Pilots trained to be unflappable, retired aviator says
MONTREAL — Poor weather may unnerve passengers, but pilots are trained to be unflappable in the face of unforeseen challenges, says a retired international pilot.
Benoit Gauthier said pilots are typically highly self-confident people who don’t take undue risks or let doubt creep into their decision-making.
“If you start to doubt your own performance you shouldn’t be there in the first place,” said Benoit Gauthier, who retired five years ago after a 37-year career with a major global airline.
He said pilots must prepare for whatever situation may surface and be prepared to change course if conditions warrant.
Safety is the driving force followed by passenger comfort. Pilots don’t face pressure from large international carriers to stick to schedules, he added.
Gauthier, 65, was speaking several days after an Air Canada plane crash landed at the Halifax Airport. The Airbus A320 was flying from Toronto on Sunday when it touched down 335 metres short of the runway and skidded on its belly for another 335 metres before coming to a stop. All 133 passengers and five crew on board survived, but 25 people were sent to hospital.
Gauthier said the incident must have left the pilots feeling “pretty bad.” He said pilots routinely check for weather conditions at the destination, but can never really know with certainty what may arise. They follow a detailed checklist about 30 minutes before landing, giving them an opportunity to divert.
They often use the aircraft’s auto landing capabilities to guide them along a gentle slope to the runway.