Candid Camera! Balloon Safety! What's the connection? Well, Candid Camera was a popular TV show because of the humor generated when people were caught on video reacting differently to the same situation. With balloon safety, as we started learning in Part 2, there is a bit of humor in the different behavioral tendencies and how people react to the same ballooning situations. Of course, about this last statement, the High D will say, "What's so funny?" The High I will say, "I know that, isn't it great?" The High S will say, "I'll have to read Part 2 again." And the High C will say, "Why can't we be serious about safety topics?" Once you start recognizing "The Beautiful Differences in People," everyday can be your "Candid Camera."
In the first three parts of the series, we talked about ballooning being a people sport and how to recognize the different behavioral tendencies. Being able to recognize these tendencies gives us insight as to why some people do the things they do. In this part of the series, we will look at the decisions balloonist make when people are "directly" involved in the ballooning operation. We'll try to answer such questions as, what can we reasonably expect from other people with D,I,S,C tendencies, how well do the different tendencies interact, and how does other people's behavioral tendencies affect ballooning safety? Regardless of whether you are the pilot, crewchief, or crew, the answers could help you, "Keep those helping hands!"
Continuing where we left off last month, there are five major hazardous attitudes which promote poor pilot judgment. By matching the behavioral tendencies D,I,S,C to these attitudes you can get a better idea of accident-causing behavior. Remember, D is the dominating tendency, I is the influencing tendency, S is the steadiness tendency, and C is the conscientiousness tendency (see part 2). The five hazardous attitudes are:
1) Anti-Authority, "Don't tell me!" This assertive attitude is typical of HIGH-D balloonists whom many times find themselves pushing the limits.
2) Impulsively, "Do something quickly!" Impulsiveness is a HIGH-I tendency. Should an accident happen, people with High I tendencies will make excuses for their actions. It's not unusual for them to inflate their balloon without tying back, and when the basket drags over the fan, they can be heard to say, "The weather briefer didn't say anything about wind gust today!" The old saying, "Follow your first impulse," comes easy for people with HIGH-I tendencies.
3) Invulnerability, "It won't happen to me." Optimism is also a quality of the HIGH-I, but it's also a distinction of the "positive thinkers" of the world. But, when it comes to ballooning and a thunderstorm is approaching, a little realism should be in order. Taking chances under the pretense of being optimistic, can cause challenges beyond your control.
4) Macho, "I can do it!" Confidence and a good self-image are character elements of the HIGH-D. It's the overuse of these strong points that create problems.
5) Resignation, "What's the use?" This High S tendency is a common attitude toward our government, the politicians, taxes, employment, our kids, and sometimes flying balloons.
If you've noticed, none of the hazardous attitudes lend to the High C tendency. Maybe that's why there are so many airline pilots that have High C tendencies.
Now, about Safety Area Two, making decisions when other people are "directly" involved. Such people as crew, passengers, students, tower operators, weather briefers, rally directors, and other pilots. The potential challenges from the many D,I,S,C differences are unlimited. For example, the time it was a beautiful sunny day and the High I weather briefer said, "Boy it's a great day for you guys to fly," and then preceded to say the surface winds were 15 mph and forecast to increase (in Louisiana that's not so good). Or, the High C weather briefer that wouldn't say anything at all till you said what kind of briefing you wanted. Oh, the beautiful differences in weather briefers.
But, from a safety standpoint, it's more important that we understand crew. Whether you are a pilot, crewchief, or a crew member, you have to interact with crew when ballooning. Consider the different crew people involved, like the one that has to be in charge all the time (High D), or the one that always seems to be talking to the spectators while the rest of the crew is working their tails off (High I), or the crew person that takes forever to find the yellow Velcro tab in the top (High S), or the one that wants to pull the whole top out just because one of the tabs is crooked (High C). In our observations, ballooning crews that work well together better understand each other, are willing to give than take, and tend to have less incidents.
On the other hand, we know that not everyone works well together, nor does everyone socialize well together, so let's look into the ballooning operation. We've put together a brief explanation of crewing compatibility, which can be pilot-crew or crew-crew. We've also added social compatibility to show the behavioral influence of the environment. It's important to keep in mind, most people have "more than one" of the High tendencies, so don't fire your crew, or quit the pilot you are crewing for, because we said you weren't compatible.
From a compatibility standpoint, a person with High D tendencies will naturally want to be the leader and they will have an average crewing relationship with another High D, or a High I, or a High C. But, with a High S their crewing relationship will improve because the High S is more of a team person. Because the High D tends to be pushy, they will have an average social relationship with another High D or High S, but a poor social relationship with a High C (the reserved tendency). Just the opposite, the High D will have a good social relationship with a High I (the party tendency).
