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Welcome back to Stick with It!

In this episode, we’re joined by Carolyn Vaughan, Principal Human Factors Specialist in Aviation Psychology and Human Factors. We explore the mental and emotional challenges pilots face throughout their training journeys, and how to better prepare for them from the very beginning. Carolyn shares why adopting a “novice mindset” can be so powerful, even for experienced pilots in recurrent training, and offers practical ways to build resilience and bounce back from setbacks like failed sim sessions or difficult feedback.

We also discuss how pilots can strengthen study habits, use deliberate practice to retain technical knowledge long-term, and how instructors can support learners through plateaus while creating a psychologically safe environment in high-stakes training.

Whether you’re starting out or returning for recurrent checks, this conversation is packed with insights to help you train smarter, stay resilient, and grow as a pilot.

🎧 Fly safe and stick with it!

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro
02:31 - History of Human Factors in Aviation
05:51 - Carolyn's Career Path
07:00 - New Training Guides
08:58 - Training Pathways & Shifting Mindset
15:11 - Retaining Information & Learning
22:02 - Learning as Adults
29:00 - Training Tips for Pilots
34:23 - Help Available to Pilots
36:13 - Outro

Fly safe and stick with it.