Fly Or Not Fly

[skidmark]

I would like to get the feeling of most of you guys and girls out there. Do you ever get that feeling that today is not the day to fly? I don't care about weather or wind blaw, blaw, blaw,.... just that feeling. Good weather bad weather doesn't matter. I just want to see if I'm normal. I will work it out from your response. All I is ask is total honesty. Things are cool my side enoying every minute ...but sometime we question what we are about to do......how do we deal with the decission we make. Maybe our senses are not as sharp as we want and we are big enough in reality to to understand it? Been there yet? Or am I just a soft c--k?

[skidmark]

looking at this now I look like a skidmark.......but it's honest anyway!

[Aerosan]

Yes sometimes ...........but , like wanting to wash the car, Ill just sit still for a while untill the feeling passes

Seriously- I have a friend who firmly believes in this, he once had "that feeling"- took off and the bearings in his prop drive locked up. Since then he`s a firm believer of "the feeling". I, myself and Renier are not so sure- to me it`s a mechanical thing and if it is going to go wrong it is, weather , today, tomorrow, next week, youll never know only thing you can be sure off is that it is going to happen. it`s only a matter of time.

my 2c

[Tailspin]

I am a firm believer of the feeling. If i get this K@K feeling then i know it is a no go even if the WX is perfect. That little feeling has helped me servive a few ouchies.

[DieselFan]

I think many have had that feeling. I was given GREAT adice of my er mistakes compounded.

If 3 things out of the norm happen or go wrong DON'T fly. Eg forget the syphon pipe, cloth to clean the pipe or you hook your finger on the fence. So even if you can fly without those specifics if they aren't the norm and you forget them or it happens to you. Stay on ground.

[RV4ker (RIP)]

I usually go anyway , but I double up on the checks. (Preflight twice and make sure of all the checks (usually with the checklist rather than from memory)). I do not get flying for fun often and often that feeling is rather as a result of work/family or other pressure than flying anxiety.

I agree with San, but I tend to be "more" careful if that is possible when things don't "feel" right....

If you have a day like DF is relaying, I push plane back into hangar, take a step back, have a coke (turn off cell), sit for 5 min staring into dikstance and then start again from scratch. Works like a charm. As I say often external factors contributing to it. I have often had to do it after having frustrating refueling experience...... (he he he Wife thought I had lost it when I was sitting on the top of Babe's wing just sitting!!!!)

PS
If your mind is not on it then I would stay on the ground.

[Morph]

I believe in the gut feel, but there have been times that I have had to push past it and just get going, case in point I had to fly back from Stanley Island to CT and the wind is a little stronger than I expected but this is the window I had or else you are going to have to come back later at great expense. After take off the wind died and I had a wonderful flight back.

As you get more experienced "the feeling" becomes less and less.

I think "the feeling" can become a self fulfilling prophecy. Whatever is causing the feelings of unease can also lead to lapses in concentration which can result in an incident.

If you are uneasy, stay on the ground.

[Aerosan]

I personally feel that, in the cases that I know anyway, most of those persons are scared of flying. Some of them have a lot of hours but still start sweating on landing or when there is a slight crosswind etc. I tend to agree with RV Ill just check twice and go. The more experience you get the luckier you are

[andrepieterse]

Hi Skids

The best decision you can ever make is to not fly. There will always be another day to fly again. I would never criticise anyone who decides not to fly on a particular day for whatever reason.

I think the problem is when you make that decision too often. That may be a sign that some form of skill is lacking, eg crosswind landing, etc. Take note of your no go decision pattern, discuss it with someone and then get the necessary instruction to help you with whatever skill is lacking.

Regarding that feeling you described: I get a similar feeling. Maybe it has to do with confidence. When I fly more my confidence improves, but I can never seem to shake that feeling of anxiety/respect/nerves. I think its a good thing.

The feeling that today is not the day to fly is compounded by other stressors, eg workstress. After a stressfull week ones emotional resources are depleted. Flying requires vigilance/concentration/cognitive skills and results in a state of psychological arousal (consciously or unconsciously) tapping already depleted emotional resources = stress. On your way to the airfield (or even on a Friday night) you may experience anticipatory anxiety as a result of these factors, affecting confidence too. Result = feeling that today/tomorrow is not the day.

I think its normal.

Treatment: Be honest and talk about it (Like you are now). That way you take control of the feeling and also realise you're not alone.

[skidmark]

I'm really glad did I did this thread. I have always been a very careful and nervous pilot and have overcome many personal hurdles on the way. I think I fly well.But I will always feel that I need to double if not tripple check myself.The bottom line is I really do enjoy it. I am a fair weather pilot. I have been caught out a few times in c-ck situations and have handled it well. But I still question myself from time to time. So I was just trying to gauge myself against the rest and determine where I am at. But its cool still smaaaaaaaak to fly!!! Must grease some high tree, crosswind narrow strip, short landing stuff ....Morningstar! So I think that part of my anxiety. thanks all for the imput

[Aerosan]

andrepieterse said it the way I see it I can even add to it. Somewhere I heard someone say that luck is where preparation meets opportunity. Remember the plane doesn’t know the wind is howling, or that there is some small cloud or whatever condition you blame for not flying.
Don’t get me wrong I’m the same I just force myself to go because I’m scared to become a fair weather flyer because it is bound to catch you out when you least expect it. At least if you take off expecting a bumpy rough ride you’ll be mentally prepared. If you fly into it unexpected, without any exposure boetie dan is jy innie k@k

[Tailspin]

You said it San

Sometimes you need to fly in the yuck stuff to keep the edge. I have read where fighter pilots become lax and suddenly one day they fly into a situation where they have the theory but not the practice and they end up in a pile of scrap metal at the end of a perfect runway. I say being a bit afraid keeps the edge and the sense peaked. BUT i still stick with that feeling of if my gut is saying a no go then i really gotta think twice about my decision to fly.

I might be a woes but i owe it to my Kids.