A pilot in Wichita once asked me to explain the autopilot fault like he was five

We were stuck on the ramp for an hour last summer, and he just sat in the jump seat while I worked. I started talking about the flight control computer and he stopped me, saying 'No, tell me what it's trying to do and why it's scared.' I ended up drawing a picture of a kid trying to ride a bike straight. He said that was the best explanation he'd ever gotten. Has anyone else had to break down a complex system in a totally simple way for a crew member?

2 comments

2 Comments

spencer_johnson221mo ago

Read a story once about a mechanic explaining a jet engine to a new hire by comparing it to a big shop vac... sucking air in the front and blowing it out the back really fast. Sometimes the simplest picture just clicks when all the technical words make things seem harder. That pilot asking why the autopilot was "scared" is a perfect way to get to the heart of a problem. It forces you to explain the goal instead of just the broken parts.

sanchez.mia1mo ago

That shop vac example from spencer_johnson22 is so spot on.