The Cross-Check

Yikes! The Mistakes That Make Us Better Pilots

January 23, 2026·36 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Airline pilot and author J.J. Madison has seen it all and has been taking plenty of notes along the way. J. J. shares insightful and amusing insights in his new book 'Yikes! 100 Smart Pilots and the Dumb Things They Did Yet Live to Tell About Them,' which analyzes NASA ASRS reports to highlight common cognitive errors and overconfidence in aviation. He also discusses the Victor Kilo Fund, which provides scholarships for aspiring pilots, emphasizing the need for financial support in aviation education. To order a copy of 'Yikes! 100 Smart Pilots and the Dumb Things They Did Yet Live to Tell About Them' visit www.www.yikesthebook.com. Or to find out more about the Victor Kilo Fund, visit www.victorkilofund.org Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Aviation and Mentorship 03:02 The Journey to Becoming a Pilot 06:06 Learning from Mistakes in Aviation 09:05 The Role of Mentorship in Aviation Training 12:03 Analyzing NASA Reports for Safety Insights 14:47 The Genesis of the Book 'Yikes!' 17:54 Common Cognitive Errors in Aviation 21:07 Overconfidence and Its Consequences 24:03 The Importance of Declaring Emergencies 27:09 The Victor Kilo Fund and Giving Back 29:59 Final Thoughts and Advice for Aspiring Pilots Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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