Labels from those outside the community of TACAIR are interesting at best. After all, if you have planned and been over the beach for real you know the truth. The planning and team work which makes a successful mission goes far beyond the everyday launch of our best planned over water international commercial flight. Team building is paramount to a successful strike against targets defended by; SAM rings, Bogies, and ECM. You work by the book "SOP" and do your mission. Of course, then you have to come back to a pitching rolling deck (Boat) aircraft carrier for those of us in Naval air.
When hired and working for an airline we continue to look for ways to manage risk and work with Pride and Professionalism to accomplish our mission. Most of us are to busy with training and upgrades to simply collect our checks and go on about our lives. Maybe you can call some of us hyperactive adults because we are constantly trying to manage our teams and do our jobs by the book, every time we fly.
Surfers have a name for those who "wanabe" but never have: "Posers". Whether in the military or commercial field they will never "get it" and will never understand the drive of pride and professionalism.
Bill Ermolovich
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From: george sweeney[SMTP:george.sweeney_at_nwa.com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 1997 1:54 PM
To: crm-devel_at_erau.edu
Subject: "Can Do II"
Thanks to Vince for the balanced perspective on the "so-called" Fighter
Pilot Syndromes. The first fact any person (aviator or otherwise) learns
upon entering military service is that they are a member of a team.
Professional TACAIR aviators (emphasis on "Professional") understand the
necessity of careful risk assessment with respect to
mission accomplishment in both combat and peacetime (training)
environments.
It is revealing to note that the well-known principles of military
leadership - which are institutionalized to ensure that leaders fulfill
their responsibilities to their charges-are reflected in our CRM
behavioral markers. Communication, Teambuilding, Workload Management,
Situation Awareness, etc. are areas where military aviators (not to
mention Staff/Non-Commissioned Officers) are expected to observe SOPs,
rules, practices and accountability. Pilots, regardless of background,
must adhere to safe practices or be separated from the profession.
Simplistic notions or labels do little to advance the cause.