Behind the Prop

NFL wide receiver Brandin Cooks isn’t just known for his speed on the field—he’s also building a reputation in the cockpit.

In this episode of Behind the Prop, Brandin joins us to share his aviation journey, from earning his private pilot certificate to advancing through instrument training and flying his own Cirrus SR22. What started as a curiosity quickly turned into a serious commitment to learning and mastering the craft of flying.

We explore the parallels between football and aviation, including how Brandin approaches high-pressure situations, learns complex systems, and maintains discipline across two demanding environments. He also shares why he considers himself a cautious pilot, how he sets personal minimums, and what he’s learned about risk management through aviation.

Beyond performance, Brandin opens up about how flying has impacted his personal life—giving him a new way to connect with his family and experience freedom outside of the NFL schedule. He also discusses his passion for increasing access to aviation and why representation matters in the industry.

Whether you’re a pilot, athlete, or someone chasing excellence in any field, this conversation delivers valuable insight into what it truly takes to perform at a high level.

In this episode of Behind the Prop, Bobby Doss, Wally Mulhearn, and guest Jay Robinson tackle one of the most stressful moments in a pilot’s journey—receiving an FAA checkride disapproval—and, more importantly, how to recover from it. The conversation starts by normalizing the experience, emphasizing that disapprovals happen at every level of aviation and do not define a pilot’s ability or future.

Wally provides insight from the examiner’s perspective, explaining that a disapproval simply means a standard was not met on that day—not that the pilot is incapable. The group highlights that anxiety, small mistakes, or even external life factors can contribute to an unsatisfactory outcome.

The episode then shifts to actionable recovery steps. First, pilots must fully understand the debrief and letter of disapproval, ensuring they know exactly what needs to be corrected. Next comes ownership—accepting responsibility as pilot in command—followed by focused retraining that targets specific deficiencies rather than starting from scratch.

The hosts emphasize the importance of confidence, smart preparation, and even taking time to decompress before a retest. They also reinforce that most pilots successfully pass on the next attempt. Ultimately, the episode reframes disapproval as a powerful learning opportunity—one that can produce safer, more self-aware, and more resilient pilots.

Tammy Barlette

Former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot and instructor with experience flying the A-10 Warthog, MQ-1 Predator, and MQ-9 Reaper. She now teaches mental performance training specifically designed for aviators through her company Crosscheck Mental Performance.

Tammy combines lessons from aviation, elite athletics, and performance psychology to help pilots improve focus, confidence, and decision-making under pressure.

 

Key Topics Discussed

Mental Performance Training for Pilots

Why many pilots struggle with performance rather than knowledge

How stress affects access to information in high-pressure situations

Techniques used by elite athletes that translate directly to aviation

 

Perfectionism in Aviation

Why perfectionism can hurt pilot performance

Learning to use mistakes as feedback instead of defining moments

 

Confidence and Internal Dialogue

How self-talk influences pilot performance

Why confidence must be intentionally built—not assumed

 

Process vs Outcome Goals

Why focusing only on checkrides or certificates can hurt motivation

Using process-based goals to build long-term success in flight training

 

Practical Techniques

The “What now?” reset technique to stay present in flight

Building confidence through small wins and self-recognition

Staying mentally focused during checkride preparation

 

Resources Tammy Shared

Crosscheck Online Community
https://www.skool.com/crosscheck/

Crosscheck Mental Performance Website
https://www.crosscheckmentalperformance.com/

Tammy Barlette on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tammybarlette/

In this episode of Behind the Prop, Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhern are joined by United Flight Systems Vice President Jay Robinson to break down one of the most debated topics in flight training: Part 61 vs. Part 141. If you’ve spent any time researching flight schools, you’ve likely heard strong opinions—141 is faster, cheaper, more structured… or maybe rigid and bureaucratic. So what’s actually true?

The answer: it depends on the student, not just the regulation.

This episode dives deep into the biggest misconceptions surrounding both training paths. The team explains that while Part 141 offers structure and FAA oversight, that structure doesn’t automatically mean better outcomes. Likewise, Part 61 isn’t inherently more flexible, faster, or cheaper. What really drives success is the quality of the school, the instructors, and how well the program supports each individual student.

They also tackle common myths like:

Is Part 141 actually faster—or just marketed that way?

Are stage checks something to fear?

Does failing a stage check hurt your future career?

Can you switch between Part 61 and 141 without losing progress?

Along the way, Wally brings an airline pilot’s perspective, reinforcing that hiring departments don’t care whether you trained under Part 61 or 141—they care about your skills, consistency, and professionalism.

Whether you’re just getting started or evaluating your next rating, this episode will help you cut through the noise and make a smarter, more confident training decision.

Bottom line: It’s not about the regulation—it’s about the people and the process behind your training.

Buy the 3rd edition here: https://asa2fly.com/the-killing-zone/
This episode of Behind the Prop takes a deep, practical look at aviation safety culture, pilot decision-making, and the human factors that continue to drive accidents across all experience levels. Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhern are joined by Paul Craig, author of The Killing Zone, to discuss why judgment—not just skill or legal minimums—is the foundation of safe flying.
The conversation begins with real-world examples of pilots choosing to delay or cancel flights despite external pressure, reinforcing that many of the best safety decisions never show up in accident statistics because nothing went wrong. Paul Craig shares data showing that from 2012 to 2023, approximately 82% of aviation accidents were survivable, shifting the focus toward preventing all accidents, not just fatal ones. Survivable accidents still represent breakdowns in judgment, awareness, or risk management, and often occur when pilots adopt an “it won’t happen to me” mindset.
A major theme of the episode is complacency, particularly as pilots gain experience. Wally and Bobby discuss how overconfidence can peak around key experience milestones, such as the first several hundred flight hours for pilots and around 1,000 hours for instructors. This complacency can quietly erode discipline in areas like preflight planning, fuel management, and risk assessment. The hosts emphasize that vigilance must be continuous, regardless of total time or aircraft type.
The discussion also explores the evolution of The Killing Zone and the decision to move its third edition to an aviation-focused publisher. The book’s continued relevance lies in its ability to wake pilots up to the statistically dangerous transition periods in their flying careers and encourage humility, preparation, and sound decision-making.
Throughout the episode, the group stresses the importance of practical understanding over memorization. Real safety comes from applying knowledge in dynamic, imperfect situations—whether navigating unusual airspace, managing fatigue, or making conservative go/no-go decisions. The episode closes with a strong reminder that aviation safety is a shared responsibility built through mentorship, education, and a commitment to putting life ahead of ego, schedule, or expectation.