By Joseph E. (Jeb) Burnside

Having the talent and skill to fly an airplane pretty much when and where we want doesn’t mean we should. Any number of factors may from time to time argue against making a trip or completing one. Weather, terrain, mechanical shortcomings, time of day and/or some combination of these factors all figure prominently in the go/no-go decision—and in the decision to keep going. Even though our magic carpets offer us freedom, flexibility and the ability to cover more territory in less time than the option of buying an airline ticket, we still must exercise some discretion and thoughtful planning in how we use them. …