INTERNAL GPS

by Ruth Rock
Copyright (c) 2006



Your internal gps or intuition is one of the most valuable resources for any pilot. Why? Because it's quick and dirty and reliable (when understood). When you're in the clutches of a dramatic situation, your internal gps system takes over alongside your training. The two work in tandem to help you make the best decision possible to suit the appropriate action needed to remedy a critical situation for best outcome. When used correctly, your internal gps can help you make 'go' or 'no go' decisions that could save your life and those of others.

But like learning to use a new tool, understanding your internal gps takes practice as well as building trust in it. I think the latter is the most difficult for people especially when we question the type of gut feelings we may get. In understanding our IG, a few things need to be understood: 1) our IG takes a break now and then and may be dormant, and 2) we need to learn to understand its language so that we can make sense of it.

To activate one's IG, all you have to do is ask yourself a question and listen to the response you get. Sometimes the response may be weak, other times it may be booming. Being able to tell the difference is very important.

The general public seldom realizes how much pressure a pilot has to endure. Student pilots often feel obligated to rent a plane rather than pay a cancellation fee. The bottomline is that FBO's need to make a living. In the near future, I hope this situation will work itself out for the sake of safety. On the other hand, commercial pilots are under pressure to study 'go to' references and maintain their health and provide safe flights to all passengers. And whatever mistakes are incurred, pilots are taught early on not to snitchl on themselves. My point is that we often times encounter frustration due to the system to fully go with our gut even if we wanted to.

Before all the fancy technology we have today, many pilots relied on their internal gps. It's something you always carry along on any flight. If a pilot must utilize all available resources, don't let your IG go to rust.