It is summer and I am going sailing. Each summer, I set a goal to spend more time in the cockpit of a sailboat and less time on the flight deck of an airplane. Ironically, during the summer months I read about flying and in the winter read about sailing. There is as much to learn at eight knots as there is at Mach 0.80. Many of these lessons are applicable whether you are on the water or in the air.
Seamanship and airmanship are similar—both involve the art or mastery of operating a vessel and a highly specialized skillset. Each requires not only good handling skills, but a thorough understanding of weather, navigation, communication, mechanics, rules, and regulations. Without this foundational knowledge, the captain of a yacht or aircraft can find themselves in peril.
Pilot, safety expert, consultant, and aviation journalist Stuart “Kipp” Lau writes about flight safety and airmanship for AIN.
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