If a pilot fails to attain set parameters, as demonstrated by Andy Hill at the Shoreham Airshow in 2015, catastrophe awaits. 

Mr Hill was flying a Hawker Hunter jet when it crashed into a dual carriageway killing 11 people. In court a verdict of not guilty to the charge of Manslaughter by Gross Negligence was found by the jury.

We can all learn from the need to have parameters in our own lives, to plan ahead and to give ourselves boundaries.

In this video I talk about the importance of parameters, why pilots adhere to them, the verdict itself and what the defence's claim of 'cognitive impairment' actually means. I also cover my own experiences of cognitive impairment and those of a friend of mine who died in a fatal crash in 2011 and the subsequent investigation into his death.

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Today we cover an email from an 18 year studying a vocational subject, as opposed to the traditional A-Levels, and we talk 'Mental and Emotional Health'.

I also talk about some comments I've had, banning people from the website, and some books that have helped me a great deal. I also speak about my own dark times and issues with alcohol.

Essays:

Sanctuary: Not just the Home of Lost Fighter Pilots

When Fighter Pilots Cry – Women and the End of Vertical Ambition

Books:

'Alcohol Explained' - William Porter

'Stop Thinking, Start Living' - Richard Carlson

'Depressive Illness: The Curse of the Strong' - Tim Cantopher

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A young lady on a University Air Squadron writes in to ask me if her lower class background and working class accent will prevent her from becoming a pilot in the military.

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So, a buddy of mine has entered the civilian workplace, has been given responsibility but doubts whether he is up to the task even though he was aircrew on the Tornado GR4.

This is useful for those of all ages but especially for those around their 40s.

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Email from a guy who has been selected through OASC but not for the pilot role he was so wanting and had worked so hard for - what advice do I have?

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Back in 2013, when flying Hawk T2s at RAF Valley, I had to put a flight safety report in: 'Failure to apply parking brake resulting in un-commanded aircraft movement.'

This made the Station Commander and my boss VERY unhappy because I was saying that, in sorting out the many number of problems that were part of everyday life under a poorly performing UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS), I was not safe to operate.

That wouldn't normally have been an issue except...

...I was the most senior flying instructor on the base.

If I was struggling, then so was everyone else.

When you make an error - tell people about it, it does two things - it makes everyone else safer AND it disarms those who wish to criticise you.

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I talk with my good buddy, Chris Chambers about what Service life meant for both of us and what we are doing now we've left. Chris was a Lynx pilot and deployed multiple times to sea. What does a life of conformity mean, do the Services intentionally repress or is that done to the individual by the individual. Chris is a good guy and is still giving back to the community and the RN.

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In this episode I talk you about my new role as the Strategy Director for Aeralis who are making 3 military flying training aircraft which have 85% commonality of parts, making savings for the customer of 30% over 25 years - go and buy your spouse a nice gift, we just saved you money (20.30)

Or, alternatively you could use those savings to add capability to your front-line platforms, just an idea.

I also reply to a young guy going through multi-engine training and struggling with confidence issues and nerves (4.15)

And, I answer a Quora question on 'Is Being a Fighter Pilot as Romantic as it is in the Movies - What Are the Down Sides?' (13.42)

Picture of Aeralis B (Basic trainer) leading Aeralis A (Advanced trainer) - Round 2 of Investment is open (EIS approved), email me at [email protected] for details and get invited to awesome investor events, too!

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Today I talk with Karl, a 23 year old guy, who has been through both the Admiralty Interview Board (AIB) with the Royal Navy and the Officer Aircrew Selection Centre (OASC) for the Royal Air Force, completing both.

He wanted to fly and yesterday he called me with the results - did he get in?

Links to books we mention:

'Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World' - General Stanley McChrystal

'Extreme Ownership' - Jocko Willink and Leif Babin

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‘Fail the trip.’ I said to the flying instructor who’d just flown with one of our top students. 

He gave me a confused look.

I was expecting it – my demand, to him, was entirely unreasonable. We knew the student well, I’d read her flying reports from her previous two flight schools and from our own Squadron where she was learning to be a fast jet pilot in the RAF. She was excellent; her flying was above average in all respects – she was hard working and well prepared for her flights.

But there was a problem. 

I’d seen it before but it was obvious to me that her instructor had not.

‘Fail her trip.’ I repeated.

‘But she flew well, it was a good sortie, she’s a great student, you know this – why should I fail it?’ he asked.

‘Have a think, brother,’ I said, ‘she’s a ‘great student’ – where’s she going to be in six months time?’

https://fastjetperformance.com/podcasts/why-the-best-fighter-pilots-are-often-the-biggest-failures/

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