Up in the Air

PILOTING OUR LIVES WITH PURPOSE

· Life,Business,Flying

Ever since I was a kid I have been fascinated with flying. I would sit at my father's Kimball church organ, with its semi-circular control panel filled with backlit pistons and tilt-tabs, and I would pretend that I was in a fighter jet. I would even press down one of the bass keyboard pedals and pretend to sound the low hum of the aircraft's engine. Granted, I should have probably been practicing the keyboard, but I was too busy pretending I was piloting an airplane.

After college, for my birthday, my sister kindly got me a pack of flight lessons as well as pilot ground-school classes from a local airfield in upstate, New York. I was assigned a pilot instructor and took flight lessons and classes for a few years on Cessna model 172 and 174 airplanes. I preferred the top-wing Cessna models, so that while in flight I could look out of the side windows and enjoy the aerial views and the sight of the ground below. If you've never flown a plane, I highly recommend trying it - even if only for a single introductory experience (with a certified pilot instructor, of course).

Flying an airplane can represent so much more than just joyriding in the skies; it can be a metaphor for teaching us to navigate life. Learning to pilot an aircraft teaches us valuable lessons about preparation, planning, intentionality, navigation, perseverance, and the simple pleasures of enjoying the journey. We can learn so much by applying a pilot's step-by-step flight process to our daily lives.

1. Pre-Flight Checks: Taking Stock

"The engine is the heart of an airplane, but the pilot is its soul."

- Sir Walter Alexander Raleigh

Before every flight, a pilot meticulously conducts pre-flight checks. Pre-flight checks are crucial to not only ensuring the ultimate safety of the aircraft and its passengers, but to see if the craft is airworthy to attempt a flight at all. From inspecting the engine, wings, and aircraft, to reviewing weather forecasts, every detail matters.

Similarly, in life, we need to constantly and consistently take stock of where we are, what we have, and where we want to go to see if we are airworthy for the next leg of this flight. Preparation and planning sets the stage for success. Before every flight a pilot reviews a craft's resources, condition, and flight-worthiness, with great attention to detail, to ensure a safe flight. Similarly, before every venture or initiative we, too, must review our preparedness and resources to set a course for our journey ahead.

Story from My Logbook: Before I was even allowed to sit in the cockpit, my flight instructor spent the very first lesson teaching me to thoroughly inspect my airplane. It is a ritual that pilots do before each and every flight. Even if you are the first and only pilot who is about to fly the craft, after you already did your post-flight check from the last flight - you still need to meticulously inspect your airplane. It establishes the foundation for everything from that point forward.

One especially chilly morning in upstate, New York, as I dutifully walked around the aircraft, inspecting each element of my plane, the bitter cold was tempting me to rush the process just to get inside and heat the cabin. My instructor stood there with me the entire time to ensure I followed through with every step. I was forced to respect the significance of these rituals despite the cold conditions, chapped lips, frozen fingers and toes. Planning and preparation aren't just about ticking boxes; they are about instilling discipline, responsibility, and a true sense of care for the process and the privilege of flying. That experience has stuck with me ever since, reminding me that success is built on a foundation of careful preparation; no matter the outer circumstances.

Pilot Logbook

I thought it would be fun to list the major steps of a Pre-flight inspection. As mentioned, Pre-flight inspection is a crucial aspect of establishing a baseline and ensuring the safety and airworthiness of an aircraft before each flight. While the specific steps may vary slightly depending on the aircraft model and regulations, below are the general steps a private pilot typically takes to inspect an aircraft. I invite you to read through each step and see how they are a metaphor for resources and conditions in your own life, home, and business.

Exterior Inspection:

  • General Overview: Begin by conducting a visual inspection of the entire exterior of the aircraft. Look for any signs of damage, leaks, or abnormalities.
  • Wings and Control Surfaces: Check the wings, ailerons, flaps, and wingtips for any damage, debris, or signs of wear. Ensure that all control surfaces move freely and are securely attached.
  • Empennage: Inspect the horizontal and vertical stabilizers, elevators, rudder, and trim tabs for damage or loose fittings.
  • Fuselage: Examine the fuselage for dents, scratches, or corrosion. Check the landing gear, tires, and brakes for signs of wear and proper inflation.
  • Engine and Propeller: Inspect the engine cowling, exhaust system, and propeller for damage or defects. Check the oil and fuel levels, and inspect for any leaks.

