A Pilot’s Guide to Dealing with Change

In aviation (and life), change really is the only constant. New technology, updated regulations, evolving procedures, and operator take-overs can make our jobs feel like they’re always changing 👀 So what are the best strategies to dealing with change?

Those who excel in this career are usually the ones who have absolutely nailed this skill.

What’s the secret? 💡

In our latest pilot guide, we’re breaking down exactly how to navigate operational change without losing your edge.

From staying on top of new systems to handling the stress that comes with it, we’ll show you how to turn change into an opportunity, instead of an obstacle.

Let’s take a look ⤵️

We don’t publish all our Notes from the Cockpit (like this one) publicly, some are shared only by email. Get the next one sent straight to your inbox ⤵️

What Kind of Changes do Pilots Have to Deal With?

Pilots have to deal with all types of change. Let’s go over the most common ones:

Change in Aircraft Type

From airlines buying new aircraft, to a new SAR contract that requires a different helicopter type: we all fly many different aircraft over our careers.

Every time this happens, there’s usually a lot of moaning and complaining. A lot of ‘this is so stupid, we just did X on aircraft type Y”. 🙄

Getting out of that mindset is hard, especially if you’ve flown the same type for 30 years. More on that later.

Change in Operator

Even more daunting than a new aircraft type is changing operator altogether. This can be less of a big deal for airline pilots in terms of culture and procedures, moving from say Emirates to BA, compared to rotary pilots.

This is because things are more standardised in the airlines, and the type of operation usually remains the same.

For helicopter pilots, going from HEMS to offshore, or from VIP to fire fighting, it is a completely different world and skillset to master, which is why it can be a lot more disruptive.

Regulatory / Procedural Changes

Two things that will never stop changing in aviation are regulations and procedures.

Not the most exciting topic, and one that can be quite tricky to stay on top of; regulatory change can present a huge challenge for pilots. Changes such as:

🔸 New airspace restrictions

🔸 New VFR, special VFR, or IFR limitations

🔸 Updated licensing or medical requirements (like having to go more often after 40 years of age. Let’s be honest it can feel like a gut punch!)

🔸 Changes in FTL’s or rest time

Technology Changes

As time goes on, things tend to get both more simple and also more complicated because of technology.

Introduce a fancy new autopilot system to reduce crew workload? Great, but now you’ll have to understand and manage the ins and outs of that system on top of your normal duties.

Progress can come with added complexities, it’s up to us to keep up with those complexities and make them easy for us and our crew.

Operational Crew Changes

You flew with Steve yesterday, but it’ll be Dave tomorrow. Different people introduce different dynamics.

You simply just have to stay open minded and flexible any time you deal with other people in dynamic environments.

It requires people skills to do this effectively, and as time and company cultures evolve, so should we!

Refusing to do that usually doesn’t end well.

Why can Dealing with Change be Difficult for Pilots?

Quite a few reasons! Pilots are just humans after all, and most humans struggle with change for very similar reasons.

But for pilots specifically, there are a few that are most notable:

Habits and Muscle Memory

We all rely on habits that we’ve built over the years, as well as muscle memory for flying aircraft.

It’s a very common problem for pilots to feel like they have to start from scratch when moving across to a different type.

Even within the same type sometimes; if you fly airbus for instance, your right hand becomes your left hand for the side-stick when you progress from First Officer to Captain.

I remember having to fly the cyclic with my other hand during my flight instructor course, to help remember what it felt like to be a student again. Oh boy was that an eye opener for how much we take our muscle memory for granted!

Lack of Control:

Pilots can feel like they have a lack of control over many of the types of change that they have to deal with.

You may not agree with, or like a particular change however assuming there isn’t a safety issue, you kind of just ‘have’ to get on with it. Accept it, change it (if you can) or leave it! 💨

Now this is also true for many other aspects in life, but in our career, it’s one of those things you have to lean into in order to really excel.

Risk of Confusion and Complacency:

Flying different types of aircraft can lead to quite a few threats that come from simply mixing things up in your head.

