In this episode of Like a Pilot, Phil answers a question from Miss Seven that’s crossed every passenger’s mind: "What do pilots actually do up there when the autopilot is flying?" (Apart from drinking coffee and chilling, of course.)

We’ll step inside the cockpit to unpack workload — the finite mental capacity we all have, how overload creeps in quietly, and why too little workload can be risky too. Along the way, we’ll revisit two devastating reminders of how quickly margins can disappear: American Airlines 965 and Swissair 111.

And you’ll leave with a simple, practical workload management framework you can use immediately — whether you’re flying an approach, running a shift, leading a team, or drowning in emails.