Early on my instructor identified myself as the "resignation" type. We all have or have had one of the five attributes that puts us in danger as pilots. Besides this, I am now also known as the "rushy" type. My instructor claimed that he cannot change my personality, but he could tell how my personality can negatively effect my flying. I am curious to know, how you ladies and gentlemen dealt with your quirks and if you were able to change your personalities and become better at flying. On the contrary, is it also possible to use some of these "negative' aspects of your personality to an advantage? I am rushy in that I rush through an emergency checklist. Good, but did I get everything done? Am I sure that I did not miss anything? Is it possible for me to change? How did you cope with this?

 

1) You have been psychiatrically diagosed as a non-pilot personality type. You are done flying pal, better go home and give up now while you are still ahead.

Sorry strike that. I couldn't resist, just kidding.

1) Your instructor is misapplying one of the Fundamentals of Instruction (FOI) Standard Defense Mechanisms. They are:

a. compensation
b. projection
c.rationalization
d. denial of reality
e. reaction formulation
f. flight
g. aggression
h. resignation

h. resignation: Students also may become so frustrated that they lose interest and give up. They may no longer beleive it profitable or even possible to go on, and as a result, they accept defeat. The most obvious and apparent cause for this form of resignation takes place when, after completing an early phase of a course without grasping the fundamentals, a student becomes bewildered and lost in the more advanced stages. From that point on, learning is negligible although the student may go through the motions of participating. (FAA-H-8083-9.)

I doubt that your instructor understands this correctly, or has applied it to your situation correctly. At any rate it would not be something that was evident from the beginning of a training course nor does it stick like say, leprosy sticks. A student could overcome it through subsequent achievements, it is a simple defense mechanism. It is not a disease or a personality type as you seem to describe.

As far as "rushy" goes maybe you do not know how important checklists can be when things run afoul. This is an experience issue, not a personality issue. Keep on trying and you will be fine.

 

No that is not me, the resignation type according to the definition you gave me. But my point is that doesn't every pilot have one of those personality traits that puts him/her in danger? Yes experience and hard work can enable us to overcome these quirks. I am in no way frustrated at this point, but I see how it can affect on my doing things in the cockpit. For an example, if something goes wrong, the natural tendency is to panic. As pilots we have to learn not to panic and do something about it. But for inexperienced people like me, learning these new skills are a little challenging. You go to work, go to the gym, come home, and bam you get in an airplane and suddenly you have to switch into a very different hat. For some people it might be an easy transition, but for others like me, it takes hard work. Now I am beginning to see how learning to fly is much more than knowing how to maneuver the airplane or learning a few regulations. Certainly there is something else to it.

 

I'm sure Cubdriver is right.

From the Aviation Instructor's Handbook:
It is totally normal for students to rush through emergency checklists. Even in training, there is a sense of urgency, and that is ok. Experience and personal discipline will help you to remain calm and avoid "panic." Totally normal. Just the fact that you are asking this question shows that you have a great quality - the desire to learn (and not just pass a checkride). That quality will keep you alive, and help you be a great pilot. Good luck.

 

Most folks will at some time employ most or all of the defense mechanisms and some of the dangerous attitudes. Whether it is a problem or not depends on the magnitude of the reaction, how the instructor deals with it, and most importantly how the student copes with the issue(s).

I agree that your "problem" sounds like a matter of experience...the more you get, the easier things will be.

I've been doing high-speed, dangerous jobs for over 20 years...eventually you need to get to a place where danger or pressure produces a manageable adrenaline rush which gives you enough of a boost to speed your reaction time, but still allows you to proceed in a calm and collected manner (but quickly).

Ideally you will get to a point where you no longer have to rely on reactive procedures...you can THINK, and very quickly. You might make the conscious decision to employ a pre-defined procedure...or you might decide to do something else if circumstances warrant.

In the meantime, just do your memory procedures slowly and calmly enough so that you get them right.

