Originally Posted by
250 or point 65
I actually trained with an Aussie for my ATP and noticed that his flight discipline was impeccable. So much so that he felt very uncomfortable with anything out of the ordinary. Although he was just a very small example of Aussie pilots, it was still obvious that the flight culture was very different than it is in the US.
US flight discipline consists of "it is an airplane just fly the damn thing" or "flying is easy just do..." it is arrogant, and I would bet a major factor in our 75 percent human error in accidents. If you treat flight with that attitude your a danger to yourself and anyone else in an airplane with you or those that you teach. Unfortunately it is this attitude that is so often heard in the flight instructor market.
It most certainly is true that you can't plan for everything. The problem is, this excuse used to rationalize (defense mechanisms anyone) not adequately planning for a flight. It is similar to "well the speed limit is 55 so I can do 60 without getting pulled over."
I am fairly certain with the right amount of personal discipline and proper application that you can plan for almost any scenario you can ever be in as a pilot. Tell the guys over at NASA that you can't plan for everything, I would bet they have a different philosophy than many of us. Does anyone here happen to know their philosophy for flight planning/preparation?
We are lazy, period. "You can't plan for everything" is not an excuse to plan for nothing. How many of us take 15 minutes to fill out a nav log before going on a cross country? Who here does a W+B and landing distances for every flight? Brief a takeoff in case of an engine out before each takeoff? Brief landing areas anytime you are flying at a low altitude in the event of an engine failure? How bout brief each new phase of flight? When is the last time you did a climb checklist? Took off when you were not at 100 percent mental/physical capacity and you knew it? Need I go on?
Edit: Back on topic we were taught 4 Bs, briefing, back doors, back ups, and bottom lines. If you create these for each situation and then brief that situation (the act of forcing yourself to do this would be exhibiting good flight discipline) it can help you better prepare yourself. Back ups just to clarify, include things like ATC and bringing along a flight instructor, they are not just GPS/electronics.