The June 2021 issue of Flight Lines, the Colorado Pilots Association's monthly newsletter, features President Marty Brophy's discussion of confirmation bias in aviation safety—a critical cognitive error where pilots see or hear what they expect rather than what is actually present. The newsletter emphasizes the importance of recognizing when something feels wrong and verifying assumptions, as this bias has been a factor in numerous aviation accidents. Brophy also announces the compilation of the 2021 roster and introduces a new initiative called "Colorado Pilotage," a series of documents sharing local knowledge about airports across the state, beginning with KFNL (Northern Colorado Regional Airport).
The bulk of this issue is dedicated to the first "Colorado Pilotage" guide, a collaborative effort between Brophy and James Hays, president of the KFNL Pilots Association. This detailed resource provides pilots with practical information about KFNL including airport location relative to I-25, runway characteristics, FBO services, dining options, and valuable local flying knowledge. The guide addresses important operational details such as runway elevation differences, traffic pattern procedures, frequency information, and landmarks visible from the air—information that enhances safety and situational awareness for pilots unfamiliar with the airport.
Key Topics
- Confirmation Bias in Aviation: How expectation bias leads pilots to miss critical details and contributes to accidents
- 2021 Roster Compilation: Reminder for members to verify their information and privacy settings online
- Colorado Pilotage Initiative: New program to document local airport knowledge across Colorado
- KFNL Airport Operations: Detailed guide including runways, frequencies, services, and local flying procedures
- Summer Flying Safety: Awareness of afternoon thunderstorm patterns in Colorado
- Volunteer Opportunities: CPA seeking members to help with organization initiatives
Events & Activities
- KFNL Pilots Association Meetings: Several evening educational meetings held most months with fuel discounts available for local pilots (details at https://www.fnlpilots.org/)
- Google Earth Demonstration Project: Template and instructions to be posted on CPA website for creating airport pilotage documents with aerial imagery
Member News
- Collaboration Spotlight: President Marty Brophy partnered with James Hays, president of the KFNL Pilots Association, to create the inaugural Colorado Pilotage guide
- Volunteer Call: CPA president invites members to contact [email protected] to participate in organization activities and projects
