Regarding my last post

So, how am I going to fight stereotypes? I know they'll never go away, that's unrealistic.  I know if I get angry at someone for telling me to "get back in the kitchen," I'm giving them the reaction that they want.  But where do even begin that fight? Where is an appropriate place to point out how incredibly annoying it is? I don't want to be "that lady that can't take a joke" either...

I decided, after a lot of thought and debate, to approach the aforementioned officer that I yelled at during scenarios.  While I didn't really prepare a nice speech, or organize it quite like my Psychology teacher had in mind, I went for it anyway.

Firstly, I apologized for my unprofessional behavior.  Made him know I was serious and wanted to really talk about his comment.  He freaked a tad, I think.  He lost his smile real quick...

I told him why I thought it was inappropriate.  To sum it up, I said,"When you're out on the street, you represent everyone in uniform.  If you lead civilians to believe that you are a racist, or sexist, or homophobic, they're going to assume that every cop is.  And that defeats the purpose of your responsibility, which is to protect civilians.  If no one wants your help, and no one trusts you, it makes your job a lot harder."  I made sure to emphasize the "brotherhood" that he is in, and how he made his whole unit look bad with that one comment.

After that part of the speech, I concluded with a small encouraging statement, "You're doing well, and you'll go far.  Just remember why you became an officer."  With that, he said, "Thank you ma'am. I'll try harder next time," and he was off.

Now, if he really listened, or he really even gave a crap about what I said, I don't know.  Not sure I ever will.

But my feelings were a tad bit better.  I know I'm not an expert.  I'm not a seasoned officer.  I have no idea what I'm doing out there, I just try to help the officers see things from the victims stand-point; I have a very small role.  But I feel that it is incredibly important to make sure that they know what exactly their words can do.  A man or woman in uniform holds a lot of responsibility, and can be very influential.

During the whole ordeal, I seriously thought the dude was going to punch me in the face.  He stand a good 7 inches taller than me and his forearms were the size of my thighs.  I just thought, "Oh no, what have I gotten myself into...why did I even bring it up again?"  However, I persevered for the greater good!

I hope that he will at least consider what I said.  I haven't made him make another comment, but maybe he was just hyper aware that I was there and kept his mouth shut (so I am the lady who can't take a joke).  And he probably told all of his buddies and now they all probably laugh at me.

I hope not.  I really hope that he'll develop a new attitude towards his "racial profiling" tendencies.  He really was a good cop, and I'd hate to see him get in trouble down the road because he muttered some stupid comment under his breath.  And here in Oregon, that can ruin an entire career.



ANYWHO

With no regard to my latest outburst, I have been keeping up on my goal.  It has been hard.  It has been rough.  It must end.

I still have a ways to go though.  Since I have been travelling I haven't really had a chance to incorporate what I've learned into flying, but I think just letting information sink it is a good start.

I've missed 3 days.  Which is sad.  But it's hard to keep track of my progress or whether or not I did it if I don't have my calendar (I left it at home because I thought it would be odd if I just carried a whiteboard with a bunch of check-marks on it around).  THAT isn't really a good excuse though.  I've actually found, in long car rides and afternoons waiting for lunch, that it's nice to have something to read while I'm alone.  I'm sure to on-lookers it is completely weird/depressing to see a 20 year old woman sit and read a giant textbook by herself in a cafe, but hey, it works!

Once I return home, I'll post my progress!



Enough of my novel. Proud of you if you made it this far. You deserve a cookie.

It's not about flying...

But I was doing some scenario based training today with the police department.  They have role-players come in and act out scenarios that officers need to work through.  It’s all really fun and cool and stuff, but that’s not what I care about.

We were doing a scenario with expired tags, and the officers had to pull the role-player over and what not.  Some other officers were just observing, and when the role-player asked, “Why did you pull me over?” the observing officer said, “Well, at least she’s not black.”

For some reason, this really made me angry.  I told that officer to go pound sand, and that that attitude is not only incredibly unprofessional, but it’s just wrong.  I understand that this “joke” was a generalized statement, at that it can sometimes be true, but the preconceived notions people have are messed up, and especially in a place of power like a police officer.

