A Proper Attitude

       by Larry Collins, CFI                "Learning to fly is a lot like learning to live."

We have all been exposed to individuals with a sour disposition and negative attitudes... the kind of person you cannot please. They are unhappy and miserable within themselves. They lash out at others. Life is a pain in the neck for them. Nothing ever goes right. They swear, they complain, they speak disparagingly of others. No one is safe from their acrimony. When they speak, it is not of ideas, or dreams, or goals. Their subject is how their brother is an evil person, how they have been slighted, offended, wronged by another, or how someone else is a "fool, a moron, an idiot."  People are to be scorned, resisted, and despised. They test every conversation  to see if someone  is trying to hurt them, take advantage of them, or betray them.  They fail to look for the good in others. They cannot make allowances for the weaknesses of their brothers or control their own smoldering anger. They become narrow, suspicious and mean.

Now, anyone can develop these unhealthy traits, but seek to avoid them. We call it having a bad attitude.  I am convinced most of the problems in this world could be resolved if we could just adopt a proper attitude. This would be an attitude of consideration, thoughtfulness, tact, humility, kindness, courtesy, politeness.   These approaches to life and relationships could do much to offset the unhealthy and unattractive traits such as arrogance, pride, haughtiness, aloofness, and condescension. Which kind of person do you want to be?

How you are perceived by others, for the most part, is a result of your attitude. A proper attitude will win you friends and a good reputation. People are drawn to those with a proper attitude. The life of a person with a proper attitude will be enriched beyond words. Often, they will be successful and prosperous. Happiness and freedom to enjoy others instead of competing with them brings a level of peace and happiness the person with a bad attitude cannot imagine.

I urge you to adopt a proper attitude in your daily life. This will require you to do something that you may find almost impossible to do, and this is to admit that you have been wrong. But for those who can admit the error of their ways, there lies before them the most marvelous gift.... life becomes a wonderful thing.  Peace of mind, the beauty of singing birds, the fresh air, the warmth of sunshine, the laughter of a child, the companionship of a fellow human being,  treasuring and valuing every moment, so much to be thankful for.

Learning to fly is a lot like learning to live. It's all about your attitude. I have seen students struggling to match the numbers and align the gauges. Frustrated and scolding themselves, they lick their "wounds" and vow to try harder. This is what is called chasing your tail or flying by the numbers.   Birds don't fly this way. They consider the landscape below them and turn and descend at the speed and the angle they choose. They do not consider their VSI, the inclinometer, the altimeter.  They just do it. Wouldn't it be great to be a bird.  

Humans try to fly by reading books, watching tapes, throwing switches, pushing knobs, cranking wheels, it doesn't come naturally to us.  Thus the axiom "If God had intended us to fly, he would have given us wings." 

Amazingly, after a few hours of these awkward efforts, we can actually begin to "wear" our airplane and begin to think more like our feathered friends.  To do this successfully, we must rid ourselves of our encumbrances (gauges, dials, instruments!!).  Looking out the window of the plane with an eye on the horizon is a lot more like the birds do it.  Okay, you can have the RPM gauge to set your power, but the rest of it is going to be about your attitude. Your proper attitude.

You learn to recognize the distance between the horizon and the cowling when you are flying at cruise speed in straight and level flight. In a Cessna 152, you can do an airspeed transition to 85 knots by simply reducing the power to 2000 RPMs and raising the nose to about an inch from the horizon -- your proper attitude.   Forget the guages.

On VFR departure, you pitch the nose up to a proper attitude for the the best rate of climb speed. The power is full, so that variable is constant. All you need is a proper attitude. You get that from looking out the window, not watching the instruments. We cover the airspeed indicator, teach you the proper pitch up attitude for Vy and, behold, the airspeed is nailed when we remove the cover.  It's all about attitude and not chasing an instrument. Everything in life and in flying comes into conformity to desired standards when we have a proper attitude.

The same is true for the descent, the turns to base leg, final approach, flare and landing.  It is a series of adjustments in power and attitude that brings you safely and smoothly back to mother earth. Spend most of your time checking your attitude and you will be successful in flying and in living. 

Keep flying safely,        Larry Collins CFI,  Editor