Normalization of Deviance. According to aerobatic national champion and air show pilot Michael Goulian, if a pilot or an organization gets away with deviant behavior, over time it becomes normalized and can lead to disaster. You've probably heard of Normalization of Deviance in connection with NASA and the loss of both the Challenger and the Columbia space shuttles. As Mike Goulian says, if normalization of deviance can happen at an organization like NASA with the smartest people in the world, it can happen to anyone. This interview is chock-full of safety tips for pilots of any experience level, so I encourage you to either listen to it, or to watch it.
I interviewed Mike last week for the Aviation News Talk podcast and, for the first time, I recorded the video from an Aviation News Talk interview. You can see the full interview here on YouTube. And when you're there, please click on the Subscribe button in the lower right of the video, so you'll be notified when I upload future YouTube videos.
In the interview, Mike shares observations on air show accidents, the changes brought about by the International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) Safety Creed, and his own personal experience normalization of deviance when he was called out at EAA AIrVenture in Oshkosh, WI by an air show pilot for a subtle change he made in his air show performances that compromised safety.
Although best known as an air show pilot, Mike is also a flight school owner and a Cirrus Aircraft CSIP flight instructor. He talks about how his preparation for the Red Bull Air Races was similar to the planning that any pilot needs to do for a long, cross country flight. Mike also talks about why it was special for him to win the Red Bull AIr Race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Mike's flight school, with locations in Bedford, MA and Plymouth, MA, includes a Cirrus SR20, SR22, 2-seat Extra and a Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet for rent, and Mike and Max talk about what they like about the Vision Jet. Mike is all about promoting a culture of safety, and he talks about how he promotes safety in his organization. Part of that includes striving to make each flight a perfect flight, starting with how the door is closed.
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