I face stereotypes all the time.  Especially being a woman pilot.  I always hear, “Women can’t drive, so why are you allowed to fly?” or “Don’t you belong in the kitchen?”  These statements really get my blood boiling.  How dare someone question my abilities because I am a woman.  Urgh! 

I realize that some stereotypes are good, like if I was downtown and I came across a biker gang, I’d exercise caution knowing that biker gangs were notorious for being violent.  However, there is a time and place, and if at any time professionalism comes into play, it shouldn’t be tolerated.

I realize that I may have no authority on this matter, and that I’m probably being near-sighted about all of it, but I just really hate that that is how some people react.  Women are not always homemakers.  There are plenty of men who do that too.  And, in a lot of homes, the woman is the primary breadwinner, and they are capable of doing anything they put their minds too.  Including flying.  African Americans are not all criminals or violent.  They are humans, just like the rest of us, and they are perfectly capable of being compliant and honest.

I know it was a joke, but man, even a joke that narrow-minded needs to be addressed.  

See, if had all the money in the world....

Learning more about aeromedical factors in flight, I have thought of something I'd like to try.  

Not anything involving torture...I just want to know if what they're teaching me in my Aviation books are true.  

I was reading about different kinds of hypoxia, which is an illness that is caused by not getting enough oxygen.  At higher altitudes, if an airplane doesn't have pressurization equipment, or their pressurization system doesn't function properly, it can cause serious issues.  The body needs oxygen, unfortunately, and if it doesn't get it, it throws a hissy-fit and...ya know....dies.

So, I learned that at 45,000 feet MSL (which just means above sea level), a pilot has 9-15 seconds of useful consciousness (I say useful, because after that a lack of oxygen makes you loopier than heck) to make a life critical decision to get the required oxygen into your body.  

Is that really all the time I have???  I want 9-15 minutes, not seconds.

I'd like to test these numbers, and see if I can get a similar answer.  I want to put people in a room, and deprave them of oxygen and see how long they can make it before they are totally useless.

I realize that this is not exactly what we would call "ethical," but I want answers!!!

What if I tested something else in the book? Like, the vestibular system from my previous post?

I'd create a simulator that was able to move around like a cockpit would (turn, climb, descend, and create the sensation of movement forward) and put 100 people in it, all in pairs.  

First, I'd create situations where they'd feel like they were turning (like the leans) and ask that they all corrected based off of what they were feeling (I'd give them NO flight instruments, so they can't cheat) and study how they would react.  Then, I'd put them all back in, but with instruments, and see if that changes their reactions on the situations.

A large part of this experiment would be communication between the Pilot in Command and the Co-Pilot.  Since bodies are all different, they might react differently, and one may want to correct one way, and the other wants the opposite.  

AND if all goes well, and I can confirm that what the book is teaching is accurate, THEN I can believe that I have 9 seconds to say a prayer before I won't be able to remember my name.

(that MAY be a bit of a dramatized statement) 

I'd need a lot of money to create this simulator though...anyone want to donate???



Guided Flight Discovery: Instrument/Commercial. (2006). Englewood, CO: Jeppesen Sanderson, Inc.

The Vestiby System

Ah, studying.

How I thoroughly enjoy every second of knowledge that I gain.
Wish it came in an easier format.  Like SpongeBob or something.

However, today, I studied something particularly interesting.  I’ve read the section a hundred times, and have even been tested on it about that many times.  But for some reason, it really stuck out to me today.

It was a section on common illusions that pilots encounter.  Illusions that can majorly affect your landing, or make you feel like you’re making a right turn when you’re flying straight.  Obviously, these are no good, so it is best to avoid them if at all possible. 

The most common flight illusion is referred to as “The Leans,” and it is exactly as it sounds.  The pilot feels as if they are leaning in one direction or another.  Their perception (the body’s conception of its surroundings through physical touch, [Webster, 1960]) is being tricked by the vestibular system.

