A500.2.3.RB_CliffordMarc

A Standard Life

Every twelve months I am required to take a checkride with an FAA approved check airman and demonstrate that I am able to fly all of the required maneuvers and emergency procedures.  It is important for a professional pilot to maintain the expected high level of proficiency and safety.  The FAA has established a set of minimum criteria that pilots must meet or exceed during the checkride.  This set of standards is called the Practical Test Standards.  For example, the Practical Test Standards specify that while flying a traffic pattern a pilot must be able to maintain the proper altitude within 100 feet and the proper airspeed within 10 knots (U.S. Department of Transportation, 2013).

Photo credit: practicalmanliness.com
A standard is something that is established and used to verify a measurement of a quantity or a quality (“standard,” n.d.).  There are many different types of standards.  For example, a unit of measurement is a standard.  Not many of us would be willing to purchase gas from a gas station that does not have or use a standard. There would be no way for them to prove that when you purchase a gallon of gas, you are getting a gallon of gas.  We would also be equally hesitant to eat at a restaurant that does not maintain a minimum standard of hygiene and cleanliness.  Standards are the measuring rods by which criteria can be ensured, checked or verified.

There are many standards that I have used to guide my life.  Being raised as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints gave me many opportunities to learn moral standards from a young age.  When I was a child my parents took time every evening to gather my siblings and I together to read from the scriptures and discuss the principles and applicable standards that were taught.  In Sunday school I was taught by loving teachers about the importance of keeping God’s commandments.  These standards have become the measuring rod of my life.  Some of the most important of these standards are found in a list of basic, fundamental beliefs called The Articles of Faith.  The thirteenth Article of Faith says, “We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things” (The Articles of Faith 13).  I have chosen to apply these standards to my life.  I strive to be honest, kind, caring, and always look for those in need whom I can help.

Over the years as I have remained active in my faith I have learned to better apply these standards through regular self reflection and self discipline.  A couple years ago I had an experience with a superior at work that gave me the opportunity to reflect on my actions and my standards.  The chief pilot had made a decision that affected me which I did not agree with.  I went to his office to speak with him about the issue and offer alternate solutions.  He was unbending in the decision he had made, and unwilling to listen to my reasoning or suggestions.  I began to get frustrated and intentionally left his office without shaking his hand.  After reflecting about the experience I realized that I had not lived up to my standards.  I went back into his office the next day and apologized for rudely walking out.  He said it was really nothing, and that I was not rude, and there was no need to apologize.  I told him that I needed to apologize because I expect more of myself than the manner in which I behaved.  I told him that I held myself to a higher standard.

The standards by which I have lived my life have allowed me to feel anchored and sure about the decisions I have made and the path I have taken.  Without those standards I would feel like a vessel adrift at sea, being taken to and fro by the wind and waves.




References:

standard. (n.d.) In Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/standard

U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, (2013).  Commercial pilot practical test standards for rotorcraft (FAA-S-8081-16B) Retrieved from https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/test_standards/media/FAA-S-8081-16B.pdf



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A500.4.3.RB_CliffordMarc

Image
The Challenge of Choice Photo credit: mmnexpert.com During a TED Talk by Dr. Sheena Iyengar in which she discussed whether or not having more choices helps a person to be more satisfied with their decisions, she makes a few assumption about the way Americans see choices.  She says: -Americans want to make their own choices. -Americans think that more options leads to better choices. -Americans believe they should never say no to choice. I agree that the assumptions Dr. Iyengar makes about how people see choices are accurate for most Americans.  However, from a leadership point of view, further analysis of each assumption is merited to determine any implications that might cause negative impacts on leaders and the organizations they work with.  As leaders better understand each of these assumptions they will be able to approach their work more efficiently and help their organizations, and the individuals involved, make the best choices. Leaders need to be awa...
Read more

A500.9.3.RB_CliffordMarc

Image
Course Reflections Image credit: www.jrforasteros.com I have felt that the  MSLD 500 course has been of great value to me.  Throughout the course I have felt that my ability and desire to think critically has improved dramatically.  I have noticed that my thinking has been improved in many aspects; I consider differing points of view more, I ponder on the purpose, and I try to identify any assumptions that might be part of my thinking.  The ability to critically think has the potential to make me a much better leader as I continue to practice and apply those skills. I found the action research project that I performed was beneficial in many ways.  McNiff (2002) says “Action research is a term which refers to a practical way of looking at your own work to check that it is as you would like it to be.”  I researched ways that I could be a more persuasive communicator in my various leadership roles.  I began noticing improvements even before the p...
Read more

A500.3.3.RB_CliffordMarc

Image
On the morning of October 30th, 2017, I departed the Lake Charles airport in southwest Louisiana in an Agusta A109 helicopter on a routine flight to an oil platform located about 100 miles offshore in the Gulf of Mexico.  As I climbed through 300 feet I attempted to retract the landing gear by raising the gear lever.  It was stuck; the gear lever would not move, and the landing gear would not go up.  I made the decision to return to the airport in order to have a company mechanic resolve the issue. As the mechanic and I were trying to troubleshoot the issue we had a couple options.  We could inspect and test each component individually, including checking the gear lever itself to see if it was stuck or if there was an obstruction preventing it from moving.  We would need to check the hydraulic fluid level to ensure there was sufficient fluid for system operation and verify there were no leaks or binding hoses.  We would need to check the components of ...
Read more