by Ron Caruso
While you’re at work earning a living
to support your hobbies, are you a manager or supervisor?
Do people report to you and follow your direction?
Do you provide leadership? Are
you responsible for their actions? If
so, then you’re the boss - you’re in charge.
But even if you’re not the boss during
the workweek, you’re in command on the weekend.
That’s PIC - Pilot in Command. While
sitting at your desk - the pilot’s seat - you’re the boss.
You’re in charge of everything that’s going on around you. You’re
responsible for the actions of your employees. The
tow pilot, wing runner and crew all work for you. How
well they do their job effects your future.
Would you hire an employee without
interviewing them? Do you know your
employees at the airport? Are they
predictable? Do the tow pilot and
wing runner know their jobs? Can
you count on them to do everything correctly in an emergency? If
you’re not sure, don’t come to work until you find out. Your
future, your life, is in their hands.
This is my “You’re the Boss”
lesson. It happens somewhere
between flights 5 – 10 when the student is ready to start doing the take off
and tow. He/she is sitting in the
cockpit, I'm standing outside and it goes something like this.
“Here we are, sitting at your desk in
your office. You’re the boss. Everyone here works for you. Everyone has a job to do and you have to make sure everything
goes perfectly. The wing runner's
job is to hook you up and get you off the ground.
The tow pilot’s job is to get you up into the air. My
job is to teach you how to do it. While
we’re doing the pre-takeoff checklist there will be several things going on
around you. The tow plane is coming to us and the runner is getting the
rope. Do you see any knots in it?
He should wait until you’re ready to connect it. Tell
him only when you’re ready. If he
connects it without you telling him, stop him. Release
it. You’re the boss. When it’s connected, let’s test it. You want to make sure the release works. Next
the runner will go out to the wing tip and the tow plane will start taking up
the slack. You’re looking again for knots and tangles. Also,
look down the runway. People, deer,
cars, other planes, llamas, Tony Gilbert’s dog. Is
it all clear? Anything to stop you
at this point?
“Now the wing is still down and the
runner is waiting for a thumbs up signal from you to lift it. If
he lifts the wing with out your signal, release the rope. You’re
the boss. You tell him when your ready. He didn’t see that wasp on the canopy or know your seat belt
came undone. His job is to wait for
your signal and only then lift the wing.”
“Okay, we’re ready to go. Rope, knots, people, cars, traffic, all clear, wag the rudder
and we’re off.”
This ground lesson takes about ten
minutes. I also make sure the tow
pilots and wing runners know what I’m telling the students. If the runner doesn’t get a thumb's up, he’s not to lift
the wing. The tow plane will not
move with the wing on the ground.
Okay Ron, what’s the point you’re
asking? Why am I telling you this? You’re
not a student at lesson 10. Well
the point is, have you ever started rolling a few seconds before you were ready.
Had a knot in the rope? Saw
people on the far end of the field? Sure
you have - I have.
The last 2 minutes, just before you start to roll, is probably the most critical part of your entire flight. It’s the time when you check and re-check things. It’s the time when you’re making the final commitment to the launch. It’s the time to embark on what you have been looking forward to all week. Your loved ones will be awaiting your return. You’re sure everything is ready for a successful flight. You’re in charge of what’s about to happen. You’re the boss!