USE IT OR LOSE IT!

Wilbur Wright said, 'It is possible to fly without motors, but not without knowledge and skill.

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PILOT KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL are human factor concepts that have been researched and refined over the decades. When it comes to a proficient pilot, there is little dispute that a calm demeanour, thorough knowledge and 'good hands' are a winning formula. But, what do the building blocks of these skills look like? And, how does one develop and maintain a winning formula?

Skill Acquisition

Skills, or skill-based knowledge is the ability to 'do something' (trimming, balancing a turn, landing) and is the reflection of cognitive processes manifested into motor actions.

In essence, this is the difference between knowing what to do (the steps to be followed) and performing the skill.

A true skill is that which is exceptionally hard to verbalise as to how it was achieved - you just feel how much back pressure you needed to catch the flare, right? True skill is different to declarative knowledge in that you are often not consciously aware of the skill being performed - it is often automatic, almost on autopilot.

So, how do we get from knowing to doing? The answer lies in Neural Mapping - the process in which your brain creates connections between neurons, to help you learn and remember things.

When you learn something new, or practice a skill, your brain repeats and strengthens these connections, forming 'maps' that guide how you think, move, or respond. The more you use these pathways, the stronger and faster they become, making actions or thoughts feel automatic over time.

This mapping is like walking a trail in the bush - the more you walk it, the more permanent it becomes, therefore making it clearer and easier to follow.