Saturday, October 30, 2021

SOP development, COM revision, Training Plan, Filing or Sleep?

I have to do one of the things in the title of this post. Actually all of them, but mostly one at a time, and blogging isn't in that list. But I want you to know that I am well, and think of many of you readers whenever I draw on my years ago experience to make decisions, or just to tell stories. Having told many of them once to you helps me remember them. While I am typing this, someone is trying to discuss an accident report, for a flight that departed an aerodrome where I worked. Maybe things have changed there, but things don't change fast in the north. Probably no one has moved that former crew truck, still rusting on its rims. Maybe the other antler has fallen off the moose rack. I know the utter lack of resources they must have had there, and the pressures they would have been under, and I'm glad I don't work in those conditions.

I had a conversation recently about how people operating single-pilot have to hold themselves accountable. In a two-pilot operation the captain has to set a good example for the FO, so as not to have a witness to poor behaviour, while the FO has to exhibit good behaviour or get backhanded by the captain. Working alone in the cockpit we have to be both the captain and the FO. Evidence shows that a decision made in a team tends to be riskier than one made by an individual, because even though the responsibility rests with the team leader, there is a shared feeling of "If this were really a bad idea, someone would speak up." As pilots we have to let the voice in our heads that wants to speak up for safety overrule the one that wants to get home or keep to the schedule.

I'm glad you have come through the pandemic well enough to read this. I am well and strong, and touched that you still check in now and again. Maybe I'll retire and catch up with the blog.  Do people still blog? And let me know if you know about that moose rack. Going to sleep now.


7 comments:

Knits and Weaves said...

No news about the other antler, but it's always good to see a posting from you.

Sue said...

It doesn't matter if it's been a year or two or more -- I am always glad to read your posts (I have your blog on Feedly). And of course I'm delighted to hear that you're well and dare I say happy? These past 18 months have been kind of a horrendous time in the States (and the world of course). I don't think blogging is as prevalent as it was years ago -- people have gravitated toward different social media formats (Instagram, TikTok, Substack, what have you). I blogged for 10 years (2008-2018) but gave it up. I'm even retired now, but I can't see doing it again (I've run out of things to say). I sold my plane (Cessna 150) and gave up flying too, a while ago. So I won't ever hear you on the radio taking off or landing at some isolated outpost in the North. Not that I would know it's you! (I still can't decide if you're a man or a woman, though I'm 99.9% sure you're a woman.) But who knows: fate will always surprise us.

Dave Starr said...

Nice to hear from you again. Still alive and doing well here in the Philippines. Hope fate and the weather treat you well.

drydiggins said...

It's lovely to hear from you again.

Sarah said...

Well whaddya know. Some 6th sense told me to check an old blogroll and there you are.
Glad to hear you've got through the pandemic - so far, so have I and mine.

Do plan on retiring (eventually) and writing more, blog or no. Retiring is starting to look pleasant to me as well - except that since I only fly for fun, I'd probably fly more, not less.

Garrett said...

Late comment, but happy to hear you are well!

John Lennerton said...

It is always a pleasure to read your words. I'm glad to hear you're well, and I hope you're prospering. Stay well.