AN EXTRAORDINARY SENSE IN THE COCKPIT

 

When my oldest son was nine, he caught a mistake made by our air traffic controller (ATC) while I was landing my plane.

All he said was, “Daddy, something's wrong."

I immediately radioed the ATC to double-check if I was cleared to land. After a brief pause, the ATC almost shouted at me to abort the landing and go around.

My son sensed something was off, and he was right. I could feel it too. The ATC had directed me too close to a Boeing 727 that should have been given priority because it was traveling much faster than usual. The Boeing was so close that I didn’t see it until its landing lights were flashing on the edges of my wings and props. I quickly pulled up my landing gear, pushed the throttle to full power, and made a steep climb just in time to avoid a collision. It was a crazy ride, but my plane was able to handle the maneuver, which not all planes could have done.

Later, we found out that the Boeing's airspeed indicator had failed, and the pilot only realized he was going too fast when he saw me speeding away with blue flames coming from my exhaust pipes.

Although my son had spent a lot of time in the cockpit, it hadn't occurred to me before then that he had a special sense when it came to flying.

By the time he was sixteen, he was already a pilot.

Other pilots and friends have called me the best pilot they know, but I can honestly say my son is better. He is the most natural pilot I’ve ever known.