Jay Honeck wrote:

Just like *that* my senses are heightened, my stress level goes back
up (appropriately), and I'm once again operating at peak
efficiency...constantly looking for landing fields, scanning the
engine instruments...


There are several "levels" of "awareness" that can develop over time in
a pilot. The most dangerous is a level of complete relaxation where one
moment in flight passes on to the next moment without any elevation from
that state of relaxation. It's in this state that a pilot gets "caught"
suddenly when something goes wrong. It's here that the adrenalin flows
through a panic state before settling down into whatever training
response is triggered. This takes precious time and this mental state
can literally kill you in an airplane.

There is another level where the pilot mentally prepares himself/herself
for flight; before each and every flight; no matter how trivial or
inconsequential that flight might be....even one trip around the pattern
qualifies.
It's on this level of awareness a pilot should operate at all times when
flying is involved. To reach this level a pilot must literally train
himself/herself to think professionally. It's not easy to reach this
level and many pilots never actually make it. Those who don't make it
end up preparing themselves for flight with no more concern than they
would have preparing to perform a non flying activity. This is a killer
in an airplane.
The level of awareness you want and need as a pilot preparing for flight
is one where the senses are heightened but not overly stressed. You want
to be JUST on the razor edge of "serious concern". You want to be on a
level that "expects" and "anticipates" rather than one that simply reacts.
In other words, when you fly, you should literally at all times be
"looking for trouble".
This is a fine line to draw and as I said, many pilots never actually
reach this level. You need to be constantly alert to things that can
hurt you when flying, and this means you have to teach yourself to
operate on a level that allows you this increased state of stress
without going over the stress line. Going too far into this enhanced
state of alertness can actually have the reverse effect and put you into
over stress which is a extremely bad condition.
Every pilot has to find this "ideal level of alertness" when flying. It
comes easy to some and never to others.
I believe that if every pilot is simply aware right from the start that
seeking a personal mental attitude based on professionalism is the goal
to seek, then half the battle has been won.
The goal is complex. Have fun, relax when flying, but never REALLY
TOTALLY relax when flying. Ride the edge of that razor mentally, and
enjoy yourself!!! :-))

--
Dudley Henriques