Risk Management Magazine

As aviators and crewmembers, we are highly trained professionals. We are expected to operate with great attention to detail. But once we are off duty, why do we find ourselves taking risks we might not take on duty?

In certain situations, such as time-sensitive operations, there may be pressure to complete missions swiftly. This can result in shortcuts or compromises in safety procedures for the sake of mission accomplishment.

Looking back, I realize how lucky I was I didn’t kill myself. The truth is I was safer jumping out of a perfectly good aircraft than I was riding on that motorcycle. I’d been trained to jump out of airplanes, but I hadn’t been trained to ride a motorcycle.