Knowledge based skills will have to compete with each-other here. From the limitations and aircraft behaviours, to the most basic and simple flows you would otherwise have taken for granted.

Pilots who underestimate this problem sometimes get faced with tricky situations that are caused by not taking this seriously enough.

Flying the wrong profile thats way too steep or shallow, or flying it at the wrong speeds, or simply looking at the wrong parts of the cockpit during flight are all risks if you don’t remain vigilant.

Risk of Training Gaps:

Any change requires time and training to get used to. Operators don’t always recognise this enough, and that creates situations where pilots are let loose in new environments without being properly prepared for it.

It’s become the norm over time to issue a new flight safety directive via email, have pilots e-sign it, and it’s considered 100% understood and remembered forever.

This is quite unrealistic of course. To retain information, especially new information, you need repetition over a time period to really embody it.

This is not always the case for many operational changes that get made every day.

Confidence and Decision Making:

If the procedures you’re familiar with change, it’s easy to feel less confident in yourself. It might slow down decision making, as even basic things might require more conscious thought.

If there is a difference in how different people interpret different policy changes, this can also create friction and second-guessing in the cockpit.

At the end of the day, smooth decision making requires general knowledge to lean on. Knowing your stuff is always going to be harder with things constantly changing.

Strategies for Pilots on Dealing with Change

Change doesn’t HAVE to throw you off though. In fact, it’s usually the people that embrace change that are the best performers.

So what can you do to become better at this? Let’s take a look ⤵️

Apply the 80/20 Rule

The 80/20 rule in this context basically means ‘focus on what matters most and what you can control’.

You’re simply not going to remember every single detail of that new 50 page memo, so focus on what is the most crucial information, and have a mental or physical note of it 📝

Identify what the biggest new changes are, and which changes affect your day-to-day flying the most. That’s your starting point.

Use a “Brief & Review” Approach

Before each flight, or at the start of the day, take some time to become conscious of what has changed since your last work day.

I personally write things down, whether on my kneeboard or my flight notes. But whatever works for you. Discuss it as a crew, and discuss how you can help each other.

Whether it’s a revised way of doing fuel planning, new ATC phraseology, or an updated approach procedure: make it known and cross check ✅

Practice Scenario Based Training and Thinking

If possible, simulate the change in a low-stress environment. Talk it through, either with yourself or colleagues when there is no pressure to perform.

Try to think “what am I going to differently in the cockpit” and “how will it affect my daily actions”?

If you do this, it becomes much easier to use your new knowledge effectively when the heat’s on.

Embrace a Learning / Growth Mindset

Thinking you know everything there is to know is a pretty effective way of ending up in a big ball of fire one day 🔥

If you see your whole career as an opportunity to learn as much as possible, operational changes here and there won’t ruin your day when they happen.

How can you help yourself to get a mindset like this? We’ve covered this in this article:

The Wheel of Life Technique: How to Unleash Your Best Self

Understand the Why Behind the Change

It’s way easier to accept change if you truly understand what led to the change in the first place.

If a company SOP changes, find out how it improves safety and the issue it solves. If you do, you won’t forget it.

We’re a little biased here at Pilots Who Ask Why, but asking why has so many benefits. This is one of them!

Conclusion

Operational change is inevitable in aviation. New aircraft, evolving procedures, updated regulations, none of it ever stops.

Yea, it’s easy to feel frustrated when things change, the best pilots don’t just cope with changes – they use it to their advantage.

By focusing on what matters most, staying proactive, and understanding why things change, you can adapt smoothly without feeling overwhelmed.

Change can be disruptive, but it’s also an opportunity to sharpen your skills, expand your knowledge, and become an even better pilot.

At the end of the day, those who embrace change are the ones who stay ahead. So instead of resisting it, make it part of your mindset, your habits, and your daily routine.

Because in aviation, just like in life: the only way to stay ahead of the curve is to keep learning, adapting, and improving.