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When I was 12 years old, I was introduced to aviation by a local World War II legend named Red McCord. Red was a salty old guy with a cigarette always dangling from his mouth. He was a legend in the EAA and promoted aviation to anyone within his reach. One day, he took me on my very first flight. But here is what made it unforgettable. Instead of making it a thrill ride, Red took the time to introduce me to flying as if I were already a student pilot. He explained things car

I learned that lesson years ago on a flight into Eleuthera in the Bahamas. I was in the right seat of a Beechcraft Baron, serving as the support pilot while my friend, another experienced aviator, was PIC in the left seat. My job was to navigate, handle ATC, monitor the weather, and stay ahead of the airplane. The Baron is a sleek, fast, and complex aircraft. There is a reason it earned the nickname “the doctor killer.” If you get behind that airplane, it can get ahead of you

Last Friday, during a book signing event, I met a grandfather whose story has stayed with me. We started talking about aviation, and before long, he began telling me about his grandson. The grandson had a dream. To have a career in aviation. The Grandfather, a retired Command Sergeant Major, noticed that passion and paid his entire ride through college. But there is more, a whole lot more. As the grandson progressed through college, classes, licenses, and ratings were del

One day, a long time ago, I was with my Instrument Instructor, who later became my mentor, Kareem ar-Rushdi. We were getting ready for an instrument training flight out of Monroe Executive in the Charlotte area. It was one of those days. A chilly, raw fall day. Low ceilings, steady rain, visibility not doing you any favors. The kind of day most people would rather stay on the ground or just stay home. Kareem was the opposite. He believed in real flying, not just hood time.

Bob Hoover, one of the greatest pilots who ever lived, was known not just for his extraordinary flying skills but also for his calm, disciplined thinking under pressure. A World War II fighter pilot, prisoner of war, and later one of the most respected airshow performers in aviation history, Hoover had a simple philosophy when things went wrong: “Fly the airplane as far into the crash as possible.” That may sound harsh at first, but every pilot understands exactly what he mea

Aviation has a way of teaching pilots disciplines that keep them safe. Aviation communication is precise, clear, concise, and free of redundant words. In the cockpit, every word matters, and just as importantly, so does knowing when not to speak. In my early flying days, I used to fly into Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, not in a large jet, but as a pilot in command of a single-engine Piper Arrow. It was an entirely different environment than what most peopl

Slowing Down to Lead with Clarity. Slow flight sounds simple, doesn’t it? Just pull the power back, let the airplane slow down, and hold it there. But in aviation, slow flight is anything but casual. It is one of the most intentional, disciplined phases of flight a pilot will ever experience.

There is something unique about aviation that most people never fully see. From the outside, it looks like freedom. Open skies. Endless horizons. The ability to go anywhere at any time. And while that is true, what makes aviation possible is not freedom. It is discipline. Every safe flight, every successful landing, every decision made in the cockpit is governed by a structure that exists long before the engine ever starts. It is not built on impulse. It is not built on emoti

In aviation, clarity is everything. Before a pilot ever pushes the throttle forward, three things must be understood. Purpose. Procedures. Practice. Without them, things fall apart quickly. The same is true in life and leadership. Purpose Every flight begins with a reason. Where are we going? Why are we going there? What is the mission? A pilot who takes off without a clear purpose is already behind the airplane. There is no framework for decision making, no reference point w

Chasing the Needles In instrument flight training, one of the most common mistakes students make is called chasing the needles . It happens when a pilot reacts to every small movement on the instruments instead of understanding what the airplane is actually doing. Every fluctuation feels urgent. Every deviation demands correction. Before long, the pilot is no longer flying with intention. They are simply reacting to the last thing they saw. Instead of anticipating where the a

The Three Principles That Can Steady Any Storm There is a phrase every pilot learns early in flight training. It is simple, direct, and life-saving. Aviate. Navigate. Communicate. It is not just a checklist. It is a priority system. When things go wrong, what you do first matters. Over the years, I have learned this principle applies far beyond the cockpit. It applies to life, business, leadership, and every high-pressure situation we face. Aviate: Fly the Airplane First In a