilot!
Ash
I like your statement about "normally a genuine sort of person"
If someone is a genuine person and they treat others with respect then, that usually filters through to other facets of life and things follow on from there.
Attitude plays a big part in the success of a pilot!
Ash
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A good pilot is one who loves aviation so much, they will never do anything to damage its public image.
That means (to name just a few):
1. Recognising what you don't know about aviation;
2. Flying within the regs;
3. Operating your aircraft safely;
4. Respecting the needs and views of other pilots;
5. Respecting life and property on the ground; and
6. Caring about the "system" and contributing towards its improvement in terms of safety and efficiency.
That means (to name just a few):
1. Recognising what you don't know about aviation;
2. Flying within the regs;
3. Operating your aircraft safely;
4. Respecting the needs and views of other pilots;
5. Respecting life and property on the ground; and
6. Caring about the "system" and contributing towards its improvement in terms of safety and efficiency.
Bugsmasherdriverandjediknite
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Some one who got the job done on time and within budget, didnt piss any one off, didn't break anything (including rules) and completed all the required paperwork afterwards.
If the customer is happy to use you again, then the pilot was a good one. (on the day at least)
If the customer is happy to use you again, then the pilot was a good one. (on the day at least)
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A refinement of the Wizard's comment "is happy to use you again", the best pilots I have trained, checked and been flown around by are generally the ones who people ask for again. If you want to be a 'good' pilot then, you should want and try to be the one people ask for.
For examples, I flew with one of my ex-students earlier this year and once we got going, went back to put oil in, got going again, he decided that he "didn't want to use the radio", so took us across, no THROUGH the Manawatu gorge at ~1200', BELOW where I remember the Ansett plane going in (and we couldn't see the wind farm coz we were so low), with 2000' wind around 30-35kt. On the lee side, had trouble maintaining altitude due to downdraughts etc. I'd rather not fly with him again (and I taught him
) although he met the minimum standard on test day, so has the same licence as me.
Contrast with one of the more experienced joyride pilots at the same place, energy, enthusiasm galore, care for the aeroplane, always clean windows, always a good takeoff (not too slow, not too showy) good obviously-under-control flight, good landing, good post-flight and obviously enjoying it (even when she wasn't, she pretended for their sake). EVERYONE wanted to fly with her, she got lots of flying.
Be the one they want to fly with. "They" are the people who buy your lunches, or call checklists for you, or approve you to fly their aeroplanes, or etc. etc. etc. i.e. everyone you meet needs to see that you like what you're doing and you're good at it.
For examples, I flew with one of my ex-students earlier this year and once we got going, went back to put oil in, got going again, he decided that he "didn't want to use the radio", so took us across, no THROUGH the Manawatu gorge at ~1200', BELOW where I remember the Ansett plane going in (and we couldn't see the wind farm coz we were so low), with 2000' wind around 30-35kt. On the lee side, had trouble maintaining altitude due to downdraughts etc. I'd rather not fly with him again (and I taught him
) although he met the minimum standard on test day, so has the same licence as me.Contrast with one of the more experienced joyride pilots at the same place, energy, enthusiasm galore, care for the aeroplane, always clean windows, always a good takeoff (not too slow, not too showy) good obviously-under-control flight, good landing, good post-flight and obviously enjoying it (even when she wasn't, she pretended for their sake). EVERYONE wanted to fly with her, she got lots of flying.
Be the one they want to fly with. "They" are the people who buy your lunches, or call checklists for you, or approve you to fly their aeroplanes, or etc. etc. etc. i.e. everyone you meet needs to see that you like what you're doing and you're good at it.
Props are for boats!
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How about changing the thread name to the following:
WHAT MAKES A PILOT GOOD?
ANSWER:
MONEY LOTS OF IT,
PAID ACCOMODATION,
PAID TRAMSPORTATION,
ID90,
TAX FREE GREEN BACKS OR EUROS,
LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION.
Pay peanuts youy get monkeys I say
Regards
Sheep
WHAT MAKES A PILOT GOOD?
ANSWER:
MONEY LOTS OF IT,
PAID ACCOMODATION,
PAID TRAMSPORTATION,
ID90,
TAX FREE GREEN BACKS OR EUROS,
LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION.
Pay peanuts youy get monkeys I say
Regards
Sheep
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Aside from the #1 aspect of safety and good airmanship, I tend to think that a pilot's superiors (i.e. more senior pilots, chief pilot and/or company owner) and their attitudes have a lot to do with it.
If the boss is a good one, it's going to be hard for a pilot not to follow the example being set. Unless the morale is low or some other hindrance is playing a role.
520.
If the boss is a good one, it's going to be hard for a pilot not to follow the example being set. Unless the morale is low or some other hindrance is playing a role.
520.
A 'good' pilot is one who flies smoothly and in balance - so much so that you wonder whether you ever can induce them to do something roughly.
Things which stand out are using elevator as they smoothly and slowly feed in power on gravel. Or, when slowing in the circuit, the nose rises as the power reduces, the altimeter stays glued, and as the IAS drops below white arc, they feed in flap so that there's no need for trim change, and so, no frightening pitch change, and less grunting and twirling bloody trim wheels.
When given a go-round from low level - they feed in the power without the donk coughing and shaking, at the same time getting the nose up and flap bled off to climb setting - all without screaming stall warning horns or frightening attitude changes.
Good pilots are situationally aware. They know where to look for traffic, where to look for windsocks, pick up the cues for windshear etc. And they don't do it with much fanfare and consulting of check lists! It just fits in with the flight sequence.
