CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - 21
ASI Message
True Confessions
BY GEORGE PERRY
Many years ago in the hypercompetitive world of Navy
fighter pilots the pervasive culture was one where
pilots were traditionally hesitant to admit mistakes.
The belief was, if pilots admitted mistakes others
would think less of them and their prowess as a fighter
pilot would be questioned. This belief is, of course,
flawed and the mindset ignores the fact that humans
(even CFIs) make mistakes on a regular basis. Over
time and after losing many aircraft to preventable accidents, the Navy
took a hard look at the root causes. It should come as no surprise that
after realizing 70 to 80 percent of all aviation accidents are caused by
human error, it became obvious to those in the safety community that the
culture needed to change, and it did.
In 2005, I was part of a squadron led by a former Blue Angel pilot. On his
first day, he mounted a large piece of bent and distorted chain link fence
up on his wall for everyone to see. Meeting my new boss for the first
time, I couldn't help but ask about the busted piece of fence in his office.
He responded that he had performed a low transition during an airshow
practice and hit the fence with the tail of his F/A-18. Subsequently, his team
buddies mounted it as a memento of his screw-up. "I keep it on the wall of
my office as a reminder that no matter how good you think you are, we are
all fallible-it keeps me humble," he said.
This was the first time I'd actually seen someone of his stature publicly
acknowledge and even "embrace" a mistake, especially one as serious as
that. It made a lasting impression and changed the way I thought about my
flying, teaching, and how one creates a culture that embraces learning.
When I became a squadron commanding officer instructing our most
junior pilots, I didn't have a piece of busted fence to mount on my wall,
but I would find a way to convey the message that a healthy safety culture
admits fallibility and embraces the sharing of honest mistakes. So I started
a program called "True Confessions." During pilot meetings we would set
aside time to share our in-flight learning experiences (mistakes) candidly
with one another. This type of open dialogue was highly encouraged and
"true confessions" became a highly effective method for turning mistakes
into lessons learned without fear of repercussion or diminished reputation.
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Vol. 6, Issue 1
My Toughest Student
Safety Seminar: After the Crash: Surviving an Aircraft Accident
Safety Seminar: AOPA Air Safety Institute Rekindles Spirit of Fun, Learning, & Flying
CFI News
CFI Tips: The Eastman Technique
ASI Message: True Confessions
Accident Case Study: Emergency Management
Safety Spotlight: Blurred Lines
ASI Online: Could You Handle a Survival Situation
Safety Quiz: What You Can't See, Can Hurt You
CFI Tools: Get Ready to Taxi
Chief's Corner: Safe Strategies to Live By
Pilot Safety Announcement: Living on the Edge
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Vol. 6, Issue 1
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - 2
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - My Toughest Student
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - 4
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - 5
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - 6
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - 7
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - 8
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - 9
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - 10
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - Safety Seminar: After the Crash: Surviving an Aircraft Accident
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - Safety Seminar: AOPA Air Safety Institute Rekindles Spirit of Fun, Learning, & Flying
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - CFI News
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - 14
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - CFI Tips: The Eastman Technique
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - 16
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - 17
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - 18
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - 19
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - 20
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - ASI Message: True Confessions
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - 22
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - Accident Case Study: Emergency Management
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - 24
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - 25
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - Safety Spotlight: Blurred Lines
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - 27
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - 28
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - 29
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - ASI Online: Could You Handle a Survival Situation
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - 31
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - Safety Quiz: What You Can't See, Can Hurt You
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - CFI Tools: Get Ready to Taxi
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - Chief's Corner: Safe Strategies to Live By
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - 35
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - 36
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - 37
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - 38
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 6, Issue 1 - Pilot Safety Announcement: Living on the Edge
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