Interior Inspection:

  • Cockpit: Enter the cockpit and check the condition of the seats, controls, and instruments. Ensure that all switches and controls are in the correct position and functioning properly.
  • Avionics: Inspect the avionics equipment, including radios, navigation instruments, and electrical systems. Check for any warning lights or indications of malfunctions.
  • Safety Equipment: Verify the presence and condition of safety equipment such as seatbelts, fire extinguishers, and emergency supplies.

Documentation Check:

  • Logbooks: Review the aircraft's maintenance logbooks to ensure that all required inspections and maintenance procedures have been completed and documented.
  • Registration and Airworthiness Certificate: Confirm that the aircraft's registration and airworthiness certificates are current and onboard the aircraft.
  • Weight and Balance: Calculate the aircraft's weight and balance to ensure that it is within the allowable limits for the planned flight.

Final Checks:

  • Fuel Inspection: Check the fuel quantity and quality, and verify that the fuel caps are secure.
  • Control Locks and Covers: Remove any control locks and covers from the aircraft's controls and pitot/static ports.
  • Final Walk-around: Perform a final visual inspection of the aircraft, ensuring that all access panels are secure and that there are no loose objects or debris on the aircraft.

By meticulously following these steps, a pilot can ensure that their aircraft is in a safe and airworthy condition for each flight. It should be a similar process in our homes and businesses. We can readily see how managing our assets, resources, budgets, and plans all have a metaphorical similarity to a pilot's process.

 

2. Taking Off: Embracing New Beginnings

"The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever to be able to do it." - J.M. Barrie, from Peter Pan

Once we've taken stock of our craft (read: life), have established a clear and fully understood foundation of where we are, what we have, and where we want to go; and are confident that we have the right stuff for taking the next step - it's time for departure.

The thrill of taking off into the sky embodies the spirit of embracing new beginnings. Despite the uncertainties that may lie ahead, we simply have to trust in our abilities and take that leap of faith. Doubt only holds us back from soaring to new heights. Just as a pilot must believe in their ability to fly and trust their aircraft, we must believe in ourselves, and those around us, to embark on new journeys in life.

At this point a pilot taxis his craft to the runway, positions the plane, and cycles through a final check of the engines and controls and finally announces to the tower (in a controlled airfield) that he's ready for takeoff. In our lives and businesses, before our next initiative, we must be confident that we've prepared ourselves for the flight, checked our situation and surroundings, and announce to ourselves, and those who will work with us, that we are ready for our next phase. Throttle up and let's go.

Story from My Logbook: I'll never forget the rush of adrenaline the first time I lifted off the runway; solo. The first time you check a craft without the watchful eye of your flight instructor as a safety net; the first time you check your fuel gauges, avionics, and taxi to the runway alone; the first time you call your craft ID out to the control tower; and the first time you throttle forward and pitch the nose above the horizon - all on your own - is a thrilling exhileration that I am not skilled enough to describe with words. It is certainly a breathtaking moment. As the aircraft soared into the sky, I felt a mix of exhilaration and perhaps even apprehension. But in that moment, I knew that doubt was not an option. I had trained for this, and I was ready. That memory reminds me that sometimes the biggest obstacle to overcome is our own self-doubt.

 

3. Navigating Adversity: Overcoming Challenges

"A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor." 

- Franklin D. Roosevelt

Life, like flying, is filled with uncertainty and unexpected challenges. There will be turbulence, storms, potentially engine or avionics issues and we have to always be aware, alert, and at the ready to navigate around or through these issues.

In our lives and businesses we will encounter personal challenges, setbacks, or adversities, and we must navigate through them with resilience and determination. We will experience changes in health, in income, in market conditions, in turnover, in you-name-it. Turbulence will come to our lives and businesses. It's during these challenging and changing times that we have an opportunity to survive and thrive. These become our opportunities to grow stronger and wiser, and become a better pilot of our lives and businesses. Just as a pilot's skills are honed through experience, so are our skills sharpened by life and how re respond to it.

Story from My Logbook: My flight instructor had a very well thought out, pedagogical lesson plan for me each week that addressed all manner of difficulties that a pilot faces while flying. One week he simulated having to descend the aircraft within the narrow confines of the eye of a storm (pitching the craft and spiraling downward within a small calm space); one week he cut my engine mid-flight to force me to think quickly for an emergency landing; each week we would practice engine-on stalls and engine-off stalls to ensure I can recover a craft within 100-feet of descent.

