"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
ups.com...
But I would like to know a *real* behaviour specialist's take on what
constitutes "therapy" after stress
From my own limited experience, stuff like golf and bridge come to mind
as
being useful, because they require a focus of the mind... as does
piloting.
But the difference is that a momentary lapse during a bridge game, back
to
mulling the real-life issue, will not become particularly disastrous.

I think, perhaps, you have misunderstood what I meant by "therapy." I
certainly don't mean to imply that I'm just sitting in the cockpit in a
Zen-like trance, completely transfixed and relaxed.

Man, nothing could be farther from the truth! Nothing gets -- and
keeps -- your attention like flying -- especially pattern work. You
are entirely, 100% "in the moment" -- which is why it's such great
therapy. There is simply no room for other worries, outside of what
you are doing -- even after years of flying.

There is nothing like facing a life-and-death situation (which, in the
final analysis, flying *is*) to focus the mind! It tends to put
everything in perspective, highlighting how stupid most of our
day-to-day worries truly are.

But can it be individual-dependant? Are some people more at risk to fly
after stress, but others are not? How can I tell which is which? How
can I
tell which one am I?

I suppose it's possible for someone to be SO stressed that even flying
can't grab their attention? I don't know...but I guess I'd stay on
the ground if I was so distraught.
--

Jay H,

I think your last paragraph gets to the crux of the question...

Don't know how deeply they got into psycho/physiological issues when you
earned your Private, but it's a pretty hot topic these days.

John and Martha King have their "P.A.V.E." system, while (IIRC) Jepp uses
the nmonic "I.M.S.A.F.E.", but both emphasize the need to fly safely by
looking beyond just the weather and the airplane by taking a good look at
where the pilot is at in terms of rest, nutrition, and especially external
pressures like a bad day at the office.

The type of day you described in your original post is exactly the kind of
day that would (IMO) prompt the Kings to reccomend you NOT climb in to the
cockpit.

The caveat here is that they are addressing people who are facing the dual
tasks of both learning to fly ... and learning to set their personal minima.
I'm sure these personal checklists apply to all pilots, but there is going
to be a sliding scale as one gains experience.

Jay Beckman
PP-ASEL
AZ Cloudbusters
Chandler, AZ