The Power of Writing ...

And the Pilot Factor!

The best part of writing is when our work can cross over to another realm and we can all learn. Captain Jim Wright sent a wonderful comment on his impression and correlation between aviation and maritime with lessons learned in The Pilot Factor. 

 

Captain Jim Wright

 

Jim says....

"Thanks for the info on “The Pilot Factor”. Good book – Interesting material – remarks below apply to the selected categories as described in the book. Actually this information has been helpful to me in preparing for upcoming BRM-P and ship handling classes.

 

Team Definition

The word “Team” as used in aviation and in the maritime industry can be interpreted in different ways as described below:

•  “Team” in aviation includes the cockpit crew who operate from common checklists and training experience.

• “Team” in maritime includes the bridge personnel who may or may not be operating from a common checklist and often not from common training experience.

• The “Marine Pilot” is not part of the “Team” but functions more as a leader to ensure that the “Team” properly manages available resources to include steering, engine orders, and the electronic and mechanical equipment necessary for the conduct of the vessel.

 

Teamwork

The “teamwork” problem facing marine pilots is a lack of knowledge of the “teams” abilities (“team” being the ship’s crew). It would be common for a pilot to ask the mate-on-watch to “set the ‘Variable Range Marker’ on the radar to 2.5 miles”. It would not be a common for a pilot to ask the mate to “let me know if the VRM intersects the land on the side of the channel”. In the first instance the pilot can easily verify that the VRM is set correctly. In the second instance the ability of the mate to interpret the pilots intended usage of the VRM is unknown. The pilot’s reliance on the mate’s interpretation in the second instance could create confusion and dilute situational awareness."

 

Experience, Skills and Training

Experience is something you get. 

Skills are something you learn from experience. 

Training is a catalyst that produces good judgment 

from the combination of experience with skills.

 Jim Wright

Join me tomorrow for more of the Wright Stuff!

Enjoy the journey!

XO Karlene