Putting Your Proficiency in Focus

We've all heard the stories: pilots falling asleep at the yoke, landing on a taxiway, or even at the wrong airport. It'd be great to avoid such an embarrassing headline with your name in it, wouldn't it?

Staying focused on the flight deck can be more challenging than a non-aviator would think — we're only human, after all — but it's essential to the safe outcome of every flight. You'll set yourself up for success if you keep a few basic things in mind.

Your Health

The lowest-hanging fruit is often the most overlooked: caring for your mind and body. To maintain your focus over long stretches, you first must:

• Get sufficient sleep;
• Eat healthy meals at regular intervals;
• Stay well-hydrated;
• Engage in regular physical activity (perhaps even stretching before a flight);
• Know when to use the autopilot if you're feeling overworked.

A slew of recent news stories should remind us that our mental and physical health requires the same care and perspective as our stick and rudder skills and ADM. Obtaining a medical certificate is akin to staying current. What you do beyond that is how you stay proficient.

Your Preparation

Every flight has unanticipated variables vying for your attention. The purpose of your preparation is to stack the deck in your favor. As much as possible:  

• Fly — whether it's in an airplane, simulator, or armchair.
• Train — book time with a CFI and incorporate emergencies and other unexpected events into your lessons.
• Read — even when flying is hard to come by, taking a few minutes to read and reflect on helpful training content should be attainable. 

Having clear and well-rehearsed contingency plans helps keep you focused when it matters most. These should include knowing emergency procedures, communication, and information options. Simply knowing you've done this planning before will relieve a lot of bandwidth-consuming stress in unforeseen circumstances.

Your Priorities

Prepare a detailed flight plan that includes the route, flight time, fuel requirements, and any necessary weather and NOTAMs. It'll help you avoid unpleasant surprises. 

Attend to safety-critical tasks such as preflight checks and navigation and complete them before moving on to less critical ones. Your checklists and minimums help you establish these priorities, allowing you to make timely decisions, such as changing a flight plan or diverting due to weather. 

Additionally, mnemonic devices, such as the PAVE, IMSAFE, and ABCDE checklists, can help you organize your priorities and focus on addressing them in an appropriate order.