Ok, this definitely needs a little explanation. 

Why would a pilot, who is in charge of flying an airplane at insane speeds and incredible altitudes, need something that we call a „soft mind“? Should not a pilot who takes off on a flight have a clear picture in his mind of how this flight is going to happen, and religiously stick to his plan? Should he not catch any deviation from the previously made plan and counteract with whatever is needed to get back on track? Isn`t it  exactly this important aspect of our job that creates a lot of satisfaction to complete a mission exactly as it was planned?

Let me try to address the last question first, and then we see from there.

From observing my little self over the years, I noticed a change of what makes me feel truly satisfied after a flight. At first, it was indeed most desirable for me to make a very detailed plan for a flight and then execute it almost flawlessly, with as little deviations as possible. For example in the military flight training, when we planned a two ship formation low level mission, we spared no ever so small detail. Every hand signal was pre briefed, and the exact wording for each radio call. We closed the canopies at the same time, taxied in exactly the specified distance from each other, took off in formation and later flew over our target within a few seconds of what was planned. After a perfect formation landing we taxied in together and we even went to the toilet together after the flight… Ok, the formation pissing was not really part of the mission plans and I am digressing here. The point is that back then, I could not imagine anything more satisfying than first making a plan and then making it happen exactly the way I had planned it. The same I experienced with aerobatic flying. I was extremely happy when I could fly my Pitts in exactly the way I had previously rehearsed it on the ground. All Loops, Rolls, Turns and Spins connected in the exact sequence and in the correct direction- that was, and still is to this day, a real treat.

Then I started to fly longer VFR trips in small airplanes. Here, for the first time, I realized that the real world is much larger and more complex than anything I could previously make up with my little mind. And initially, more often than not, I found it really frustrating to not get where I wanted at the time that I wanted. The first reaction was to consider an IFR capable aircraft and then force my way through rain and low clouds. Luckily my wife told me that the more capable airplane would not solve the basic problem. What a smart lady.

Only looking back I realized, that the many detours and unplanned stops have provided much appreciated learning experiences, adventures and even friendships that I would have missed out on. 

One day we were struggling with something during an airplane trip through Afrika. One of the airport workers noticed my troubles and said something in the lines of: „You know, my friend, in the mornings when we get up, we have a plan… and God has a plan. Seldomly, they are the same…“ These words are a real treasure, and they help me a lot to understand and relax when things go „wrong“. Can things even go wrong?

With more experience, mostly by trial and error, I noticed that life in general, and flying in particular, was much more enjoyable when I could agree to surrender my own little plan to the much larger masterplan of the universe. 

So I learned to enjoy the surprises that this kind of flying can provide, if we agree to the variables. The softer the mind was, the more fun I had. This way of looking at it was much more sure to provide satisfaction: Now I was not anymore dependent on a perfectly executed plan to enjoy the flights, but I could have fun, almost independent of what happened. 

From there, it was not a long way to understand that there is something like a stream of life, whose current can be our best friend, or our worst enemy. But it was a longer way for me to realize, that we could even chose which of the two we would like it to be. And that what I learned from flying would actually hold true for my life outside of aviation, as well.

Many years I felt like I was really struggling against this current, and it was extremely exhausting. As a pilot, I have learned to make a plan and stick to it. Always look far ahead for dangers and always update plan B and plan C in order to be prepared. In order to make the plane fly straight through the sky full of variables, one must really work hard and be alert all the time. Catch deviations quickly and apply whatever force is needed to get back onto the desired track… This principle that I had learned early in life and which had served me well in most parts of my aviation career, started to really wear me out during normal life. And it was not only exhausting, but at times even boring to be the writer of the script, the actor, and at the same time watch the „movie“ of my own life. Surprises were mostly unpleasant things that had to be dealt with in order to stay on the desired course.

So, although I did everything „right“, something felt wrong. But then I remembered what I had learned from the longer VFR trips in the small airplane, that almost never go as planned. 

One day I woke up and knew the solution to the big discrepancy that I had felt in my life. Something provided me with these smart words while I was still waking up:

„If you live your life the same way you learned to fly an airplane, then you will die of boredom or exhaustion.“

It did not take me long to finally get the message behind this, as it fell in place like the missing piece in a puzzle. 

From this day on I made the choice for a more interesting life, allowing the variables to flow in and welcoming them. I made big and sometimes frightening leaps away from material safety and into the unknown. I quit well paid jobs, because they did not suit me. I slowly transitioned from a fear-based mindset to  a trust-based mindset, knowing that I can not know, let alone control, all variables in my life anyway. So why even bother? Just pick the direction that feels best, and go. Jump. Run. Or just stay. Feel the situation with all your being and follow your intuition. Sounds easy. Sometimes it is. 

