Review: Defensive Positioning
Whether you’re a private pilot, CFI, or airline pilot, you should have some form of defensive positioning established when you’re not the pilot flying.
Defensive positioning doesn’t mean hovering your hands over the throttle and control yoke. Instead, during critical phases of flight, you should have one hand positioned to quickly reach the throttle, and your other hand should be placed beside or below the control yoke.
If you have to take the controls away from another pilot, always follow the positive exchange of control procedures. Avoid « helping » another pilot fly the airplane; it will only create confusion about who’s actually flying. Do your best to verbalize your concerns first, and then take the controls if truly necessary.
