Re: "Redefining Airmanship": June CRM/HF Bookstore Feature
John Wiley (jwiley_at_atl.mindspring.com)
Wed, 04 Jun 1997 12:32:25 -0400
>
>I submit that it is pride and professionalism which are the keys to an
individuals motivation to become the best one can be. More layers of
bureaucratic top down imposed regulations and programs are historically not
the best motivators for individual self-actualization or achievement. In
commercial aviation, before we can "pocket our paycheck and go on about our
lives", we have upgrade training on our new aircraft, random line checks by
our company, random line checks by the FAA, recurrent training yearly
including CRM, a chat with the chief pilot if the situation warrants, random
drug screening and random alcohol testing imposed externally. Our real
incentive to perform is the reason for commercial aviation, the flying
public. We take great pride in delivering our passengers to their
destinations safely and on time. Our reward is their smile and thanks when
we have pulled off our flight for our customers.
I agree that the basic drive is not some desire to attain approval from some
authority or some individual but to *know* that one continues to make the
needles match up...the true aviator continually strives to meet the highest
tolerances. And we do take pride in getting the customer to the destination
on time and safely. But the reward is not the customers' smile for it is
fickle and in many cases, comes without sufficient information to judge. To
prove this point, I sometimes ask the passengers to grade the landing. I
have had copilots say, "are you crazy???" My point is they get a free shot
at the Captain but they are not really aware of what it takes to land a 727,
757 or MD-80.....
I know the tolerances. I know the targets... and hitting them, when I can,
is the true reward...<G>
Wiley