A lesson from a pilot on a cold ramp in Fairbanks

I was working a graveyard shift last winter, maybe 2 AM, trying to fix a faulty transponder on a regional jet. It was minus 20 outside and my fingers were numb. The captain, an older guy with about 10,000 hours, came out to the ramp to check on the delay. Instead of getting mad, he just stood there with me for a minute and said, 'You know, in 30 years, I've never once been late because a plane left too early.' He wasn't being smart. He was just saying that doing it right the first time, even if it takes longer, is what keeps us all safe. That stuck with me more than any manual. It changed how I approach every write-up now, especially when I'm tired and want to rush. Has a simple comment from a crew member ever changed your mindset on a job?

2 comments

2 Comments

keithbennett1mo ago

Got told "slow is smooth, smooth is fast.

elizabeth_jackson1mo ago

Yeah, that's a good one. I've had guys tell me to treat every fix like it's for your own family flying on it. Makes you double check your work when you're beat.