Good pilots have thought about the order of things, and get themselves planned for each phase of flight that's coming up.
I don't think it matters whether it's a 150, or a 310, or bigger - some will always be 'better' pilots than their peers, because they give confidence to instructor and pax alike.
There are some PPL's about who I'd rather be flying with than some of the CPL's and Instr 3's who pass through - hours, theory passes ,and procedural excellence have damn all to do with what makes a 'good' pilot.
cheers,
Things which stand out are using elevator as they smoothly and slowly feed in power on gravel. Or, when slowing in the circuit, the nose rises as the power reduces, the altimeter stays glued, and as the IAS drops below white arc, they feed in flap so that there's no need for trim change, and so, no frightening pitch change, and less grunting and twirling bloody trim wheels.
When given a go-round from low level - they feed in the power without the donk coughing and shaking, at the same time getting the nose up and flap bled off to climb setting - all without screaming stall warning horns or frightening attitude changes.
Good pilots are situationally aware. They know where to look for traffic, where to look for windsocks, pick up the cues for windshear etc. And they don't do it with much fanfare and consulting of check lists! It just fits in with the flight sequence.
Good pilots have thought about the order of things, and get themselves planned for each phase of flight that's coming up.
I don't think it matters whether it's a 150, or a 310, or bigger - some will always be 'better' pilots than their peers, because they give confidence to instructor and pax alike.
There are some PPL's about who I'd rather be flying with than some of the CPL's and Instr 3's who pass through - hours, theory passes ,and procedural excellence have damn all to do with what makes a 'good' pilot.
cheers,
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i'm not so sure a skilled makes a good pilot. I'd rather fly with the guy who bangs on the landings but is safe than the guy who greased 'em and eventually got the sack because he was dangerous. There's no room for top guns 'maverick' types in commercial aviation, well actually in aviation period.
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aS long as they're surfing, otherwise you'd have to burn the seats.... well you'd better burn 'hotels' seat cushion if you haven't yet.
Hey I was talking to a friend of a friend who may be coming out for a Dr internship out there from over here. I'll keep ya posted. I told her about you. Still doing the clinic runs?
Hey I was talking to a friend of a friend who may be coming out for a Dr internship out there from over here. I'll keep ya posted. I told her about you. Still doing the clinic runs?
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Some of you young blokes have posted some fine criteria in here. There is a couple of vital, life long attributes that are missing however.
1. Have a sense of humour. Don't be afraid to laugh at yourself. If you make a meal of it, forget it and get on with the next mistake. There's plenty to be made.
2. Don't take this job or yourselves too seriously. An anal retentive highly strung "professional" is the last thing we want in a multi crew flight deck. You can be laid back and very professional at the same time. NEVER let anyone tell you that you can not.
3. Modern training regimes are far removed from some of the regressive thinking of days gone by. E.G if you were a tie to sim are you more professional than they guy that does not? Of course not. If you have a tattoo or an earing are you less professional? Of course not again. I do not have either but don't begrudge anyone who does as they make NO difference to someones flying ability or dispatch of their duty.
4. It's a great industry, don't ruin it by walking around with a pole up your rectum!
Good luck with your careers.
1. Have a sense of humour. Don't be afraid to laugh at yourself. If you make a meal of it, forget it and get on with the next mistake. There's plenty to be made.
2. Don't take this job or yourselves too seriously. An anal retentive highly strung "professional" is the last thing we want in a multi crew flight deck. You can be laid back and very professional at the same time. NEVER let anyone tell you that you can not.
3. Modern training regimes are far removed from some of the regressive thinking of days gone by. E.G if you were a tie to sim are you more professional than they guy that does not? Of course not. If you have a tattoo or an earing are you less professional? Of course not again. I do not have either but don't begrudge anyone who does as they make NO difference to someones flying ability or dispatch of their duty.
4. It's a great industry, don't ruin it by walking around with a pole up your rectum!
Good luck with your careers.
Ear Rings and Tattoos
Sperm dude,
some valid points in your post. I'm not sure about the ear rings and tats though. I've seen some pretty F@cked up **** inked into some peoples backs that quite possibly were the result of a fairly F@cked up mind set.
The Ear rings ,okay, if your skipper (assuming a male) got in to LHS with a pair like that sheila off the SBS Movie Show wears you'd be wondering what the hell is going on?
some valid points in your post. I'm not sure about the ear rings and tats though. I've seen some pretty F@cked up **** inked into some peoples backs that quite possibly were the result of a fairly F@cked up mind set.
The Ear rings ,okay, if your skipper (assuming a male) got in to LHS with a pair like that sheila off the SBS Movie Show wears you'd be wondering what the hell is going on?
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A good pilot is one who plans for every possibility and always knows his options,stays current and up to date.
never leaves anything to chance.
"im not sure" isnt in a proffessional pilots vocab.
ahhhhh yes forgot the most important aspect of it all
make sure youve got a sense of humour,ive been flying 2 crew ops for a few years now and there is nothing worse than sitting next to some pilot with a carrot up their backside for 15 hrs.
happy flying
never leaves anything to chance.
"im not sure" isnt in a proffessional pilots vocab.
ahhhhh yes forgot the most important aspect of it all
make sure youve got a sense of humour,ive been flying 2 crew ops for a few years now and there is nothing worse than sitting next to some pilot with a carrot up their backside for 15 hrs.
happy flying
