Filling the Void

So, here’s a bit of a cliche’….It’s been a while since I last put pen to paper, or actually had the inspiration to write another blog/article.

But today I found some inspiration again to get my act together and felt compelled to take note of this.
We just wrapped up another one of our live broadcast shows that we started doing around two month’s ago, that began as a bit of an added extra to our weekly Podcast.

This live show that we do every week has fast become one my highlights, that I really look forward to. There is an adrenaline rush that you get from putting yourself out there on the great World Wide Web and knowing that there is NO safety net if you stuff something up is oddly exhilarating. By far one of the most challenging things for me on a personal level that I have attempted this past year.

As a team, we have pushed each other further and further on this podcasting journey, and just when there is a sense that we are starting to settle into a little comfort zone, the next great idea comes along that ruffles the feathers and forces you to stretch your limits a little more.

In a lot of ways this has filled a massive void that was left when my flying career came to a grinding halt, and I have started to realise that as much as I try to ignore that little voice in the back of my head that reminds me of how excited I was when I used to go flying or that little gland that squeezes out the endorphins when you have your grubby hands at the controls of some high speed aluminium tubing…., this most definitely has the same effect.

Challenging yourself not only to overcome the technical difficulties that comes with putting together a “live” broadcast, but building up the confidence to talk clearly and coherently, as well as to shy away from the fact that you will probably have to cope with less than adequate internet connections, or Eskom induced power interruptions yet keeping as cool as ice is quite something. 

Another reason that I am enjoying this so much, is that this show has morphed into something a little bigger than we originally intended I guess. We are joined every week by a guest on the show, and this has added such an amazing element to the whole “production” as a whole.

We have had the great fortune of sharing the platform with some amazing and very influential people over the past few weeks. Some of them we have known for many years, and others, we have never actually met in person, yet have become so well connected virtually that when we get to chatting on the show, it feels as if we have known one another for a long time.

Getting to hear how all these individuals have overcome all the challenges over the past year or so, and to share their stories and/or insights has had such a positive impact, not only on me, but for the Bryan Air team as a whole, and for many of our loyal supporters as-well.

What I find really cool is, that just like me…everyone is on some sort of a major career pivot, or at the very least trying to find a way to get through this patch of “turbulence” somehow, and being invited to come and share your story over a live broadcast is no small feat. Yet, everyone that has joined us, has accepted the opportunity and they have been such great sports in overcoming the their nerves, and then when the show is over they get to experience the same rush that Bryan, Brett and myself have every week. Particularly because I think they have surprised themselves in a way at how well they had spoken or delivered their stories.

It’s one thing to say, oh but you can fly a plane, and you have to talk to passengers all the time etc…But, that for me was far easier when you were locked behind a cockpit door, and nobody could ever really put a face to the voice over the Passenger Address system, most passengers were probably not even listening to you in the first place.

But getting back to where I started with this…., as I said, we just wrapped up this show, with one of the most inspiring aviators I have come across, and having listened to his version of how he and his family have had to overcome all the hurdles that have been dealt their way made me realise again that we are all in this together. I have been so engrossed in all the difficulties that my family have had to deal with over the past year or two, that one tends to forget sometimes that each and every aviator and their family’s are dealing with the same problems and misgivings that has been thrown our way through this pandemic, and in some instances, people have been separated from their families or friends and have had to almost cope on their own.

Yet, there is this tenacity amongst most of the people that we are connecting with through the podcast platform, where I can certainly see that people are trying their very best to not give up, and just push forward as best they possibly can. The whole catch phrase that started out a year ago of “Transferrable skills” is most definitely being put into practice where I see guys and girls going out and using whatever aviation skill they can possibly apply and putting it to the test. 

I’m not saying by any stretch of the imagination that they are finding this to be a walk in the park, in fact its the complete opposite, yet, like myself, people are taking on the challenges and facing them head on and this is what they will keep on doing until such time that they either succeed, or until there is a viable opportunity to get back into the flight deck.

We don’t really know how long this is going to last, and nobody can say for certain when aviation will recover to the levels that we saw in 2019. All one can really do is accept this for what it is, and start to enjoy this journey as best you possibly can, and make the very best out of whatever opportunity comes your way. But, at the same time, I would highly recommend that you take the time to journal, or keep some sort of a record of what it is that you are doing right now, making sure that you take note of where you succeed, and where you fail.

In years to come, the generations that follow us, are going to take a look back at how we navigated this particular phase in time, and hopefully learn how to better deal with a global pandemic or natural disaster, or whatever may come that could potentially cause as much damage that this pandemic has.

I for one, would like my children, and grandchildren to have the opportunity to read about what it was that made me decide to take a different course in life, whether this turns out to be the right thing or not. At least they will have some insight to fall back on and I can only hope that it would positively influence whatever decisions they may be faced with.

When I look back at my family’s history and the events that took place in my parents or grandparents youthful years, all I really have is the stories that get told when we have a family get together or around the table on certain occasions. Unfortunately, there are no journals or books to go and read, that I could possibly gain a little deeper insight as to why my Grandfather, for instance made certain life changing decisions when he did. Obviously, for the most part he made some very good moves and decisions during the war times, otherwise I wouldn’t be here, but what could he have done differently? He is no longer with us, so, I will never really know.

Not only should that be a reason, but more for yourself I guess. I am sure when things do turn around, and life starts to normalise again, one might do a bit of introspection, and take a look back at these events and wonder, how the hell did we get through this? I have no doubt that it may make for some interesting reading….

Anyway, whether it be that you put pen to paper, blog, vlog, make a podcast or whatever the preference is, why not give it a try as I am sure you will find it quite satisfying, particularly my pilot mates who are used to keeping a logbook of flying hours….this might just be the same in a weird kind of way.

That’s my bit for this week, and I hope that whatever journey you currently find yourself on, that you take the time to embrace all the good things that are happening around you, because there is whether you choose to believe it or not, a positive aspect to everything, and its up to you to see that and be grateful for those blessings.