Break down on the Vestiby System (not a technical term) –

So pretty much, your inner ear is really complicated.  You have these canals, and tubes, and all sorts of stuff in there, including little hairs (which is, quite frankly, incredibly disgusting).  These little hairs are attached to nerves that send sensations to your brain for interpretation.  When you move, or hear, this gelatinous substance lined with otoliths (which are micro-sized bits of limestone) moves or vibrates.  This fluid moves the hairs, the hairs send it to the brain and the brain tells you what you’re doing or hearing (Jeppesen, 2006).

The first hundred times I read that, I really thought nothing of it.  It just grossed me out.  But today, for some reason, it made me think of how awesome our bodies are.  All of that is happening on such an extremely tiny scale, but it makes all the difference in the world. 

So anyways, when you’re flying, the fluid in your ears moves around and you can feel when you’re turning, unless you’re turning really slowly.  Then that fluid lags behind.  So when the pilot’s turn is for a long period of time and then they level off, they feel like they’re turning.  Oftentimes, they try to correct based off of this, and end up either extremely off course or in some cases, running into something (FAA, 2008).

Don’t worry, this only happens at night or in the clouds, and most pilots are smart enough to know that you always fly based off of your instruments, not your feelings. 

Incredible, right? To think, that your body is full of these itty-bitty nerves and receptors that are all trained to stimulate from some form of change and then send a signal to your head and register as a sensation (Webster, 1960)

Maybe I’m alone in this and I need to get out of the house more.  My textbooks are actually starting to entertain me.

    Guided Flight Discovery: Instrument/Commercial. (2006). Englewood, CO: Jeppesen Sanderson, Inc..

Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge. (2008). Oklahoma City, OK: U.S. Department of Transportation: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language (College ed.). (1960). Cleveland, OH: The World Publishing Company.

Oh, Happy Day!

Okay, I won't get too carried away.

I just completed day four in operation “Be A Better Pilot”.  I feel like I’ve been at this "study harder" thing for a month.  It hasn’t even been a week.

However, I already have started to see a tiny bit of improvement.  On Tuesday, I was reading Federal Aviation Regulation 119.1, which are certification applications for commercial operators.  Fancy talk for: I was reading the laws that told me what I could, and couldn’t do as a commercial pilot.  Well, earlier this morning when I went flying, my instructor asked me some question relating to this very regulation.  My first reaction was to say, “How the heck would I know?” but then I thought about it.

I started retrieving* information, that quite frankly, I didn’t even remember reading.  I started spewing out words and it ended up being correct.  Unless I have some awesome superpower, I think the studying is working, and it hasn’t even been a week.

It’s a lot harder than I anticipated.  Reading a boring book on laws or how to fly an airplane is no picnic, but in the last two days I’ve found ways to make the time pass quicker.  I set a timer, so I’m not tempted to look at the clock every 3 minutes, and I eat a snack while I’m reading.  For some reason, it makes the time pass quicker. 

I was so excited this morning about the studying working that I decided I would definitely have to keep on top of it for another week or so.  I have to make sure it wasn’t a freak coincidence, or if this “spacing effect” of studying is really helping. (Spacing effect is the idea that, studying in small increments over a distributed amount of time allows for better memory retention that just one massive study session.  I learned that from my Exploring Psychology textbook). 

So, I guess…another week! 

I’m ready for some more days like today.

*Myers, D. G. (2011). Exploring Psychology: Eighth Edition in Modules. New York, NY: Worth Publishers.

Plan for Executing "Setting A Goal"

As I stated in my previous post, I have set a goal of studying one hour every day for my aviation courses.  Now that I have had time to mull over my bold new idea, I find myself struggling and wishing I had tried something a little easier. 

Sure, for most people, this doesn’t seem like a lot.  It actually seems pretty easy.  But have you ever read a manual on how to do a flight procedure? Or read a book of regulations that are stuffed so many to a page you almost need a magnifying glass to see the words?  It’s not just incredibly boring; it’s monotonous.  Some of the concepts are easy enough to understand, but others are hard unless you’re in an actual aircraft and able to see what you need to see. 

