AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 24

PROFICIENT PILOT
Unable
A lesson from the left seat
BY BARRY SCHIFF
AN ADVANTAGE TO being a first officer for an airline is that he
or she becomes exposed to the experience and wisdom (usually)
demonstrated by their captains. There is so much to learn, especially
with respect to exercising command authority, a skill that
is at least as important as knowing how to maneuver the airplane.
Co-pilots upgrading to captain rarely fail because of difficulty they
might have in performing the required maneuvers. Instead, failing
to graduate into the left seat often is the result of not assessing
problems in a timely manner and taking appropriate action.
Years of apprenticeship in the right seat teach by example and
osmosis the concept of command authority and exercising responsibility
for the safety of a flight. I received a most memorable lesson
as a fledgling co-pilot during an otherwise routine flight from L.A.
to New York in May 1966. Humongous thunderstorms had mushroomed
above the sultry Kansas prairie, and a cluster of them on
the nose seemingly conspired to block our way.
I reached for the microphone and glanced toward Capt.
Charlie " Black Dog " Davis. He nodded approval and motioned
toward the south. " Kansas City Center, this is TWA Eight
requesting deviation south of course account weather. "
" Roger, TWA Eight. Unable account parallel traffic to
your right. "
Black Dog shrugged and casually motioned toward the north.
" Roger, Center. How about a turn to the left? "
" Negative, TWA. That's a hot restricted area. "
I was about to reply with increased urgency when Black Dog
picked up his mic with one hand and raised his other to indicate
he was taking over.
" Center, this is TWA Eight. " He stretched out the words,
uttering them with emphasized calm and deliberation, wrapping
each in his thick, Midwestern drawl.
" Go ahead, TWA, " came the reply.
" Roger, Center. You now have a problem. "
" Say again, TWA.... Hey, I show you turning right. "
" Correct. There's no way we're going through that weather. "
For the next several minutes, we heard the controller vectoring
other aircraft out of our way and finally restoring order along the
airway. Black Dog sat back and grinned, enjoying smooth air and a
cup of coffee as our Boeing 707 banked gracefully around the cells.
This encounter with weather and an unsympathetic controller
24
AOPA PILOT / September 2021
became uneventful because Captain Davis did what he had to do-
using his words-to avoid whitecaps from forming in his coffee cup
(even though some might criticize his methodology).
Taking positive action to eliminate a threat is called " aggressive
safety, " a term coined by TWA's training department. In other
words, safety does not just happen. Flights must be conducted
with that concept in mind. But the general aviation pilot, with little
opportunity to receive such training, is expected to understand
and exercise command authority beginning with his first flight as a
private pilot. After all, the captain of a Cessna is just as responsible
for his one passenger as the captain of a widebody is for hundreds.
Consider the low-time pilot cleared for an immediate takeoff
at a time when he might not be quite ready to go. The faceless
voice booming through his headset sounds like a commandment
from Mount Sinai to be obeyed without hesitation. Eager to comply,
the pilot discovers at liftoff that-in his haste to cooperate-he
had failed to secure the door or turn on the auxiliary fuel pump.
Pilots might comply with a problematic clearance because
they are not trained to understand that they have options. They
might not realize that a pilot in command is under no obligation
to do anything he perceives as hazardous. At such a time, a pilot
has the option and perhaps the obligation to refuse a clearance or
instruction simply by saying, " unable, " one of the most powerful
and effective words in his vocabulary.
Most controllers are not pilots. Their job is to keep separated
those who are. Even a student knows more about his limitations
and those of his aircraft than a controller does. A pilot, therefore,
is usually in a better position to determine if he can safely comply
with a clearance or instruction.
Furthermore, a pilot is authorized to do whatever he perceives
as necessary-including the violation of a regulation-to resolve a
hazardous condition that requires immediate action. Many pilots,
though, are reluctant to take such action for fear of FAA repercussions
when there rarely are any. FAR 91.3 authorizes pilots to violate
whatever regulation they deem necessary to protect their aircraft
and passengers from hazard. As a matter of fact, there are occasions
when it could be a violation of
the regulations not to violate a
regulation. Think about that.
BarrySchiff.com
BARRY SCHIFF flew
for TWA for 34 years,
30 as captain.
http://www.BarrySchiff.com

AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021

Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - Intro
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - Cover1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - Cover2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 4
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 5
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 6
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 7
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 8
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 9
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 10
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 11
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 12
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 13
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 14
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 15
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 16
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 17
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 18
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 19
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 20
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 21
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 22
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 23
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 24
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 25
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 26
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 27
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 28
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 29
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 30
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 31
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 32
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 33
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 34
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 35
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 36
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 37
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 38
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 39
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 40
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 41
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 42
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 43
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 44
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 45
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 46
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 47
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 48
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 49
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 50
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 51
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 52
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 53
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 54
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 55
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 56
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 57
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 58
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 59
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 60
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 61
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 62
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 63
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 64
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 65
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 66
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 67
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 68
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 69
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 70
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 71
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 72
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 73
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 74
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 75
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 76
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 77
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 78
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 79
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 80
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 81
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 82
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 83
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 84
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 85
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 86
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 87
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 88
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 89
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 90
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 91
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 92
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 93
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 94
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 95
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 96
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 97
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 98
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 99
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 100
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 101
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 102
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 103
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 104
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 105
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 106
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 107
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 108
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 109
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 110
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 111
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 112
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - 113
AOPA Pilot Magazine - September 2021 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201103_test
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201011demo
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot0308
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com