'Airmanship'

JDK · **Posted:** Sat Aug 02, 2014 4:32 am

We all know what it means, I'm sure.

However, when did the term 'airmanship' first appear, and how widespread did it become before the modern era?

And we can all think of times that pilots chose poorly, such as the crashes of aces Douglas Bader, Don Gentile, 'Cobber' Kain and 'Bluey' Truscott all from beating up an airfield and misjudging it - the last two losing their lives, the first his legs.

But how much was that seen at the time (1930s, 1940s) as poor airmanship at the time, and was that the term used? Or was a lack of 'discipline' regarded as the reason, perhaps excused by the 'high spirits' that figher pilots were supposed to have?

Serious questions on a very difficult to encompass area - have at it, please. Any period / date references to 'airmanship' particularly welcome.

Thanks,

Ken · **Posted:** Sat Aug 02, 2014 7:40 am

I assume the word takes on different meanings in different venues. USAF pilot training grades for each sortie have included a stand-alone grade for "airmanship" for over 20 years, and I feel certain that the category was there long before.

In my experience, the word describes one's ability to blend and apply knowledge from multiple sub areas (such as weather, aircraft systems, flight rules, human factors, mission requirements, crew capabilities, safety, etc, etc) and choose not just the "right" or "legal" response to a situation, but the best/most efficient one that meets the needs of the moment. In its highest form, the action may initially surprise or puzzle other players in the scenario, as the one exhibiting the outstanding airmanship may have recognized a situation developing before the others or chosen a remedy "outside the box" of their experience.

IMHO, the word "judgement" falls short as a synonym, as does "situational awareness", "CRM", "stick and rudder skills" and a host of other buzz words we often bat around. Airmanship, IMHO, is the indefinable mack-daddy catch-all concept that encompasses it all.

Ken

Scooby · **Joined:** Sun Apr 13, 2014 2:45 pm **Posts:** 142

The definition has evolved over the years. In the early years we didn't look at accidents in the depth that we do in the present day.

The present definition of airmanship includes crm, human factors, and is far more complex.

It's tough to say when it first appeared although it has definitely changed over the years.

JDK · **Posted:** Sat Aug 02, 2014 9:09 am

Thanks, I'd agree with all that, good to have it from authorities!

As well as the familiar modern 'temple' design seen around, I'm thinking another way you could render the change is that in the modern era the 'superior pilot uses his superior judgement to avoid using his superior skills'; whereas in the earlier period - let's say 1900-1950, it was more about how many superior skills you could be seen to use!

Funny thing is according to the Google books ngram, there was some use of the word in the 1810s - most surprising. I'm guessing that it meant 'airmanship' as in 'trying to persuade your balloon to go where you wanted'...

Regards,

Enemy Ace · **Posted:** Sat Aug 02, 2014 5:24 pm

The story "ICE!" by Ernest K Gann has always epitomized airmanship in my humble opinion. I read it once a year just to keep my head straight about what being a pilot is all about.

eze240 · **Joined:** Tue Jun 29, 2010 2:32 pm **Posts:** 117

After a short search.....since everything on the interweb is true and accurate....
I found a listing on dictionary.com, that claims the word "airmanship" originated between 1860-1865....
I can kind of believe this civil war angle, since the term "seamanship" was in common use prior to that time....
Seamanship describes essentially the same set of factors as airmanship, only in relation to ship handling.
It makes sense as a descriptive, considering that at the time, operation of an "aircraft" was probably viewed as being similar to the operation of a ship....except, that it was operating in a different medium.

Dan Johnson II · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 1:49 am **Posts:** 659

I found this in the logbook of an RCAF Spitfire pilot that I have. "Airmanship" was being used in 1941 for what it's worth. Not the lower section for comments.

The same form is there throughout his WW2 years and a similar form appears in his logbook for the 1950s when he was flying Sabres.

JDK · **Posted:** Sat Aug 02, 2014 8:35 pm

Thanks chaps! Most helpful.

seagull61785 · **Posted:** Sat Aug 02, 2014 10:37 pm

My ten cents worth would have the term 'airmanship' coming into more frequent usage around the time of the early years of (fixed wing) aviation. From an old 'training manual' issued by the flying school at Hendon (later RAF Hendon) operated by Claude Grahame-White I recall the word being used in the context of developing an awareness of the environment the flyer found himself in, and for instilling an operational 'common-sense' approach to increase the chances of the aviator's survival and to make him a better pilot.

As I can't for the moment lay my hands on this document (stored somewhere in my archives), I'll have to go from memory. A typical example would be for the fledgling aviator and his instructor to stand outside the hangar in the early morning, sniff the air and to decide, using their best of experience, judgement and airmanship, whether to set forth on a flight or not depending on the air having 'enough lift in it'. Bear in mind this was around 1911 - 1914 and a lot of the rules and understanding was not yet formalised or on record.

I agree that the linkage to seamanship is valid as there are many other cross-references and terms used fairly common to both air and sea operations. As nautical knowledge and processes undoubtedly preceded flying activities then it would be logical for seamanship to spawn an equivalent term to be used in the context of flying in machines.

In two of the better books written about early aviation, Wind in the Wires and Sagittarius Rising there are references to the term airmanship in particular with regard to the respective authors' ab initio training experiences. Once again the word seems to appear when discussing the training of the early aviators.

I believe that subsequent to the formation of the Royal Air Force in April 1918, a great effort was put into formalising every part and process of the fledgling service and flying training was one of the first to have manuals and SOP's written to put the hard-won knowledge of the day down on paper as a prototype for what would later become the CFS (Central Flying School) standard approach to the task, later adopted by many other countries. Airmanship is frequently used in these early manuals as well as part of a system for measuring and grading pilots.

In my own experience the examiner's comments were recorded in log books and grades awarded on 'airmanship' as part of the RAF's training for instructor ratings (I surprisingly got an 'Above Average' for airmanship when upgrading to A2 endorsement, as nobody ever seemed to gain an 'excellent' so I was quite content with that in my log book).

I believe that the term airmanship has been developed over the decades since the early 1900's as an indication of a pilot's approach to conducting a safe flight, the exhibiting of sound judgement especially in decision making, and an overall common-sense and professionalism in the cockpit.

That's my lot,

Barry

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'Airmanship'

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