A guide to the skills you need before starting a flying journey
Published: Nov 8, 2025 |Becoming a pilot is about far more than just "stick and rudder" skills. The best pilots are masters of non-technical skills, often referred to as "soft skills" or "human factors." These are the skills that prevent incidents and accidents.
At ASK Aviation, our "Attitude, Skills, Knowledge" ethos places huge emphasis on these. Here's a guide to the core skills you should start developing before you even step into a cockpit.
1. Attitude: Professionalism & Discipline
This is the foundation. It's about taking your training seriously, showing up prepared, and having the discipline to study even when you're tired. It's about fostering a safety-conscious mindset, never cutting corners, and having the humility to know what you don't know.
2. Skills: Beyond the Stick
- Decision-Making: Can you take multiple pieces of information (weather, fuel, aircraft status, air traffic) and make a safe, logical decision under pressure?
- Communication: This means clear, concise radio calls, but also effective communication with your instructor, engineers, and (later) your First Officer.
- Situational Awareness: Often called "SA," this is your mental model of the world around you. Where are you? Where are other aircraft? What is the weather doing? What is your fuel state? What could go wrong next?
- Workload Management: In a busy phase of flight, can you prioritise tasks? (e.g., "Fly the aircraft" comes first, *then* navigate, *then* communicate).
3. Knowledge: The "Why"
It's one thing to know *how* to do something (a skill); it's another to know *why* you are doing it (knowledge). This is the deep understanding of aerodynamics, meteorology, and aircraft systems that allows you to make effective decisions when things don't go to plan.
Start practicing these skills in your daily life. Manage your time, communicate clearly, and think critically about your decisions. This will give you a massive head-start in your flight training.