HANDS ON FLYING — My Brother’s Keeper

by Tracy Thurman | thurmantracyt@gmail.com

A unit is comprised of a diverse group of individuals. It is the intangible bond that exists among individuals that make the unit a single cohesive entity. It is this bond, based on trust, confidence, training and a mutual objective that carries the individuals, as parts of the whole, onward to success. This could be referred to as, “A peer support structure”.

As parts of a unit or group, we are generally held to a level of professionalism and expectations by common standards and ethics which is established by the requirements set down to define the ultimate purpose of the unit, enhanced by the cooperative ideals of the members. The individuals all work together for the common good of the unit which translates to the benefit of the individuals involved. Those efforts may result in the difference of simply having the weekend off duty, to something as crucial as the very survival of the unit and its members. Either way, the end goal is strove for in the same manner; with a mutual sense of determined urgency based on the efforts of each individual working to achieve the common goal. “Teamwork makes the dream work.”

Agricultural aviation is a very small industry. You could say it is somewhat elite. It’s a lifestyle that only those involved in the industry could understand or relate to. Just try and explain the job to an outsider. It makes a good conversation, usually, but you’ll never be able to convey the truth of being a Crop Duster pilot to someone who has never done it.

As an industry, we have developed common practices and plans that are intended to preserve and improve the industry as a whole. Programs such as PAASS exists for that purpose. The national and state organizations exist as a central point of convergence for shared ideas, standards and business practices. There are however shared standards that are unwritten and oftentimes not even spoken. Standards that exist by the collective philosophy and ideals of the men and women who make up the industry.

You should know that you are a single part of a larger machine. The other parts depend on you to get your job done right, upholding your end of the standard, in order for them to be successful in doing their part. No one wants to be the guy who drops the colors. So, we all strive to meet the expectations of our peers. At the same time, we are holding them to the standard as well. Arrangements like this come intuitively to most people. We are a communal species by nature. As professionals in a demanding industry, we are individually and personally driven to excel in what we do. Everything we do as a matter of fact, and we either consciously or subconsciously expect the same from our contemporaries. We’ve all known a handful of people who just couldn’t cut it. And we all know they were, in one way or another escorted to the door. I don’t mean that in a harsh or disparaging way. The truth is, not everyone makes the team.

There is a heavy responsibility we take on being a part of a hard driving team such as ag aviation. There are also a great deal of benefits. Having a second or third set of eyes on a problem. Having access to a few independently thinking brains geared toward achieving the same result is important. Or, just having another pilot to lean on in those rare instances when you need to are advantages we have when we are conscious of the fact that we are involved in a collective of tradesmen bound together by a common occupation and shared interests.

Ag pilots watch other ag pilots. Many of us can identify the pilot of a machine just by watching the guy turn. Often times we’ll see a colleague and marvel at his skill. Other times, we might notice a bad habit he should be warned about, or perhaps offer a tip or two he might want to put in his tool bag. Personally, I have benefited greatly from the advice of others. I appreciate it when another pilot offers advice or provides a constructive critique. I certainly appreciate it when one takes a moment to tell me I did good. I have a great deal of respect and admiration for the guys I work with. Their input, whether positive or critical, is important to me. At the same time, I try to make it a point to share with others in offering an attaboy or mentioning something the other guy should be aware of. Sometimes we worry about scuffing a guy’s pride. That’s just stupid. Pride doesn’t close the gaps between swaths. It doesn’t lower the stall speed and it damn sure doesn’t make the wires move out of the way. We are, to a great degree, our brother’s keeper. I’d hate to see one of my friends hit the ground or do something stupid when there might have been something I could have done or said to help prevent it.

There has never been a pilot who knows everything. There has never been a pilot who is beyond improvement or learning. There has never been a pilot who lasted any appreciable time in this industry who couldn’t or wouldn’t uphold the high standards the people of this industry endeavors to maintain. The bar is set high now and will surely continue climbing as the future unfolds. Excellence is a matter of achievement. Achievement is a matter of accomplishment. Accomplishment is a matter of striving toward the common objective of excellence.

We have great support structures within our own circles that enable us to reach those objectives. Structures in which we are all an integral part. Don’t be the guy who drops the colors.

Fly Well, and Stay Safe!