I am a retired airline Captain with over 45 years of military and commercial experience and was the CRM program director at my company for 15 years. Working with my team and pilots from other airlines to develop and implement initiatives to enhance flight safety was the most rewarding experience of my career. Proactive Flying reflects an ongoing desire to serve the interests of the industry I love and the pilots who are its most prized resource.
The origins of my aviation career can be traced to a trans-Pacific flight in a PanAm DC-6 at the age of five. During the long journey to Asia I was invited for a tour of the flight deck and can still remember the sensation of being in a place I wanted to someday call home. Not only was I captivated by the wonder of looking at the ocean below as the aircraft was guided through the sky, but as I watched the pilots I remember thinking to myself that I wanted to be "just like them" one day. Not only was I in awe of their knowledge and skill, but also the "culture" of this unique space that was their domain. This was a place of confidence, skill, and mutual respect to which I was drawn and I cam away from the experience with the realization that this is where I wanted to be someday. This was my world and these were my people.
As I reflect upon the traits and skills that characterized this PanAm crew and made me want to emulate them, the case could be made that my interest in CRM was cultivated long before I ever made my first takeoff. I knew it then and I have since come to know it even more - while technical knowledge and skill are critical in aviation, they are only part of the equation for success. Professionalism and flight safety demand that you not only know how to do your job well, but that you have the ability to work closely with others and lead them well when given the authority to command. A flight deck works best when it is operated by those who are adept at both the technical and non-technical aspects of flying.
Proactive Flying is a manual of the non-technical skills that will equip you to create a flight deck culture that enhances crew effectiveness and flight safety. Having excellent stick and rudder skills makes you a good pilot. Embracing the principles of Proactive Flying makes you a better crew member and Captain.
This experience set the course for my future and from that moment my desire to be a pilot never wavered. When the opportunity to pursue my dream came true I applied myself not only to becoming technically proficient but also to developing the personal and interpersonal skills that would equip me to work effectively with others. Competence in both the technical and non-technical aspects of flying is essential for flight safety and is the essence of what it means to be a professional. Both of these truths summarize the central theme of Proactive Flying.
Proactive Flying was written as a guide book for young pilots that will challenge them cultivate a desire to be not only pilots with superior stick and rudder skills but also effective crew members who embrace the qualities outlined by The Crew Wheel. Proactive Flying is an operational mindset given to understanding that the traits and qualities you develop as a member of a crew will be those that will one day determine the effectiveness of your leadership as a Captain.
I spent many years developing and presenting CRM training for flight crews and other professionals and have spoken at a number of professional forums. I am enthusiastic about teaching the principles outlined in Proactive Flying and am available to speak on a variety of topics such as CRM, Flight Deck Leadership, Threat and Error Management, etc. If your conference or event is in need of a presentation that is guaranteed to be interesting, practical, and relevant contact me through this website.
Contact UsWork is currently underway on a book called Proactive Living. (Being proactive is my theme these days). While Proactive Flying is geared specifically toward pilots, Proactive Living is being written for people from all walks of life. The subtitle is “Life Lessons From the Flight Deck,” and will feature practical takeaways from some of the important things about life that can’t be learned in a classroom. A better subtitle might be “Things I Wish I Had Known Back Then.”
Proactive Living will be published in 2023. A preview of the book cover will be coming soon!
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