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Maybe not confused, more like a rapid analysis of a condition for which you have yet to select a solu- tion. In all of my serious system failures, I observed several consistent themes. First, is the two seconds of “No way... ...seriously! Well, crap...” that flashes through your mind. The second consistent lesson is time compression. The fifteen minutes it takes you to deal with the situation will take a mental hour to get through; it’s like dog years. Also, your gut analy- sis, the first thing that comes to your mind, is prob- ably right or really close; at least much more often than that of a less-experienced pilot. The operating manual for your airplane likely has a few procedures that you should memorize: engine failure on takeoff, rapid or explosive depressurization, runaway trim and various inflight fire scenarios, for example. A smart pilot would also know to perform these pro- cedures right away once it was determined to be the likely solution. After that, we may or may not need to use our intuition again. Did the memory procedure do what it was supposed to do? Are there more things going on than what the procedure cov- ers? If the procedure didn’t work, or if there are other things happening, trust your intuition, because it’s real.It Ain’t OverA golf stroke begins with you seeing it in your mind and ends when the club contacts the ball. After that, it’s a matter of physics and geometry. All of the calculations, practice and intuition that went into hitting the ball become irrelevant. You can talk to the ball and lean left or right and it won’t change the trajectory – I know because I’ve tried. When flying an airplane, it ain’t over till it’s over (tip of the cap to Yogi) and you are the one who decides when it’s over. As you delve into the first T&T of the New Year, let’s resolve to gain experience as often as we can, including reliving the experiences of other pilots through their tales of success or failure. A l l o w y o u r s e l f t o a d m i t •t h a t i t c o u l d h a v e b e e n y o u i n the left seat. It’s the fuel for developing intuition, and intuition can save your bacon – and your golf clubs. Have a safe and happy New Year my Spidey friends. Bet you had a feeling I’d say that. T&TKevin Dingman has been flying for over 40 years. He’s an ATP typed in the B737 and DC9 with 21,000 hours. A retired Air Force Major, he flew the F-16 then performed as a USAF Civil Air Patrol Liaison Offi- cer. He flies volunteer missions for the Christian organization Wings of Mercy, is employed by a major airline, and owns and operates a Beechcraft Duke. Contact Kevin at Dinger10d@gmail.comLEKTRO, Inc. Quarter Page 4/C AdArizona Type Rating Quarter Page4/C Ad16 • TWIN & TURBINEJANUARY 2016