Thoughts on Being Average.

One of the most satisfying aspects of my duties with the Elementary Flight Training School (EFTS) is taking young cadets flying. These flights may be a short scenic flight, or an instructional flight that we call a “Pilot Experience”, or PEX. In many cases, if not most, it is the cadets first flight in a light aircraft and with that comes varying levels of trepidation.

That hesitation can stem from a range of concerns. They may be concerned about air sickness or the belief that the task of flying an aircraft is beyond them. These thoughts are totally understandable as the act of flight sits very distant to the everyday reality for most teenagers. However, seeing these youngsters transition from a state of under confidence to one of sheer excitement is immensely rewarding for any flight instructor. And I am fortunate to have a very relevant tool in my tool kit that creates this spark, even before they leave the ground.

At first, airsickness can be addressed physiologically describing the confusion that takes place in our sensory system when we earthbound creatures are free to move in three dimensions. Beyond the reassurance that there is no shame in this nausea, it is the real world example that I relate that strikes most deeply. Similarly, it is a real world example that dispels the fear that flight may be beyond their reach.

During World War Two, there was a young lad who dreamed of flying. Despite many hurdles being placed in his way, from a lack of formal education to borderline poverty, he was selected by the Air Force to train as a navigator. When the classroom studies had been completed, he walked out to to his aircraft in full flight gear, ready for his first flight.

He was amazed as the earth fell away from the wheels for the first time. And then he vomited. And he vomited. And he continued to vomit on subsequent training flights. He was devastated and saw his dreams of flight slipping through his fingers until one day, his senses adapted and the air sickness passed. Not only did it pass, but his career would ultimately see him became an aerobatic display pilot for the Air Force. But that’s only half the story.

The man in question was my father. On the way to becoming a display pilot who could carve up the sky in all manner of manoeuvres, he had to survive the rigors of military flight training. In writing his biography, I had access to his pilot training records. From his first lesson in a Tiger Moth until he was ready to go to war, he only ever received an “above average” rating once. It was always – “average”.

He openly stated that as a fighter pilot, he was average and yet he flew 201 combat missions in the Korean War. As a young pilot, he instilled in me that it was effort and integrity that made someone a good pilot and a good human being. Piloting is a skill which is never mastered – never perfected but the days you get anywhere near close are very rewarding.

A career in aviation is not about being the best of the best. It’s about dedication, self discipline and professional integrity. Maintaining one’s standards and not compromising no matter how familiar you may be with the operation. And far from being monotonous, this ongoing commitment to maintaining standards is a challenge that provides a true sense of satisfaction.

To those “natural” pilots with seemingly superior skills, I will always be impressed. However, I will always remain equally impressed by those who are seen as “average” but maintain their standards and always work to be better.