For instance, consider the takeoff briefing. Common in larger flight schools preparing students for airline careers—but not a bad idea for any pilot—the takeoff briefing is a verbal laying out of the “battle plan” for each and every takeoff. A comprehensive brief includes the type of takeoff; any configuration or speeds; and the actions the pilot will take in the event of an engine failure—including, most importantly, at what altitude those actions become available.

The whole idea here is that takeoff is the most vulnerable time in any flight, and if something goes wrong, seconds don’t count, because there may be no seconds to spare. The briefing is intended to get everyone on the same page in a crewed environment, and to prepare the mind and hands of single-pilot operators. But don’t make the mistake of thinking that you simply need to memorize the takeoff briefing like an airspace minimum. To prime the proper pilot response if things go sideways, the planned response to any abnormal event must be actively internalized, every time.

So don’t just memorize the briefing and spit it out. Don’t just say it out loud, even by yourself, “because you have to.” Instead, while you’re giving your briefing, actually think about what you’re saying, and the decisions you are making in advance. Visualize each scenario. If your briefing includes, “If I lose power below 500 feet, I will pitch for best glide and land straight ahead,” picture yourself doing it in order to prepare yourself. In your mind’s eye, imagine releasing the back pressure on the yoke. “See” the airspeed tape or gauge spooling to your target airspeed.

Louis Pasteur famously said that “chance favors only the prepared mind.” He was referring to scientific discovery, but in aviation, chance can wear a more sinister cloak. Chance is the risk of unexpected failure. And regurgitating a memorized briefing doesn’t prepare the mind.