One important thing I learned is this: Our plans are like artificial barriers that can block the flow of life. One example: By „coincidence“ you met a good friend and you start a great conversation. But you both have not much time, he is already late for a birthday party that he has to attend because he promised. You are expected to be home soon for dinner. So you make the plan to meet again on wednesday next week. 

Now wednesday has come and you are not in the mood to meet anyone and prefer to do stay at home with your spouse. This feeling is there for a good reason, life wants you to stay home this day. But we leave home anyway and halfheartedly meet our friend, but it is just not the same as if we had just continued the conversation the first time and disregarded our own plans for that evening. Sounds familiar? So if we could just soften our minds and remain open for changes in plans as we go along… to say it with the famous words of Mr. Stevie Wonder: What a wonderful world this could be?!

And what about flying? Is it realistic to apply two completely different mindsets to the challenges of life and to the challenges of aviation? Would this even make sense? After all, we are not split personalities (or are we?), and before long we will be faced with situations that can not be clearly put into one category or the other. The Glider pilot knows about this. When he flies with an optimistic attitude, he will be much faster overall, using only the best thermals and trusting in the future (the next good thermal upwind) Someone who is generally conservative, will also fly conservatively, wasting a lot more time in weak updrafts out of fear not to reach the next one. At least one good article has been written on that topic. 

And what about commercial aviation? Am I propagating playfulness and optimism as a way to meet the high safety standards of commercial aviation?

Before there is too much room for misunderstanding:

In aviation, just as in life outside of aviation, there are certain values that must be protected and can not be put at undue risk. These are, among others, the lives and health of people on the ground and in the air, and of course the integrity of the airplanes and other valuable things. 

With this in mind, we can now take a look at how the principle that turns life into either a struggle or a fun game, should also be used in our daily business of flying airplanes. 

Many things are, when we take a step back, much more optional, than they seem at first. For example the on time arrival of a passenger or cargo flight, or even reaching a desired destination at all. Even the financial survival of the company is merely an option. Of course, these should be considered to be our preferred options, but we should never get into the trap of believing that these things really must happen at all, or in exactly the predefined way. This would only lead to a feeling of pressure, a lot of friction, and usually results in a major loss of sensitivity for the present situation. More often than not, our fears would only make the outcome of a situation less desirable. 

So with the safety as our primary goal, and passenger comfort and efficiency following closely behind, how can this be achieved with a „soft“ mind? 

The solution is rather easy, probably most readers already feel that I could stop here. 

The solution is:

Regain trust in life. This will immediately take out the pressure. How much pressure that we feel every day is generated by our fears? Our fears again originate in our general distrust in life. Read this again, if you like. 

We are so afraid that life will not provide us with whatever we really need, that we see no option other than the one that our little mind, stiff from fear, provides to us. This again results in such awkward situations where pilots are more afraid of their boss, than a landing in thick fog or a thunderstorm. 

Some pilots are so afraid of the consequences of a diversion that they stick to their plan, no matter how much resistance they get from the reality. 

Other pilots who are more anchored in their trust in life would rather lose their job than do unreasonably dangerous things. 

So, why are we sometimes feeling that the stream of life carries us, and sometimes it resists us like a brick wall? I have no clue, and it is probably not so important. But I know it does, and I have learned that we are better off if we align our tiny little plans with the masterplan of the universe. Sometimes it only requires us to be open for a little change, and all goes well. Probably much better than we could have imagined. Sometimes this may mean that we cancel a flight or delay it. Even this can very well be a direct contribution to flight safety, passenger comfort and efficiency, if we compare it to a crash. The less rigid we are in our minds, the easier we can adapt to reality, the better will be the overall outcome of our actions. 

There are not many activities where we are so directly exposed to the forces of nature, as it is the case in aviation, especially when flying small airplanes. These learning experiences are a direct result of this exposure to the forces that can make, or ruin a day.

We can invest a large amount of energy and have it „our way“, which seems to be the general tendency of the world in these days. Not very efficient.

The future way will be to align with the universal flow, and the sooner we learn this, the better.

There will be conflicts, as long as this principle of soft-mindedness has not found its way into our society. These days, many people are still so focussed on living their lives like a speed train that they would just run you over if you get in their way. Life will cure them in the same way it helped me to realize that detours are great. 

Enjoy your life!

Christian