Commitment to Create Change

Happy New Year 2016 

This is the year to Find Courage,

and Commit to taking that Leap!

Each year I write many resolutions. 2015 brought a new book, Flight To Success, Be the Captain of Your Life, and I finished the third novel of a series: Flight For Survival, and a children's book: I Am Awesome, the ABCs of Me. I also finished a full year of school. But what happens next, in 2016, will take courage.

My friend sent me this picture of her jump off the tallest building in the world. She amazes me at her fearlessness, and her strength in all that she does. When I told her as much she said...

"Sometimes it is better NOT to look before you leap!

  You just have to commit and go for it."

I always wondered what propels someone to jump off a building, I learned it takes courage. Sometimes that proverbial building is the courage to face your fears such as publishing a book, investing your life savings in your dream, quitting your job to follow your passion, public speaking, or taking a stand for what is right, because nobody else will. Jumping off the building means doing those things that create fear, despite the fear.

As I re-read the commitment chapter in Flight To Success, Be the Captain of Your Life, I was reminded that commitment is a choice, and follow-through is an action. By harnessing the energy of both, there is nothing we cannot accomplish. But it takes facing our fears to find courage to jump. Fear happens to be the first chapter in this book, but also the first chapter in life. To create change often takes facing your fears.

As many of you have read my post, If I Had One Wish For Aviation, I am on a mission to support our industry. Addressing the pilot shortage, and creating sustainable pilot jobs worth having, is key to safety. This means encouraging the best of the best to join the field of aviators. We must realize that pilots are people too, and people with lives in their hands during their daily work. Positive mental health cannot be overlooked.

Pilot training is essential to safe operations. Technological advancement has brought reduced training due to aircraft automation, because our aircraft self report, and operate with computers. However, the pilot must know more, not less, with automated aircraft when the aircraft breaks. While training is expensive, technology has created opportunities to improve learning, and should be used. 

NextGen is on the horizon where new threats are looming. Added complexity, and pilot managed separation will create potential for error. SMS- Safety Management Systems- are mandated to be in place by 2018, and yet safety culture is an essential ground floor requirement. We have new threats with drones flying in our airspace, and the next level of terrorism. What we can control is how we manage our safety systems and processes within our airlines. 

This journey has taken me to earning a PhD in Aviation with focus on safety. What needs to be changed? This year take time to read all three novels in the series. You will understand the challenges. True courage will come when I publish the non-fiction book. The essence of which may be woven throughout the pages of these novels.

I will have the courage to stand up for what is right, despite the fear of what may happen. Besides, experience creates resilience and safety management systems are designed to be proactive. There is no excuse to not do the right thing.

  

This is the year that I push through 

the doors of fear, and create change necessary to improve aviation safety!

What is your resolution?

If you don't have one, or want another...

commit to joining me on 

the Fight For Safety!

What about the Future?

World change comes from education

and inspiring our children. 

  

Health and Happiness 

throughout the New Year!

Enjoy the Journey!

XO Karlene