Secret handshake: HAI
Cynthia Wheatley Glenn
What in the world is a secret handshake? When and how is it used? Examples of secret handshakes include inside jokes, tribal knowledge, a generational handed-down recipe within a family or close friends. What might a secret handshake be in the field of aviation?
I’ve just returned from the (formerly known as HAI Heli-Expo) in Anaheim, California. After 75 years, the organization is now branded as Vertical Aviation International (VAI), and I asked dozens of people – from VAI executives to vendors to participants to convention employees – to share their secret handshakes with me. In no particular order, here are some of their responses, with my reaction.
Nathaniel (no state given): “You can do anything in the world for aviation through the military.” Nathaniel used his career in the military to enable him to obtain the necessary hours and skillset to eventually pursue his goals in general aviation.
Julie (California): “Know the limitations of your aircraft.” How can you get out of something if you aren’t sure how you got into it in the first place? Julie’s comment makes me think about stall practice: As pilots, we practice stalls to know how to get out of them.
Ian (Thailand): “Do what you’re passionate doing.” ‘Nuff said.
Justin (California): “Know your audience; know how long you’ve known your audience.” This advice seemed a little odd until he explained how he was a pretty-high ranking member of his flight team when he requested a special type of landing early in one of his flights. Based on the content of what was said and, more importantly, not said, his request was granted immediately with no questions asked. Turns out, it was imperative he land when he did.
Scott (Colorado): “You meet so many people.” Scott was a vendor who represents an aviation-related business, and is not a pilot. He told me how much he enjoyed traveling with his company meeting fascinating people from all over the world.
Doug (Michigan): “Be careful, you can really fall in love with aviation… you can also lose your family. Keep a balance between aviation and family.” Doug loved all things aviation… and his family wasn’t completely enjoying the same level of interest.
Carmen (California): “Be kind and professional.” Carmen was part of the Anaheim Convention Center’s catering team and was responsible for providing food and beverages to those at the conference, from attendees to VAI executives. She exhibited the same level of care and professionalism to everyone.
Lee (Tennessee): “Keep an open mind. There’s more than one way to complete a task. Never stop learning.” Lee explained that being willing to accept more than one way to successfully and safely complete a task is an okay thing in the field of aviation.
Ron (California): “Know and understand the lingo within the field of aviation. This gives you more street cred.” If I can throw around acronyms, if I can ask questions that are relevant to how aircraft work, if I can confidently talk to ATC personnel, it will add to my benefit.
Glen (Utah): “Learn to say ‘no’.” Glen’s comments really resonated with me. Some of the examples he gave were:
Client: “You can shoot this landing.”
Glen: “No.”
Client: “You can skirt those clouds.”
Glen: “No.”
Client: “We can leave now and beat this storm.”
Glen: “No.”
Mark (California): “Master flying the simulator before taking actual flight training.” I found this advice to be extremely interesting since I had another pilot tell me she thought her experience of beginning her formal flight training with close to 40-50 hours of sim time was a waste, that she much preferred to actually be in the air. Mark invested in a professional quality simulator he used at home prior to taking his first demo ride. He was able to hover his helicopter with a minimum number of hours, totally impressing his flight instructor.
Laszlo (Arizona): “Have a back-up plan apart from aviation.” Laszlo’s teen-age son is super-stoked to be a pilot, with his back-up plan being an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) mechanic.
Ashley (California): “Wait patiently for your DPE checkride.” I completely and whole-heartedly agree with Ashley’s advice! According to Ashley, there are not enough DPEs to accommodate the number of pilots wanting to be certificated.
Some of these secret handshakes really cross lines and can pretty much be used in any situation, not just aviation. Because I asked a wide spectrum of people to give their unique “take” on their ideas of what a secret handshake might look like, I wasn’t surprised by this range. Now I’m wondering: You’re reading this article in an aviation magazine, yet you may or may not be a pilot. What pearl of wisdom would you be willing to share? I really want to know! You can contact me, Cynthia, at FlyGirlBayArea@gmail.com.