 

These are the 5 Hazardous attitudes in flying

1. Antiauthority ("Don't tell me!") - Don't like anyone telling him/her what to do. Resentful of rules & regulations. 2. Impulsivity ("Do something - do it now!") - Need to do something, anything, quickly. Don't stop to think about better alternatives.
3. Invulnerability ("It won't happen to me.") - Accidents happen to other people, not to me. Therefore, I can take chances.
4. Macho ("I can do it.") - Always trying to prove themselves better than others. Take risks and try to impress others. Yes, women, too!
5. Resignation ("What's the use?") - I really can't make a difference. It's going to happen anyway, why bother? Leave actions to others.


These are attitudes that one may or may not experience in their flight career. It's normal for these to be applied as "situation specific", NOT PERSONALITY TYPES. If you're a person who gives up easily on things I wouldn't tell you that you have resignation, I would say you're a quitter. You don't seem like that otherwise you wouldn't bother asking here. I would suggest that you tell your instructor that they are incorrect in their usage and labeling of your personality, but make a suggestion that you would like them to give you an example of this negative trait when you are flying so you can make a cognitive effort not to repeat it again.

As for rushing the checklist thing. It will come with experience. Just try your best not to rush them. Remember it's better to take your time, than to rush and shut down your remaining good engine.

 

<Sound of nail being hit on the head>

If an instructor (or anyone else for that matter) assigns one of the defense mechanisms or one of the dangerous attitudes to you, consider the instructor's comprehension of these things.

The chances are excellent that the CFI's only exposure to these concepts was cramming for his multiple-guess FAA knowledge test on "Fundamentals of Instruction," a very thin book that touches the bear surface of instruction theory as it existed 40 years ago. She's probably as qualified, well, as qualified as the student, to make those assessments. Which is to say, not very qualified at all.

Then consider the instructor's personality type. For example, is she very regimented? Everything must be "just so"? If so, that personality type tends to take stuff like this literally. Anyone who has ever questioned why a rule exists is, for example, "anti-authority."

There's probably a lot of "misdiagnosed" pilots running round.

 

I'm just thinking "checklist, who uses a checklist?"

Kidding.....kinda

On topic, I'll have to put in a +1 towards the inexperienced instructor theory. This complete Mis-Diagnosis is what's gotten me, and the fact that your instructor told you this. I'm half sensing that they have an inferiority complex that is coming out, and they have to show you their great knowledge base and that they know what they are doing!!!!

It's ok, just roll with it, and as far as your training goes, take it at your pace. Some people are Sponges, and just literally take everything in. I've had some students that take things on a much more relaxed basis, and sometimes maybe take "too" much time in doing certain tasks. The key here is to realize what style really does fit you best, and hopefully your instructor learns what that style is, and can cater your training to help you learn things at their greatest efficiency.

My last piece of advice, is always, always, ALWAYS have fun and enjoy what you're doing. If you can't enjoy the accomplishments, and the lessons learned from failing(these are obviously harder to get over), then it makes the whole learning process tougher. I'm not saying go out and goof off, but take some pride in what you're doing!

 

Exactly

^great insight^

The FOI are very subjective. Instructors drop the FOI bomb all of the time to unsuspecting students, classifying them as if they are some kind of professional psychologist. Maslow's hierarchy is not true in every case, neither is some of the FOI. It is just a very, very broad brush used to diagnose repeated behavior. Resignation is not summed by a single event, it is common to get bummed out when some concepts are new and overwhelming or the instructor is just a giant douche... perhaps a new method of teaching or approach is needed? Maybe a little more motivation is needed, you know what motivates you to learn. If you just up and quit for good... maybe that would be resignation. Trying to gain another insight into it like you are doing is a very favorable attribute. Good luck with everything, and keep your eye on the prize.

The more you get through initial challenges the easier it will be to persevere through harder concepts later in your pilot training.

 

these things are not "personality types" they are attitudes and specific reactions to a particular situation. in other words, each of these 5 "dangerous attitudes" are possible reactions to a stressful situation.

The idea is to recognize when you are exhibiting one of the dangerous attitudes and counteract it with the corresponding "antidote" A person may have a tendency to exhibit some of these more than others, but in no way should they be considered "personality types" to be branded onto a person. any one can exhibit any of these dangerous attitudes at any time.

As others have said, either your instructor is misapplying this tool, or you have misunderstood what your instructor is trying to convey.