Recently at Central Kitsap High School there has been a new addition, all students may not have noticed unless they frequently visit the library. The Redbird TD 5 Flight Simulator, included with real avionics switches, a yoke, the throttle and rudder pedals. The flight simulator is open to everyone regardless of the user’s aeronautical knowledge, to discover the works of flying an aircraft.

The Cougar Chronicle recently had touched base with Faisal Jaswal, a respected pilot here in the Puget Sound and he was amazed to see that aviation has made its way to the high school setting.

The Chronicle asked him a few questions regarding aviation and his perspective that pilots have that non-pilots do not.

1. The ways to find your way to wanting to be involved in aviation are limitless, what made you decide that you wanted to be a pilot?
2. As a person, what do you think makes you different as a person that people who haven’t flown or are a pilot?

3. What attributes does being a pilot require?

He stated in his first response that “Purely on the fact that it teaches you to handle lots of different situations, and every flight must be planned out”. Pilots require a specific type of character that must be built through education, experience, and dedication for aviation. He emphasised his decision to be a pilot was because “You take data and examine it in a systematic critical way. Thinking critically at high levels was the dealbreaker”.

Faisal’s interests for number one of course is flying, he told us. He also loves to sail, because sailing has similar dynamics to an aircraft in the air. Fisal holds a BA, and also attended college in Cambridge, England He has been flying since 1986.

For his second response, Fisal stated that “I think the difference between people who are pilots versus people who haven’t flown or aren’t a pilot is the understanding”. “There are lots of perspectives when in the air as opposed to the ground that those people have not seen”. “It requires risk management, being able to handle stressful situations, and quick problem solving. “My risk management ensures the safety of my flight. 

When we asked Fisal what attributes does being a pilot require, he had a very quick response broken down into three key concepts.

Firstly, he emphasized his statement he made earlier that “You must take data and examine it in a systematic critical way at high levels constantly”. What he means by this first statement is that there is a lot of room for error and danger. It is up to the pilot to close the door to those rooms to ensure the safety of passengers, cargo, and your environment around you.

Secondly, “You must be analytical yet precise, and eliminate the risks.

Third and lastly, “Responsibility”. Faisal said that “Anyone! Can fly with just pure dedication”. “Any trade requires commitment, but being a pilot takes aptitude, and a special type of acquired pilot instinct”. “Physics Math, Science, all of it must be is applied to aviation, much more than people may think”.