BOATING TIPS -- DECEMBER 1992
Pilots as Boaters

A group of us were talking the other day and noted that there seemed to be a common thread between the boaters we know who are professional airplane pilots: they tend to be very accomplished boaters! What was it, we wondered, that caused this special expertise? What can we learn from them?

First, we concluded, airplane pilots are trained to "pay attention to details". Pilots are not annoyed by the discipline of a checklist, nor do they skip their "preflight" of the airplane. Similarly, these people run their boats the same way: they carefully pay attention to the details, often having created their own checklists for their boats.

Second, airplane pilots "pay attention to safety". Pilot training always puts safety of the aircraft and its passengers foremost. They understand that often the trip can be delayed by weather, and that safety is more important than an on-time arrival. They run their boats under the same rules.

Third, pilots "share tasks with discipline". Before takeoff, the pilots agree on "who's at the controls". Each person knows his or her job. The cockpit should be quiet, with step-by-step processes in place, and executed in a professional manner, with dignity. Compare this to the way some boat operators deal with their mates!

Fourth, pilots "practice procedures often". In fact, a pilot cannot fly passengers unless he is "current", that is, up-to-date in his procedures, with sharp skills developed by recent use of them. Obviously, practicing boat handling is just as sensible.

Fifth, pilots "plan ahead for procedures". Because an airplane goes so very fast, a pilot must "stay ahead of it", with decisions made in advance about the steps to be followed and routes to be taken, so that there will be the fewest surprises and most uneventful descent and landing. On the water, this means planning for docking, planning a course, planning for fuel stops, and so on.

Finally, pilots "are skilled navigators". They know how to read charts, and how to get where they're going quickest, while fitting into the traffic flow and utilizing the weather to their advantage, if possible. And they certainly always have charts on hand. Do we all do this when out on the water?

If you look at it this way, it's easy to see that these skills used in aircraft operation carry right over to the operation of a boat. Pay orderly attention to details and safety, maintain discipline, practice procedures, plan ahead, navigate with care; do these things and you'll be an exceptional pilot, too!

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