"Be Prepared." (Part Two)

                                            Click HERE for Part One.

A Personal Preflight. (cont.)

.....Ensuring that all licences and ratings are up to date is a basic responsibility, but equally critical is the matter of currency. Currency can be precisely defined by regulations, but these must be seen for what they are; base level requirements. Only you know if you are satisfied with your level of currency and comfortable to strap loved ones into the seats behind you. Are you clear on your engine failure procedures? How long since you last flew a go-around? There is legally current and genuinely current; ensure the latter is always the case.

Personal fitness is also too often overlooked. Head colds and blocked ears are an obvious indicator of inadequate fitness to fly, but it is the more subtle issues that can sometimes slip beneath the radar. Inadequate or restless sleep, pressures at home or the office can all impinge upon a pilot’s performance without manifesting in the form of straightforward symptoms. Yet these silent ailments are no less threatening to flight safety than their diseased counterparts are.

Whether it is our level of knowledge, currency or fitness we need to be able to step away and logically assess whether we are up to the task of flying. If there is any doubt, our responsibility is to stand down. As such, these assessments are best made well before the flight as there is added pressure as we stand at the airport with the aircraft on the ramp and our passengers waiting expectantly. Furthermore, the earlier we assess our preflight readiness, the more time there is to rectify the situation.

A State of Readiness.

In addition to self-assessing the fundamental issues of readiness, there are numerous common sense preflight strategies to ensure that the flight goes as smoothly as possible.

At the forefront is time management. Anything that can be calculated, organised, studied, flight planned, booked or scratched before arriving at the airfield is an opportunity to alleviate the load on the day you go flying. Additionally, by attending to these matters well in advance permits the exercise to be unrushed. A review of the weather or NOTAMS the night before may avoid surprises and offer time to plan alternative strategies. Time is critical and very few sound decisions are made in haste. This theme carries through to the day of the flight. Allow for bad traffic driving to the airport, allow additional time for flight planning and readying the aircraft. A pilot shouldn’t be racing around or the body will be in the cockpit with the mind still at the briefing office.

‘Armchair flying’ is another technique to fine tune flight management away from the aeroplane. We’ve all seen aerobatic pilots standing alone, arms out and ‘flying’ their routine through their minds eye. For emergency drills, envisaging scenarios before they eventuate can reduce the shock value and potential confusion that may result from an event such as an engine failure. Reviewing the vital actions in the comfort of your home and re-briefing them before take-off will go a long way to providing clarity of thought and executing the appropriate actions should the unthinkable occur. Airline pilots frequently armchair fly ‘engine out’ manoeuvres or other emergency procedures, particularly as they prepare for simulator sessions. The same benefits are there for all pilots in rehearsing procedures to the point that they become second nature. Again, this frees up some of that finite ‘brain space’.

Cockpit organisation is also too often overlooked. Ensuring that ALL of the charts are on hand, along with licences, pens, flight plans and so on can be done well before flight time. Devise a system where the same items are stored in the same compartments of the flight bag, thus not only highlighting any absences but also permitting blind access on a cold, wet night in turbulence. The same applies to stowage in the cockpit; item must be secure and accessible. If you drop a pencil, have another, have your charts folded and ready to go at your fingertips. Flight decks are not for foraging.

Whatever the preflight strategy may be, simply having one puts the pilot ahead of the game. There will always be instances of last minute changes and the best laid plans going awry, but being timely and organised will even offset some of this drama. Even so, do not permit yourself to be rushed or pushed into a corner beyond your own zone of comfort and competency. As every preflight transitions into taking flight, as a final check the pilot should ask, “Am I ready?” If the answer is “no”, it is never too late to walk away in the interests of safety.

Be Prepared.

Whether flying professionally, or for leisure, there will always be responsibilities and duties requiring attention. With equal certainty, at the heart of flying for every pilot there should be a great degree of enjoyment.

To ensure that this occurs, pilots need to eradicate as many pressures and stresses as they possibly can well in advance of taking to the air. A sound approach to pre-flight preparation and the development of personal strategies and organisation will go a long way to meeting these goals. With as many issues addressed as possible, it will free up mental capacity to cater for unexpected eventualities and manage the flight with a minimum of stress and also allow some gazing beyond the cumulus and the contours below. After all, we have the best seat in the house.

The Practical Pilot. Friendly Words of Warning.