1. Stupid pilot tricks (featuring a cast of thousands)

2. What is the stupidest trick of them all? Hint: all in this room are performing this trick right now.

3. It can happen to me It might? It will

4. Two ways to stay safe Be really smart: Think of all the things that can go wrong, and figure out ways to prevent them Be rather stupid: Pay attention to the problems other pilots encounter, and learn what you can from them. Goal: Make it a bit less likely that you’ll fall into the known traps.

5. Ego Face it: This is a really bad pastime for anyone with a big ego. You will look foolish - regularly People can be bluffed; weather, gliders, air, gravity etc. remain quite unimpressed Ego interferes with perceptions that help you succeed EM: “Soaring is about seeing things as they are, not as we wish them to be.”

6. Case study: The R-101 Conclusion: Human nature is complex and not especially rational. It intersects with aviation and its hazards in many strange ways.

7. Mental rigidity The monkey trap The pilot trap

8. Case study: Final glide at 2005 Senior Contest Conclusion: Pilots can have trouble letting go of the rice. EYA!

9. “Can do” A positive, confident attitude is expected of pilots But it isn’t the best approach in every situation

10. Case study: aero retrieve at New Castle Conclusion: Your response should be appropriate to the actual problem at hand. EYA! Other cases: Problem early in tow Tail dolly left on

11. Margin for error Form the habit of thinking about how close you are to a problem Experiment with “virtual” limits Final glide to a point above the field Landing at a chosen spot

12. Case study: Tree landing at 2005 Senior Contest Conclusion: When you plan a maneuver with a low margin for error, don’t expect to get away with even a small mistake.

13. Assembly problems If it can be done wrong, it’s only a matter of time until it is done wrong Your job is to postpone that problem Other pilots will show you where your time & attention should be spent PCC vs. CAC

14. Case study: ASW-20 Why does this problem keep happening?

15. Checklists Proven value “Proper & purposeful prior preparation persistently prevents poor (perhaps pitiful & painful) performance” Often ignored, skimped, skipped Standard vs. customized

16. Case study: gear-up landing Conclusion: A “nearly correct” checklist “sort of” properly applied isn’t worth much. If problems form a pattern, it’s time to pay attention.