The Most Important Skills?

[777-2H4]

Here's an interesting question for the pilots on here. What would you say are the top 3 most important skills or talents that a person should have to be a successful aircraft pilot? Let's say you were an instructor (some of you are) and you were presented a potential student, a zero-time person. What would you look for in this person in the way of abilities or skills, learned or natural, to evaluate whether this person could successfully learn to fly?

 

[ceo_of_the_sofa]

Ability to pay for training, everything else can be dealt with.

 

[UndauntedFlyer]

Almost anyone can learn to fly including your grandmother. But some people just shouldn't start if they have no inclination for such an avocation. I have found that the lowest common denominator is whether or not that person could ever learn to drive a car with a manual transmission. If a person can not now, nor could ever really learn, or would be a very slow learner in their attempt to learn to drive stick shift, then that person is a bad candidate for flying lessons. On the other hand, even if a person doesn't now drive a car with a stick but would be eager to learn and does learn quickly, likes it and really developes a feel for engine loads and needs to downshift, then that person will have no problem learning to fly. And to go further, if a person can fly any airplane reasonably well, then they would have no problem flying most any type of airline equipment, i.e., 727, A320, 777, 747, or whatever. All airline equipment is made to be easy to fly.

 

[Doozer]

1) Critical thinking/reasoning skill
2) Ability to prioritize correctly
3) Able to keep ego in check

 

[Say Again Over]

1. Plays well with others.
2. Good situational awareness.
3. Good education.

 

[Dubya]

1. 36 (natural)
2. 23
3. 36

W

 

[coloneldan]

I agree with Undaunted, Doozer and of course Dubya. The first thing is you have to have the ability to multi-task. I used to say if you can ride a motorcycle you can fly, but you don't have to have good balance to fly, so Undaunted is closer. Flying safely requires Doozers responses. Making me happy requires Dubyas.

 

[pilotyip]

1. Not getting into flying for the money
2. Not getting into flying for respect or prestige
3. Likes to fly, you will discover this after flight #4

 

[GogglesPisano]

The skill to be born into money.

 

[gkrangers]

Plays well with others is very important, IMO...if you can't get along with instructors and fellow crewmembers, or handle constructive criticism, or the occasional "DON'T EVER ********************ING DO THAT AGAIN!"...