It was always a result of a team of people. One of the parts of my career that I look back on with reserved pride are all of the folks I have been able to look at across the table during an interview and tell them they are hired. Even more so when it was a candidate for a leadership position within the company, such as a chief pilot. I have to be careful with this answer, as the people I have hired and promoted earned their spot and it had nothing to do with me. I was simply lucky enough to have great candidates to choose from. Moving forward, I have a strong passion for helping pilots start their careers right and providing alternative ways of gaining experience. Removing barriers and reducing the price of admission is high on the list of items in which I hope to have an impact.
RPMN: Have you ever had an “Oh, crap” moment in a helicopter? Can you summarize what happened?
I have been very fortunate in my career so far to have avoided too many “Oh, crap” experiences. On the other hand, I have certainly made a few questionable decisions that could have easily led to a situation in which very bad things could have happened. The one that sticks out in my mind the brightest was a low-fuel warning light that was a result of divided attention. The story could have ended with a landing and a very humble call for fuel, but it did not. I made a decision to fly the aircraft in this state to the nearest fuel. Human factors combined with hazardous attitudes or the inability to put ego aside very nearly led to disaster.
RPMN: If you could give only one piece of advice to a new helicopter pilot or mechanic, what would it be?
Understand your authority as a licensed professional and never tolerate any situation that would compromise integrity or your certificate. Develop a strong sense of emotional intelligence and learn to say no.
RPMN: In your view, what is the greatest challenge for the helicopter industry now?
Our industry faces countless challenges. In my current roles, there are some distinctly different challenges that I face as an owner as opposed to the chief pilot role. I could list a plethora of talking points, but I think it can be summarized in two words: legacy thought. The “this is the way we do it” argument should be placed on the shelf in favor of “how should we do it.” It’s time to take a critical look at how we do things and not be afraid of reinventing the wheel.
Do you know someone who would be a good subject for Meet a Rotorcraft Pro? Email your suggestion to the editor-in-chief:
lyn.burks@rotorcraftpro.com
rotorcraftpro.com
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