When we fly as pilots in volunteer organizations such as those that fly patients for medical treatment, veterans for memorial services, wounded warriors, or even animals to places of new homes, we do so with the trust of those people that we are capable and that we will safely get them to their destinations.
They are not pilots, they do not necessarily know us or our aircraft, and they probably have no idea of how to evaluate whether we are proficient to complete the flights we are undertaking. It is up to us to be responsible in our decisions on whether we, our aircraft, or they, are safe to complete any particular flight.
Choosing appropriate minimums is a significant part of this process. And we have to do it with added pressure not present on our pleasure flights, the pressure to complete the flight based on external pressures. Continue reading →