"Chair Flying: The Power of Visualization to Prepare and Perform"
If you read my post on not - negotiable #2 “Anything you do, be prepared” I explained why preparation is so important, and how to incorporate preparation into your daily life.
There is a method I have been using for more than 30 years of my aviation career called “Chair Flying”.
This technique, nominated by the entire community of fighter pilots and non is a way to overcome the trauma of expectation and reality by using a powerful tool like visualization.
The origins of using this method go back when I started flying the SF-260 in pilot training.
We would be assigned some study material, receive a phase briefing on how to do maneuvers and we would go fly with an instructor for many missions before you were cleared to fly your initial solo .
All the instructors would state the same “when you are in the air your performance will be reduced and you won't remember anything you study. You need to study more on the ground. You need to Chair Fly.”
That was a terrifying statement.
“How will I perform in the air if I cannot remember the parameters of the maneuvers, the ops limits of the aircraft, the geographical boundaries of the airspace?”, were just some of the questions storming my brain.
At that time coaching culture was so immature, that cadets were left to find a solution for this learning process by themselves.
That flying phase was a very selective period, so not everybody would have passed the theory and flying exams.
Maybe work as a team, but how?
In a spirit of survival, me and my colleagues started sharing what we understood by Chair Flying.
I can still see myself seated at my desk with a bunch of pictures of the cockpit, the manuals and the checklist. Me and my peers would share notes, share the flows of the checklists, we would ask each other questions that instructors most commonly would ask to the students.
And then we were ready for Chair Flying.
Eyes closed or open, seated on a chair, with the checklist on one side and a cheat sheet on the other side, visualize time and space, touch buttons, make radio calls, move the throttle, take off, look outside the road that cuts the airspace north to south.
This became a primitive method for learning using visualization of what should happen the day after in the air, using preparation to create expectations on what reality would deliver.
In 1997 I was assigned to the ENJJPT (Euro Nato Joint Jet Pilot Training) in Texas to complete my pilot training and finally become a Military Pilot.
The Chair Flying method was part of the preparation also there!
But, it was structured, coached and augmented by a nice poster with the picture of 1:1 cockpit switches and flight simulators.
It’s evident that in just a few years there was a technological leap forward, but the experience of Chair Flying and so forth preparing for your flight, exam, mission was the foundation of learning and getting ready.
At the end of pilot training I was assigned to fly the F-104.
At the end of the 20th century the Italian Air Force was still flying a 1950s design aircraft, with 50 years of delay.
We didn’t have simulators or computer based training, I just dove into a new environment, even more so the culture of the performance was “airmanship based” to survive this ancient and difficult machine.
Once again I found myself seated on a chair and moving my hands blind folded pretending to touch switches and rehearsing the mission profile I was meant to fly the next day.
During the years after the age of the F-104 learning became more interactive with Simulators, Partial Cockpit Trainer devices, Computer Based training. F-16 and Typhoon brought a more modern approach to learning and flying, but still, Chair Flying was always mentioned and advised by the instructors. Why?
Chair Flying is a scientifically-backed method for enhancing learning and performance in aviation.
Motor Imagery: Studies in motor imagery (the process of mentally rehearsing a movement) show that it strengthens neural connections and improves motor learning. Sometimes I ask my students: “show me your hands”. I want to see the way that they are moving their hands by finding the switches and moving imaginary stick and throttles.
Neuroplasticity (I think this is mind blowing): Visualization contributes to neuroplasticity the brain's ability to rewire itself based on experience, including imagined experiences.
Mirror Neurons: These neurons activate when we observe or imagine actions, contributing to skill acquisition and empathy.
Simulation Hypothesis: In learning contexts, mental simulation prepares the brain for real-life scenarios by building familiarity and confidence.
When we are talking about enhancing performance we are effectively meaning, improving readiness and increasing situational awareness. You can imagine from a psychological point of view the impact of such a learning method on stress management and approach to a mission.
In modern pilot training Chair Flying has not lost its effectiveness. More technology involved, but the stimulus of willing to excel by visualising the cockpit, the environment, and possible contingencies, enhances situational awareness and decision-making skills during flight.
Another aspect which I find fascinating is that practicing responses in difficult scenarios can reduce stress and build confidence, especially for high-stakes tasks.
If it works for pilots, why shouldn’t it work also for other fields?
When I coach Athletes approaching an important Triathlon race I always make them Chair Fly their flow, from the moment they get to the transition area the day before the race to the moment they cross the finish line. Tailoring expectations sets a different pacing during the execution day and makes lessons learned more accessible.
I once mentored a kid who wanted to join the Air Force and he had to go through the initial exams and interviews. He didn’t know what Chair Flying was at that time, but rehearsing and imagining him seated in front of the examiners to pass the tests for the Air Force Academy, made his mind more tranquil and available to perform.
For those who are still not familiar with Chair Flying this is a short "how-to" guide:
Set the Scene: Gather any relevant materials, such as diagrams, step-by-step guides, or detailed instructions that align with the task you're preparing for.
Mental Simulation: Imagine the environment in as much detail as possible including sounds, movements, visuals.
Repetition: Walk through scenarios multiple times until they feel second nature.
Refine with Feedback: Use insights from peers or coaches to improve your visualization. Use Team Work as your Chair Flying Enhancer.
By mentally rehearsing challenges, you prepare your mind and body to respond when it matters the most. Whether you're piloting a jet, competing in a triathlon, or leading a presentation, Chair Flying transforms preparation into peak performance.
Good stuff. I did AF pilot training in 1979-1980. That was before PCs. Sat at your table in the squadron and went over procedures again and again. My first IP was a young Captain out of F-4s. He was impossible to fluster, which I attempted (not on purpose) numerous times. I remember during spin training in the T-37. I did the spin recovery steps and ended up in an inverted spin. His "I got it" were the words I need to hear.
How good are the instructors? Reading your comment I’m tempted about writing on the Margin Theory. Modern aircraft and technology help, but have you built your safe enough margin as an instructor?