AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2019 - 6

PRESIDENT'S POSITION

What makes a pilot

BY MARK BAKER
President and CEO

Traits we have in common
IF, LIKE ME, you're friends with a lot of pilots and aviation enthusiasts, it's safe to assume your social media
pages were ablaze with Top Gun posts following
the release this summer of the sequel's two-minute
trailer. It's no surprise that the classic 1986 film featuring rebel fighter pilots, top-notch military action, and
Mach speed is a hit with pilots. In fact, following the
film's release, the U.S. Navy reported its highest application rates, which got me thinking: Could Hollywood
be the answer to attracting the next generation?
Probably not, but Tom Cruise, equipped with a
leather jacket, aviator glasses, and an inverted F-14,
sure makes being a pilot look cool. And maybe that's
the trick-the cool factor. Whether your goal is to join
the Air Force, go the airline transport pilot route, fly
for fun, create educational videos, or perform as an airshow pilot, the sky's the limit in aviation. And even if

Confidence is key. I'm not talking about Mavericklike arrogance, but the ability to make decisions
and stick with them.

AOPA President
MARK BAKER is a
commercial pilot
with single- and
multiengine land
and seaplane
ratings and a
rotorcraft rating.

6 | AOPA PILOT October 2019

you aren't set on the pilot life, there are other rewarding careers within the industry, such as business
management, marketing, aerospace engineering, or
entrepreneurship.
While most of us don't have our sights set on the
level of recognition garnered by legendary greats such
as Bob Hoover or John Glenn, we all share an appreciation and excitement for aviation. Regardless of whether
you make a huge name for yourself in this industry, and
whether flying is a part of your life or your whole life,
there's no question that we belong to a niche group. And
while pilots and aviation enthusiasts welcome newcomers with open arms, all aviators must possess some basic
traits. So, what makes a pilot?
For starters, confidence is key. I'm not talking about
Maverick-like arrogance, but the ability to make decisions and stick with them. It's a transferable trait that
can be applied to other aspects of life. In fact, some of
the best business leaders I know are war veterans who
flew B-17s and Corsairs in their glory days. It makes
sense. Leaders are often good decision makers, able to
consume large amounts of information quickly, and
aren't opposed to risk-all qualities that make up a confident pilot.

While you'll have a hard time finding a pilot who
lacks confidence, it's not the only trait one should possess. Humility is also crucial. Veteran pilots can log
thousands of hours, but the best pilots are willing to
learn from each flight. Even the most famous aerobatic performers practice their routines over and over
because with flying, there aren't many second chances.
There is always room for improvement, and a good pilot
must never settle for complacency.
Pilots must also be good communicators. Contrary
to popular belief, we aren't all extroverts who crave
small talk and mingling at hangar parties. In aviation,
however, clear communications are important. Behind
the yoke, we must make our intentions known, whether
it's to ATC, to other aircraft in the vicinity, or even to
the radio silence at a grassy airstrip in the middle of
nowhere. It often comes as a surprise to nonpilots that
talking on the radio can be one of the most challenging
aspects of flying for some-even more so than guiding
the heavy piece of metal blasting through the atmosphere at 170 knots.
Finally, one of the most important qualities of a
good pilot is the ability to remain calm under pressure. That's easier said than done. When you fly
often, emergency situations are bound to arise. It's
not that easy to remain calm when your aircraft suddenly gets struck by lightning, or a vital instrument
fails in adverse conditions, but the unexpected does
happen; it's just a matter of when. That's why it's
critical for pilots to be prepared, to matter-of-factly
take care of the situation, and, most important, to
remain calm.
We all have our own strengths and weaknesses
when flying. One pilot may be an ace when keying up
the mic, while others may take longer to learn basic
stick-and-rudder skills. But we're all aware that these
traits working in harmony are what make a good, safe
pilot-you don't have to do a low pass over the airport
blasting Danger Zone to feel like a renegade. You can be
flying low and slow in your Piper Cub with the freedom
to be an adventurer, to explore remote mountainsides,
to land on glassy water and backcountry terrain. Being
a pilot will never lose its cool factor. Once we show that
to the next generation, they'll truly understand why we
love what we do.
AOPA
EMAIL mark@aopa.org

AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2019

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