12/21/2019
Happy Winter Solstice! While light builds again each day now, winter offers a rare gift of TIME. Most fly fewer hours, often grounded by weather. During this precious time, pilots can focus on the mental game of flight to ward off rust that builds on neglected skills. This winter, devote time for a Flight Safety course of your choice on radio communication, navigation skills, or reading aviation weather reports. Use the time to gain confidence to fly long cross-country flights or learn about aircraft maintenance. Some memorize emergency procedures or study material for another rating. On the leisure side, some schedule spring-summer flying trips or watch flying movies/documentary such as “The Legend of Pancho Barnes.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRTaa7sTOzI.
Proficiency won’t reduce to ground zero this winter if you focus on your mental game. As Olympic athletes know, the mental game IS the real game. Once athletes make it to the Olympics, they admit that everyone is strong, buff, fast, and agile. That means there's a level playing field EXCEPT for those with the mental advantage. Those are the ones who end up on the podium holding gold.
Use wintertime to set mental goals. Then when summer arrives, you've honed a skill or knowledge that brings greater confidence in the cockpit. Keep flying alive in your warm beating heart this winter. Come Spring, you will notice surprising new fortitude in your flights. Please share what you do to keep flight skills honed during winter! I plan to continue studying for my AGI!
'The Legend of Pancho Barnes and the Happy Bottom Riding Club' chronicles the thrilling life and extraordinary times of aviation pioneer Florence Lowe 'Panch...
