Becoming a successful pilot truly is an exciting journey. The individuals who choose aviation have a peculiar set of skills that set them apart from the rest. They all come from different backgrounds and have varying traits. However, future pilots can master some skills along the way if they are determined to learn and willing to adapt.
Here are five personality traits most commonly found among successful pilots:
Good Communication
The majority of jobs require that you have good communication skills. However, pilots do need to learn how to communicate exceptionally well. After all, they will be speaking with controllers during their flights to ensure safety for themselves and passengers. The majority of flying accidents are caused by poor communication skills or an inability for pilots to express themselves adequately.
Air traffic management can help when flying. Pilots need to share various information with them during their flight to make sure everything is okay. It includes traffic, weather conditions, and so on. Controllers are here to help pilots in emergencies, too, as they can give advice and instruct them on how to handle things.
Besides that, a successful pilot has an excellent relationship with their crew or passengers boarding a plane. It is not uncommon to see charter pilots greeting people before flight or helping to calm passengers down, especially if they are scared of flying. All in all, communication skills can help you build a successful career in aviation and make you a better pilot.
Being a Leader
A successful pilot needs to be a good leader. While some people are born leaders, it is a skill anyone can learn. After all, once a pilot completes flight school, they might be in charge of an entire crew. Commercial pilots do work in teams, but even they have the captain who calls the shots. They are setting rules in the cockpit, as well as managing the flight crew.
The captain is there to make decisions in difficult situations and act quickly. To become a successful leader, a pilot has to earn the respect of those who work with them. It ensures the crew trusts and believes in the pilot as the captain. Of course, pilots can’t earn that trust overnight. Instead, the pilot should be passionate about the job and continue to inspire people around them.
Staying Calm
Even though it might sound simple, remaining calm when working under pressure could be tricky. Pilots do have to make decisions on the spot, and panicking can affect the result. After all, when your mind starts racing, it is almost impossible to think rationally. Therefore, a successful pilot needs to stay collected at all times.
Flight school and instructors do prepare future pilots to deal with various situations calmly. Completing the flight training is stressful enough, so pilots do learn a lot during the process. However, instructors have to focus on emergencies too. They train pilots how to think on their feet and eventually make the right choice.
Aspiring pilots shouldn't worry if they sometimes can’t work under pressure. If aviation is their dream, they can learn how to deal with any situation. But remember that this requires a lot of practice and dedication. On the other hand, some flight students who struggle with anxiety may drop out.
Willingness to Learn
Students who later become excellent pilots do know that learning doesn’t stop once they finish flight school. They continue to study their entire careers. After all, aviation is constantly evolving, and great pilots know they need to keep up. The same goes for current aviation students. Indeed, the situation with the pandemic is difficult enough, but they have to continue going to online classes.
Students may attend online lectures on their laptops to learn theory. However, cybersecurity might be an issue too. Don’t forget to install apps such as antivirus software or a VPN to keep your laptop running smoothly. What is a VPN? It is essentially a tool that hides your IP address, encrypts your data, and keeps your personal information safe. That’s why it’s very useful for times when you want to study online.
Understanding Math and Creativity
Flying doesn’t involve numbers only. A successful pilot has to be quick-thinking and able to do calculations on their own. These calculations are often basic, but pilots need to be fast. Math skills combined with creativity are what sets successful pilots apart. These pilots think outside the box and can come up with practical solutions to any problem.
Aviation students might learn how to fly a plane and know everything about a route they are taking, but what to do when something unexpected happens? Perhaps weather conditions change suddenly, and they have to change the course. Some might choke, while others will find a creative solution. Flying is both exciting and challenging, so stay creative.
Leanna Whittaker has always been fascinated by aviation and this particular industry. Her goal is to always bring useful news and information to readers who also want to explore the sky and learn more about what it takes to be a great pilot. If there’s something new in the aviation industry, she tries to be the first one to dig deeper and find all the available information. When she’s not writing articles, she enjoys reading novels and catching up with the latest movies.
