{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/6502ec015032c7001167fc64/698d9cc6fe55e6c6c3956556?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Helicopter Pilot Adele on Fear, Flight and Kindness: Bonus Episode","description":"<h2>Episode Summary</h2><p><br></p><p>In this bonus episode, helicopter pilot&nbsp;Adele&nbsp;returns to share deeper reflections on&nbsp;kindness, fear, emotional intelligence, and crisis management&nbsp;in aviation and life. She talks about why her ideal billboard would simply say “Be kind to each other,” opens up about her fear of public speaking despite a high‑risk job, and describes a pivotal in‑flight engine incident that she calls the day she “actually became a pilot.” The conversation explores&nbsp;expectations placed on pilots, the importance of&nbsp;crew resource management, and how self‑kindness and knowing your own reactions under pressure can transform both work and life.</p><p><br></p><h2>Key Takeaways</h2><p><br></p><ul><li>Kindness matters more than we think</li><li>Adele’s billboard message would be&nbsp;“Be kind to each other”, highlighting how many problems come from a lack of empathy and taking time to understand others.</li><li>Kindness isn’t just outward-facing—being kind to yourself&nbsp;is crucial for growth and confidence.</li><li>Public speaking can be scarier than extreme physical risk</li><li>Despite being a helicopter pilot, Adele finds&nbsp;public speaking and situations where she might embarrass herself&nbsp;more terrifying than skydiving.</li><li>Confidence in speaking is a&nbsp;muscle that needs practice, even for people who seem naturally comfortable on stage or on mic.</li><li>Travel, beauty, and environmental reality</li><li>Adele loves&nbsp;Indonesia&nbsp;for its culture, people, and nature, calling it a turning point in her life.</li><li>She also notes the&nbsp;shocking plastic pollution, with “confetti beaches” where sand is largely plastic.</li><li>Canada still pulls at her heart, especially the mountains—but&nbsp;brutal winters&nbsp;make her unsure about moving back full-time.</li><li>Helicopter flying: range, routes, and fears</li><li>Most helicopters can fly&nbsp;2–2.5 hours on one tank, continuing as long as there are fuel stops.</li><li>Ocean crossings are possible via staged routes (e.g., via&nbsp;Iceland), but Adele is&nbsp;not a fan of flying over open water.</li><li>Wildfire flying as a future goal</li><li>Adele is interested in moving into&nbsp;wildfire fighting operations, including&nbsp;vertical reference and longline&nbsp;work, to help communities affected by fires.</li><li>Misconceptions and expectations of pilots</li><li>People often&nbsp;don’t expect Adele to be the pilot, and treat her differently once they find out what she does.</li><li>There’s a strong&nbsp;image of what a pilot “should” look and act like, which she doesn’t fit, and she’s always balancing authenticity with professional expectations.</li><li>Emotional intelligence and crew dynamics save lives</li><li>Adele explains&nbsp;crew resource management (CRM)&nbsp;and why “soft skills” like communication, feedback, and trust are actually&nbsp;critical safety skills.</li><li>She discusses the danger of&nbsp;authority gradients&nbsp;where co‑pilots are too afraid to challenge captains, sometimes with fatal consequences.</li><li>Good crews balance&nbsp;clear leadership with genuine openness, so everyone feels able to speak up.</li><li>The day she “actually became a pilot”</li><li>Adele shares a detailed story of an&nbsp;engine malfunction&nbsp;in a Sikorsky 76, flying single-pilot from remote fishing lodges.</li><li>She had to&nbsp;manage power, monitor for fire, navigate terrain, communicate with ATC, and land safely on one engine, all while alone and out of radio range for part of the flight.</li><li>That incident proved to her she could&nbsp;rely on her training under pressure&nbsp;and shaped her identity as a pilot.</li><li>How helicopters land if the engine fails</li><li>Adele breaks down&nbsp;autorotation: using rotor inertia and airflow so the helicopter can still be controlled and landed without power.</li><li>With training, pilots can&nbsp;pick a spot, flare, and land with control, rather than “falling like a rock.”</li><li>Crisis responses and self-awareness</li><li>Both discuss how people react in crises—fight, flight, or freeze—and the importance of&nbsp;knowing your own default.</li><li>Michelle reflects that she’s often&nbsp;very effective in real crises, even if she feels chaotic day to day.</li><li>Self-kindness as a dare</li><li>For her personal “dare,” Adele commits to&nbsp;being kinder to herself, acknowledging she is her own worst critic.</li><li>With constant negativity in the world, she wants to&nbsp;focus on positive actions and impact.</li></ul><h2><br></h2>","author_name":"Michelle Hands"}