Don't forget: KEEP FLYING THE PLANE!

[Bluemax]

Denzel kept flying the plane! And Flight is one of the best movies ever!

Recently I've been in flight training to earn my private pilot's license, so everything with me now is aviation metaphors. In the club where I attend lessons, there are posters all over the walls reminding pilots to KEEP FLYING THE PLANE! I've come to realize this is a lesson in life as well as aviation.

KEEP FLYING THE PLANE! has one very obvious meaning, but the other meanings are more subtle. Yet all these meanings can be applied to our lives.

1. Obviously, KEEP FLYING THE PLANE! means maintain positive control of your aircraft. Be vigilant. Constantly scan inside and outside the cockpit. Be sure you are in straight and level flight, and do so calmly. So too in our lives, we should be vigilant for trouble and avoid it calmly when possible. Make decisions, calmly and rationally, and execute them.

2. The second and more subtle meaning of KEEP FLYING THE PLANE! is that you do not allow any one thing to distract you to the point where you lose control. On a recent cross country flight, I dropped a pen as I was copying information. I began fishing around for it, and increasingly got distracted. Then a wing dipped, and I had left straight and level flight. My instructor said to me, "[Bluemax], FLY THE PLANE, not the pen!" Need to change radio frequencies? Do so, BUT FLY THE PLANE, NOT THE RADIO. Need to copy information? Do so, BUT FLY THE PLANE, NOT YOUR KNEE BOARD! So too in life, we should not allow ourselves to get fixated on any one thing to the detriment of all else. Need a promotion? Do so, but KEEP CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE! Need a friend or spouse? By all means find one, but KEEP CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE! Do not fixate on failure, and certainly don't allow failure to cause you to spiral out of control.

3. The third meaning of KEEP FLYING THE PLANE! applies to emergency situations. If there is some kind of equipment failure, KEEP FLYING THE PLANE! first, then work the problem. Whatever the failure is, don't just drop everything and fixate on it. KEEP FLYING THE PLANE! both while assessing the situation and trying the solution.

Engine fire? DO NOT GIVE UP!

4. The fourth meaning of KEEP FLYING THE PLANE! is not to give up. If you're going down on fire, you keep trying solutions right up until you land safely or crash in a ball of twisted burning metal! Never give up! Keep throwing everything you've got at the problem, no matter how improbable! Don't quit! So too in life, KEEP FLYING THE PLANE! Lost your job? Lost your home? Lost your spouse (this one is particularly pertinent to me)? You must not stop trying to find solutions that will lead to a better day! No matter how hopeless it seems, strive for happiness, in baby steps if you must, but KEEP FLYING THE PLANE!

Now, I do understand that none of this is easy (and that's often a huge understatement). Furthermore, I am the first to admit that to some problems there are no solutions. However, this should not excuse you from TRYING every possible solution until you drop from exhaustion or succeed.

So fellow aviators of life, let's all remember to keep the blue side up, and KEEP FLYING THE PLANE!

[Hans222]

Nice how you make the link between airmanship and everyday life!
I can fully confirm everything you see. Being a theoretical knowledge instructor myself, and often in close contact with (student) pilots, we hammer in this message.
A simple example my theoretical knowledge instructor gave me to learn the lesson was "what do you think was the first checklist item when we had an engine fire on take-off in a 707?".
The answer was: silence the alarm bell. First fly the plane to safe altitude and than solve the matter.
You could also have extinguished the fire while flying into a mountain... but that may not have made the passengers happy 😩🥵

[MrOracle]

Another similar point is: when there is an emergency or crisis, save your feelings for later and focus on solving the problem. If you survive, then you can cry or scream or laugh or whatever once you are safe and secure, but while the emergency is happening, you do not have time to be distracted by your feelings - you've got to "keep flying the plane" until you are "back on the ground."

[DeeDeeDeVour]

I was actually very fearful of (actual) flying on jumbo jets. Maybe someday I'll finally shake it off. Who knows... maybe even might have the guts to take flying lessons?

Meanwhile, your myTake is unique, entertaining and instructional. Well-applied metaphors. Kinda like a handbook or operator's manual. Lol.

[Anonymous]

best of luck with your people exams, i miss flying.

[Jean-Marie_Céline]

Excellent myTake, I really enjoyed reading it and I have to give you my praise for your efforts and hard work in getting your pilot license. Flying is a beautiful thing and I can only imagine how it makes you feel boubdless and free!

Naturally, I really like the comparison between the tips and steps for safe flying and handling emergency situations during flight and with everything else in life.
Keeping the plane flying is truly fundamental to overcome obstacles and bad situations in life!

[YourFutureEx]

Excellent take. Exactly what I needed. I hope this get featured. I wish I had much better things to say but I'll just KEEP FLYING THE PLANE for the time being.

[Jjpayne]

This is a pretty awesome my take! It's fun to see things from a different persons experience and prospective

[Freddy78361]

Aviate.
Navigate.
Communicate.
In that order.
Repeat.

[KrakenAttackin]

I have an ATP, several type ratings, and several thousand hours; although I have not flown for years. Now is a good time to fly professionally if that is your goal.

[red324]

If the shit hits the fan when flying your boeing 747 remember just invert it. You'll be okay. lol Oh and snort a little cocain beforehand. ;)

[msc545]

Good mytake!

Also, aviate, navigate, communicate in that order.