A Whole Lotta Ignorance

According to my brief internet search, Albert Einstein was quoted saying, "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing." However, I also found a similar quote by Terry Pratchett, stating: "They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it's not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance.” Whether it was Einstein or Pratchett, or both, I'm still basically screwed.

Why is this? How can such a quote make me think there's no hope for me? Especially since I am neither ignorant, nor dumb. I actually like to think of myself as rather intelligent. Unfortunately, flying takes that all away. And I think, when you get into the cockpit of an airplane, be it a Fargo or a 747, you cannot afford to be either ignorant or dumb. When you're in the air, you'd better be able to put Einstein to shame, or head back into the airport.

My problem is, I have the "little knowledge" that they describe as dangerous. I know enough about aviation and flying and airplanes to have passed the necessary exams and earned my Private Pilot's Licence (from herein known as PPL) but not enough to really know how to fly and more importantly, deal with problems as they arise.

Over the years I have earned enough mechanical knowledge to recognize an engine when I see one. Actually, with the work I've done on the Fargo I can recognize spark plugs, cylinders, various wires and hoses. Unfortunately I do not truly understand how they all work, or, more importantly, how they do not work. So now, I know how things should probably be (like, there most likely shouldn't be puddles of oil accumulating under my airplane or the cab shouldn't smell like smoke) but when they are not as they should, I don't know what to do about it. I just know something is wrong and then get paranoid and worry some more. Basically, to quote someone else (and I'm  not looking this up so just assume I'm giving credit to whichever person first said it) I'm making a mountain out of a molehill. Where the airplane could easily just be running rough since it's 40-years old, I'm worried that the propeller is unbalanced and going to fall off.

All airplanes have a run up and walk around. I basically understand that. Screws must be tight. Hinges must be oiled. Safety wire and codder pins must be present. And I also know to check the mixture setting, the mags, the carb heat, suction, etc. The problem is, I don't know what to do if they do not behave exactly as they are supposed to. So is a higher than normal mag drop a big deal? Or am I going to call an AME and make a complete fool of myself and cost myself a few hundred bucks only to have him run the engine hot for a few minutes and clean out the plugs. And, when I ask another pilot if something is a big deal when it isn't running right, and his reply is, it shouldn't be a problem, what do I think then? It shouldn't be a problem? But what if it is? What then? What are the signs that it is a problem? And if it is, and for some reason I manage to clue into the signs, how much time do I have? Time for a proper circuit before landing? Time to find a field and hope for a relatively smooth landing? Or time to regret becoming an atheist because now I have to face nothingness instead of what could have been a relatively good afterlife in heaven?

This is the problem with flying and what makes it scary, at least for me. If I was told, "it shouldn't be a problem," when my truck was running a little rough, I wouldn't worry about it, because if it did become a problem I'd just pull over. Unfortunately, there aren't any shoulders in the sky. No rest stops, pull outs, gas stations with a mechanic. Nothing. Just air. And air doesn't hold you up very well without a propeller.

So, I guess I'm going to have to move away from the "little knowledge" about airplanes into the enough knowledge to stop flying scared, paranoid, or unsafely. Because, as appealing as it is to simply be ignorant and not worry about anything, I rather do enjoy my life and am not in the mood to have it end any time soon because I was clueless even to the basic signs. Furthermore, my ability to fly an airplane has a great deal to do with enjoying my life, so flying frustrated and paranoid because I'm not sure if something is truly wrong or not is just not going to work. Perhaps, instead of looking up quotes on the internet, I should have been looking up reasons why my engine is running wrong in the first place. Then again, I got two different authors for one quote and still am unsure as to the correct one. I guess i'll have to pick up the phone and call the AME afterall. At least that way if he tells me it's not a problem and it is, those I leave behind can sue for damages.