But I set forth this goal knowing it was achievable, so I will bite my tongue, and just do it.

I need a studying method though.  I need an incentive that will push me to do it every single day.*

The possibility of a more receptive mind isn’t tangible enough, and therefore, isn’t rewarding.  But I have an idea…

If I built a calendar, and crossed off every day that I studied, I’d not only be able to physically feel the satisfaction of checking off the day, but I’ll be able to more easily count down the days until I don’t have to do this anymore.  It’ll be my positive reinforcement and will encourage me to keep going so that I can get that rush of accomplishment every day.*

 (This may not seem like a reward to normal people, but I get an incredible high after I cross something off of my to-do list.  It’s addictive.  I love finishing projects and feeling like I’ve done something, even if that feeling only lasts a couple of minutes).

So, my next step is to get a calendar, and a big green sharpie (green because it’s my favorite color and a sharpie because I just love the permanence of it).  When do I start? Monday, 17^th of June in the year 2013.  I need the weekend to get my affairs in order just in case taking my one hour of me-time away does in fact send me over the edge.  Plus, my OCD will not allow me to start at the near-end of a week.  That’s just crazy talk. 

After one week, I will post my progress, and see if I need some other form of motivation…or if I need to check myself into an institution. 

*  Meyers, D. G. (2011). Exploring Psychology: Eighth Edition in Modules (8th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.

Setting A Goal

During this lovely summer in Salt Lake City, I am attempting to do too many things at once.  I have three jobs, I am taking two classes, and I am desperately trying to cling to my dwindling social life.   As if that is not enough, I have decided to start my flight training for a Commercial Rating (seeing as I am a Flight Operations Major, I should probably make this my number one focus).  However, every time I look at my schedule and try to fit another thing in, I get a wave of anxiety.  It's cascading over me.  Thoughts of, "What the hell am I going to do?" and "I'm most likely going to die from exhaustion," are filling my head.  

But if I want something, I have to do it? Right?  If I'm determined enough, I'm sure I can set out enough time for studying and flying.  So here is my goal:

I will study my aviation concepts and maneuvers for one hour every day until the end of the summer.

Just one hour.  That's it.  It seems feasible.  I wake up at six to do a morning work-out, so my schedule will go as follows:

0600 - Wake up 

0605 - Dressed and eat yogurt

0615 - Work-out routine

0700 - Shower

0730 - Study 

0830 - Dress for work/eat breakfast

0915 - Leave for work

Every day.  Until September 1st. 

I think this is a great place to start. It's manageable, it's practical, and it'll be easy to keep track of.  I usually read or watch the news in the morning after my work-out anyways, so I'm just substituting reading a textbook in for reading Game of Thrones.  

According to the 'SMART' Goal Setting (1) it is:

S - Specific: Clearly outlined, with a time set.

M - Measurable: For one hour, every day.

A - Attainable: As mentioned before, I'm removing one thing, and replacing it with studying.

R - Realistic: Doesn't require too much time, and it fits into my schedule.

T - Timely: With a specific time laid out, I'll check on my progress every week, to see if it's working.

This goal, is not only “attainable” and “realistic”, it should dramatically improve my previous knowledge of aviation.  The repetition and the consistency of reading procedures over and over again will hopefully help me retain more information.  Not only that, if I am reading and studying about maneuvers before I even do them in the airplane, I’ll have a better chance of executing them without as much practice (this will cut down on flight time so it won’t cost as much!!).  After a work-out, my mind is clear and ready for anything, so I should be able to remember what I study easier when my mind isn’t bogged down from the day.

It’s applicable.  It’s do-able.  It’s going to happen.  Now, I just have to set up a studying method.

(1)    SMART Goal Setting. (2010, February 20). Retrieved June 13, 2013, from Goal Setting Guide website: http://www.goal-setting-guide.com/goal-setting-tutorials/smart-goal-setting