A High I will have a poor crewing relationship, but a "great" social relationship with another High I because they will tend to talk to each other rather than work. A High I will have a good crewing relationship with a High S (team person), but an average social relationship. A High I will have an average crewing relationship, but a poor social relationship with a High C.
A High S and a High C, a High S and a High S, or a High C and a High C, will all have a good crewing and social relationship between themselves.
Now, if you feel that you are not compatible with someone else while ballooning, be patient and try to communicate. It will go a long way toward improving the safety standards of the flight. These are some suggestions to more effectively interact. A High D may want authority, challenges, or varied activities, so put them in charge of something (the crown line if they are really pushy). Be brief and to the point. They are best suited for crew chief or crowd control. A High I may want social recognition and people to talk to, so make it fun. They are best suited for crew morale and the post-flight organizer. A High S may want security of the situation and time to adjust, so clearly explain roles and goals. They are best suited for communications, landowner relations, and they are the best all around crew. A High C may want exact job descriptions and controlled situations, so make sure you know what you want before telling them what to do. They are best suited for securing equipment, map reading, and safety checks. It's been our experience in the past that when you treat your crew according to their behavioral tendencies, you don't have to worry about "Keeping those helping hands."
A safety success story concerning behavioral tendencies in ballooning happened with a pilot in our area. The balloonists where we live work hard to maintain a favorable relationship with the FAA, but this one pilot just seemed to get into trouble whenever he flew. It got pretty serious when he had three powerline strikes in less than six months. Luckily, no one was hurt, but the FAA took action against him.
When his suspension was about up, the FAA asked if we, as safety counselors, would talk with him about balloon safety. We told the FAA we would, knowing that prior to his suspension we had tried to talk to him on several occasions, but to no avail. Identifying his behavioral tendencies as a combination of High I and High D, we knew he was motivated by "social acceptance" and "being in control" so this is what we decided to do.
It was important we meet with him where no one else was present because a person with High D tendencies has a strong ego and gets upset if they feel "put down" in front of others. Also, a High D has a lot of confidence in himself and his abilities (although his abilities were certainly lacking), so we didn't try to "tell" him what he should or shouldn't do.
We got his attention by talking to him about his crew (a High I is concerned about people). We talked about how his crew needed a "leader" to make sure that they knew what to do in case of a powerline strike (it was obvious they would probably need this kind of information). We made a copy of the article we saw in Balloon Life, March 1991, page 18, "Powerline Safety" and gave it to him. We explained the importance of each procedure and offered to help go over it with his crew (the few crew he had left). The end result was, through our own and other balloonists' efforts, that he felt accepted by the ballooning community and became sincerely interested in being a better pilot. He attended his first safety seminar the next spring and even though he moved out of town the following year, at least he didn't have anymore incidents.
Homework time! Get out Balloon Life, January 1995 (you should have this issue) and go to page 28, "The Crew Manual," an article written by Glen Moyer, a balloonist who has done more than his share for balloon safety with his articles. Naturally, reread the article. Then on page 29 there is a list "20 Steps to Responsible Crewing." Keeping in mind that all behavioral tendencies are good, think about which behavioral tendency D,I,S,C is most likely to follow each step. Let's do the first five together.
Step 1, "Remember that you are a representative of ballooning and always be courteous." A High S would most likely follow this step? Step 2, "Wear sturdy shoes and leather gloves." High S again, if they were told to do so. Step 3, "Be on time and at the appointed meeting place." This would be a High C, conscientiousness. Step 4, "Do not smoke around the balloon and insure that spectators do likewise." Who is a natural "in charge" person, but a High D. Step 5, "Handle the balloon only by load tapes or handling lines if so equipped." Anytime the word "only" is used, it lends to a High C. Well, this is how it works. There are fifteen more steps, so see if you can recognize the tendencies. This is a challenge to the High D, a conversation piece to the High I, a learning experience to the High S, and to the High C, we are still making mistakes, aren't we? As my balloon instructor used to say, "Such is life!"
Next month, the conclusion. Part 5 will look at Safety Area Three, where balloonists make decisions when people are "indirectly" involved in the ballooning operation. This part will enlighten you to the "Magic of Landowner Relations" and the "FAA Good-Guys". Be with us for the wrap-up and "Something Special for YOU!" If you have questions or comments, send them to 429 Kimmeridge Drive, Baton Rouge LA 70815-6924.