What was the last stupid thing you did?

Yeah, great post!

I have this theory about how safe flight operations, FBOs, and small
airports all have one thing in common, that 'Ol Chained Dog. Often,
it's the operation's owner, sometimes a CFI, occassionally just a
hanger-on that everyone obeys. They are often the key to making the
whole thing work but most important, they are the person that
effectively determines who does what, how and when.... or not.

That OCD saves a lot of people and a lot of equipment. They aren't
always loved, sometimes hated, but usually respected. And sorely missed
when they depart.

Michael wrote:

There were two partners in the tow plane operation, and he was the one
who supplied the wisdom. He knew what had to be done, and whom to
trust. Some pilots he put on the towing schedule as soon as they could
meet the insurance requirements (and maybe a might sooner), others
checked out but stayed on crew for years, dragging gliders around on
the ground, flying a little bit here and there to fill in when there
were a lot of planes waiting. He also made sure the planes were kept
up - maybe not good enough that some fed who never had to have a real
job wouldn't ground them, but good enough that the experienced pilots
felt good about flying them. He loved those towplanes. His happiest
moments were spent in them. I don't know that he ever really cared
about the gliders, though he flew them at times.

That OCD saves a lot of people and a lot of equipment. They aren't
always loved, sometimes hated, but usually respected. And sorely missed
when they depart.

The person I'm talking about would have resented that monicker. He had
no respect for rules - in fact, he put me in the seat when I didn't
even meet the insurance minimums for the planes, and would have gladly
put me in the seat of the high performance plane without the FAA
endorsement had I not balked. He also was the kindest, gentlest, most
beloved person on the field. Even the people he ever-so-gently kept
out of the seat did not hate or disrespect him.

Almost every safe operation has its elder statesman, but so does almost
every unsafe operation. If he's hated, or worse yet not respected,
he's not the guardian of wisdom that enhances safety - just an asshole
who likes to tell people what to do. I've seen plenty of those.

Michael



Michael