Flying Blind

Blind

Flying an airplane isn’t easy. I learned that quickly when I began flight training almost three years ago. There’s so much to pay attention to and there’s so much at risk.

Then I started instrument training. Instrument flying is difficulty on an entirely different level.

Instrument flying is just that, flying an airplane by relying solely on the array of instruments in front of you without being able to see anything out your window. Two weeks ago I passed a milestone as a private pilot by passing my IFR (instrument flight rules) check ride. Without that rating, it is illegal to fly in the clouds, which, of course, limits the number of days that you can fly.

There’s a good reason for that. Flying in the clouds means flying blind. Many describe it as disorienting and unsettling. When you cannot see the horizon, your mind plays tricks on you and sends signals to your inner ear, sending all kinds of confusing messages. One pilot described his first experience in the clouds, “Everything in me was screaming, 'Turn left and push down,' even though I was already in a left turn and pitching down.” The only way to fly safely, to stay alive when you cannot see out your window, is to ignore your feelings and trust your instruments.

Flying blind is a bit like facing difficulties without being able to see outside of the trial you are in. When facing those disorienting times, our feelings scream at us to do something, “Turn this way, turn that way, pitch down, pitch up, say this or that, retaliate, run to a relationship, spend money, lash out," etc. But like flying blind, listening to our feelings is the most dangerous thing we can do.

Instead, trust your instruments. Do what God says. Obey Scripture. Honor the Lord, no matter how you feel. Because your feelings will betray you and cause you to crash. But God’s Word will not let you down. You have to trust it.

The day after I gained my IFR rating, Linda and I flew through clouds for the first time, unable to see outside the window. I had already been told it would be disorienting, so I followed my training and did not even look out the window. I stayed glued to the attitude and heading indicators, the altimeter, and vertical and airspeed indicators. I knew many good pilots have been killed by doubting their instruments and listening to their feelings when they could not see out the window. A few minutes later, we were out on the other side, and still flying straight and level.

You might be cruising in blue skies today, but the clouds are coming. Make up your mind now that you will trust God’s Word no matter what, and act on what he says, not how you feel in the moment.

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