Humble Pilot

slpilot

slpilot

Well-Known Member
I keep hearing about being a humble pilot and that being humble as a pilot can be good. My opinion of a humble pilot is someone who isnt cocky, or overconfident. Knows when to be serious, and knows when to have fun. Doesnt try to act like he knows it all, but as pilots we want to know as much as we can. I dont know.

What do you guys think? What makes a humble pilot?
 
In my humble opinion you have it right. Being confident but not overly confident, learning from others and teaching others. Respecting the inherent dangers of our jobs/hobbys while having fun doing it. Realizing that you don't know everything and that you will always be learning untill the day you hang up the wings. Just some things I think make a humble pilot...

There are old pilots and bold pilots but no old bold pilots.
 
Ask a guy who has been flying for a couple years what he does for a living and he will tell you he is a pilot...Hell...He will prolly tell you before you even get a chance.

Ask a guy with tens of thousands of hours, and a dozen type ratings, and i've found you will be hard pressed to hear "pilot" right away...It's generally "I work in Aviation", or "transportation".
 
SoCalAprch said:
In my humble opinion you have it right. Being confident but not overly confident, learning from others and teaching others. Respecting the inherent dangers of our jobs/hobbys while having fun doing it. Realizing that you don't know everything and that you will always be learning untill the day you hang up the wings. Just some things I think make a humble pilot...

There are old pilots and bold pilots but no old bold pilots.
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:yeahthat:
 
MikeOH58 said:
Ask a guy who has been flying for a couple years what he does for a living and he will tell you he is a pilot...Hell...He will prolly tell you before you even get a chance.

Ask a guy with tens of thousands of hours, and a dozen type ratings, and i've found you will be hard pressed to hear "pilot" right away...It's generally "I work in Aviation", or "transportation".
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That's definitely true. I know a recently retired UA 777 SFO CA who would talk your head off about his small hometown in SE OK until your face turned blue. Not one word about being in Narita yesterday.
 
slpilot said:
...a humble pilot is someone who isnt cocky, or overconfident. Knows when to be serious, and knows when to have fun. Doesnt try to act like he knows it all, but as pilots we want to know as much as we can.
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Yeah, pretty much.

slpilot said:
What makes a humble pilot?
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Getting scared a few times. Anything ranging in seriousness from "Gee, this isn't a game," to "Holy #$%^, I almost died!" That'll humble a pilot real fast. At least it did for me. The ultimate effect is the pilot ends up like you described above.
 
I believe a humble pilot is someone that is very proud of his acomplishments, knows he/she worked very hard to get there/ knows not everyone can or would even be willing to learn how to fly like he/she did, but at the same time does not take any part of their training for granted. Trys to always be professional as possible, knows they are not 100% perfect like the auto pilot is and understands the dangers that come along with piloting an aircraft. With all that said, being a pilot is the best hobby/job in the world, and really does take a special someone to get it done. :)
 
Someone who can honestly say, "I learn something new everyday."

And I usually learn it from some of the greenest F/Os on the system. Why? Because they have just come from training and they haven't been so jaded by the system that they were actually paying attention in class.
 
For me it sems like anytime I think my #### don't stink, that's when I manage to screw the pooch. That, and I know I forget stuff from time to time that I wish I didn't. If you get cocky, that to me seem like complacency is setting in and it's only a matter of time till you get bit.
 
Based on my experience, mostly from the military, is that a pilot's abilities are often inversely proportionate to how much they brag. The quiet ones, are usually good, they know it, and they are not out to prove anything by running the soup cooler.
 
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