One week we flew out over Lake Erie until the blue horizon disappeared and was indistinguishable from the great blue lake below to completely disorient me, in order to teach me to trust the avionics equipment when you can't trust your own eyes. Each of these experiences prepared me to never allow the surge of Adrenalin to turn into the grip of fear. But rather, with steady hands and a calm demeanor, to push through the adversity because with training and experience we are capable of weathering any storm that life throws our way. Navigating adversity builds our confidence.

 

4. Enjoying the Journey: Changing Our Perspective and Finding Joy in the Process

"You haven't seen a tree until you've seen its shadow from the sky."

- Amelia Earhart

Amidst these challenges and uncertainties, it's so important that we find joy in the journey. In an airplane these simple pleasures can be witnessing a breathtaking sunset from above, marveling at the beauty of the landscape below, seeing rain clouds funneling to the earth, or flying over sailboats enjoying the water; there's a profound sense of wonder that comes with flying.

Similarly, in our lives and in our businesses, we must cherish the moments of joy and find beauty in the everyday experiences. A meal with your family, a date night with your spouse, receiving the keys to the first home you have purchased, making a toast to a friend who recently started their business or got a promotion at work - the good earth is rich and our lives can provide countless moments of joy if we take time to appreciate them.

In business, there are also countless moments of joy to offset the definite moments of struggle, sacrifice and pain as well. Receiving our first purchase order from a new customer, seeing our products on the shelves of a new retailer, watching a customer enjoying our products for the first time, hiring your first employee, are all singular moments of the countless simple pleasures of running our businesses. There will be turbulence in the flight of your work and the navigation of your profession; but take time to appreciate the incredible moments of joy along your way.

Story from My Logbook: Where I worked for over a decade in Los Angeles, was located next to a major corporate airport (Van Nuys Airport). I was taking weekly flying lessons there after work and got to experience the most wonderful sunset flights. I began to notice something else as well that was so fascinating, after-work flights began to impact my perspectives at work. I'll explain:

As with all jobs, there were times when the work was difficult, the pressures were high, and executive meetings, at times, could be intense. Intensity can strain relationships. As it would happen, on days after work when I would take a flight lesson (the airfield being literally a block away), I would notice that my perspective of the office, as I flew over it, completely changed my perspective of my work and relationships.

As I flew over the office as the building was empty at the end of the day, I couldn't help but marvel at the feeling that came over me as I saw a workplace that I was just enveloped by, become smaller as I lifted into the sky. And with the view of the office becoming smaller, so did all the challenges and worries that were inside it. Within the span of minutes, what was once stressful became quaint and nostalgic; simply by the perspective of flying above it. It was fascinating and still is. I became filled with a renewed perspective about my work, my colleagues, and most of all myself. It was a reminder that life's greatest joys often come after we've adjusted our perspectives.

 

5. Safe Landing: Achieving Goals and Success

"A pilot who says he has never been frightened in an airplane is, I'm afraid, lying."

- Louise Thaden

Finally, as we approach the landing of this discussion on flight, we should reflect on the satisfaction of a safe and sure landing, completing our successful flight. Just as a pilot's skill is measured by his ability to land the aircraft safely, our success in life is measured by our ability to find joy, achieve our goals, and experience fulfillment. Despite the many challenges and uncertainties along our journey in life, we persevere, knowing that the destination is worth the journey.

Story from My Logbook:

Some of my favorite landings were at the Van Nuys Airport in suburban Los Angeles. My flights would often be around 6pm, and the sunsets were spectacular. I loved the feeling of having completed a successful flight, talking with the tower, taxiing the plane back to the hangar and parking it. The feeling of fulfillment and satisfaction of Post-Flight Check and going to Aerosquadron lounge and having a drink with other pilots and talking about the flight were all pleasure I feel nostalgic about.

In life, we are both the pilot and the passenger, navigating through the skies of our aspirations. With each flight, we gain valuable insights into ourselves and the world around us. So let us take to the skies with courage, determination, and a sense of wonder, for the journey is what truly defines us. And take time for the simple pleasures that come with meeting up with some of the 7 billion other life-pilots all around you, and exchanging stories from the journey.

Good luck on your flight. You're cleared for takeoff.