If you’re like most pilots, you’ve occasionally been amazed at the level of minutia involved with piloting airplanes. Indicated vs. calibrated airspeed, leaning to best economy vs. best power, slipping to a short-field landing vs. using flaps.

It seems like it’s human nature to take something simple and turn it into something complex. And flying has gotten complicated, so complicated, in fact, that some pilots give up entirely before they get themselves into trouble. Some don’t give up soon enough. Some are able to stay on top of the demands only through nearly continuous training. …