The transition from the training environment, including as an instructor, to becoming a professional pilot (one that gets paid for transporting passengers) can often be defined by things like earning a commercial license or ATP, completing a degree, or getting a type rating. However, becoming a professional was more of a mindset change for me — making the passenger the top priority for any flight. I was no longer thinking only about myself, my comfort, and my safety.
When I jumped to high-performance twins and turbine aircraft, I quickly realized the importance of those little twisty knobs that control pressurization and cabin temperature. And as many times as I learned about the systems affecting temperature and pressure, whether in college or initial or recurrent type training, the actual mechanical systems seemed foreign and above the pay grade for this non-A&P pilot. This month, T &T writer Elliott Cox takes us through complex environmental systems, makes them simple to understand, and provides some common-sense operational tips that aren’t always known or followed.
Likewise, the decision to stay or go (the one that happens at V1) is not always understood clearly. We usually cross our fingers and hope not to screw up the sim session too severely. Our guru Kevin Dingman takes us through the process in our dopamine- and adrenaline-influenced minds during the seconds that seem like minutes throughout our decision-making processes at the critical moments of a takeoff. When a pilot has a plan and knows what to anticipate in almost any circumstance, they will be a better professional, meaning the passengers will be happier and more satisfied. That means that the pilot keeps their job a little longer.
Next, we’re back again to that decision-making thing. This time we evaluate decisions before V1. That go/no-go decision while planning a flight. Do we go through, around or above? David Miller shows us that sometimes putting the myriad options at our disposal aside and taking a nap can be the best decision.
Single-engine pilots know the stress that occurs when a propeller stops spinning. Of course, we train for the occurrence often. But do we know we’re going to make the right decision when it happens? How quickly can your brain process the infinite options when an engine-out occurs? Winds aloft at different altitudes, weather, runway lengths, and airport proximity are all questions that need an answer in seconds. Oh, and by the way, you need to fly the airplane and probably tell someone what’s going on — ATC, passengers. For pilots flying piston and turbine singles, Garmin has intelligently taken technologies readily available in existing components and combined them to create a one-button, get-me-to-the-right-airport-safely system. It’s called Smart Glide, and it’s smart indeed. And Cabin-class single instructor extraordinaire Joe Casey tells us how it differs from Garmin’s new-aircraft offerings like Autoland.
Our Owner’s Corner focuses on a HondaJet owner with unique perspectives about how he decided on the distinctive twin jet.
Finally, I had the opportunity to learn and write about an organization with such a rich history that evolved over the years to expand its humanitarian mission geographically and with new capabilities. Wings of Hope of St. Louis, MO, helps people live better lives in undeveloped countries and now brings its capabilities back home. And they’re even helping bring awareness of aviation careers to young people in St. Louis and beyond. We all benefit from that.
Enjoy this issue.
