"Lack of Experience and Overall Weather Awareness" - Why Cirrus CSIP Says Most Pilots Stay Grounded (And Her Simple Solution)
- Brian Siskind
- Aug 10
- 4 min read
Expert insights from certified flight instructor and Cirrus CSIP on how MyAeroGlass displays transform pilot weather confidence through daily visual connection
Erica instructs many Cirrus pilots, but weather awareness is for all pilots.
Key Takeaways:
Weather inexperience is the #1 reason pilots ground themselves unnecessarily
Daily weather awareness builds subconscious pilot decision-making skills
Aviation art that fits home decor enables consistent weather exposure
Multiple airport displays create conversation opportunities and flying inspiration
Meet Erica Gilbert, a certified flight instructor with instrument privileges and Cirrus Standardized Instructor Pilot (CSIP) who flies TBM aircraft Part 91 and hosts the popular Aerosafe YouTube channel focused on general aviation weather education. With years of experience teaching pilots weather decision-making, Erica offers unique insights into why so many pilots struggle with weather confidence, and how daily weather awareness can transform flying proficiency.
The Hidden Problem: Why Pilots Avoid Flying
"A lot of pilots are not flying because they're not comfortable with weather," Erica explains. "I do truly believe that the reason pilots are not comfortable and confident with weather is lack of experience and overall awareness."
This matches what aviation safety experts have long observed: weather-related accidents often involve pilots who made poor go/no-go decisions, not necessarily those caught in unexpected conditions. The solution isn't just more weather training—it's consistent weather exposure that builds intuitive decision-making skills.
The Power of Subconscious Weather Pattern Recognition
Erica emphasizes the importance of daily weather exposure: "With a product that brings weather awareness to the forefront and they see it every day, multiple times a day—even if it's not a conscious thought—it is still putting those little seeds, that trail of thought process and getting them thinking about, is this a day I would fly or not?"
This aligns perfectly with how professional pilots maintain weather awareness. Airlines pilots don't just check weather before flights; they're constantly aware of conditions through daily exposure to weather information. MyAeroGlass aviation weather displays provide this same continuous awareness for general aviation pilots.
Why Aviation Art Matters More Than Technical Displays
As both a professional pilot and someone who shares living space with a non-aviation partner, Erica understands a crucial factor most aviation weather products ignore: spouse acceptance.
"From my perspective, this product is better because it is art," she notes. "I live with my significant other and he is not as into airplanes as I am. So, to hang up things that are aviation related, they need to fit the decor of the home and they need to look nice. And this does it."
The Visibility Factor in Weather Awareness
Erica makes a critical point about placement: "When you compare that to maybe something that has a lot more technical diagrams on it that are only understandable to pilots, that's oftentimes not gonna be accepted by a spouse to hang up in a place where it would be visible. So if you have a product that isn't where you're gonna be seeing it every day, then the weather awareness aspect of it is no longer present."
This insight explains why many aviation weather maps end up relegated to hangars or pilot-only spaces, where they provide minimal daily weather awareness. MyAeroGlass displays, designed as beautiful aviation art featuring your specific aircraft and home airport, earn prominent placement in homes and offices.
Creating Your Aviation Story Through Multiple Airports
Erica is particularly excited about MyAeroGlass's multiple airport capability: "In the new product that MyAeroGlass has, where you can choose multiple airports, you really can make it a story. You could have the airport where you first soloed and the airport you're based out of now, maybe an airport that you want to visit one day."
The Conversation Starter That Spreads Aviation Passion
"You can create this conversation piece where someone comes over, there's this beautiful piece of art and you get to tell people about airplanes, which doesn't every pilot wanna do that," Erica explains with the enthusiasm every aviator recognizes.
This storytelling aspect transforms a functional weather display into a meaningful representation of your aviation journey, creating opportunities to share your passion for flying with others.
Professional Weather Training to Complement Daily Awareness
While daily weather awareness through tools like MyAeroGlass builds intuitive skills, Erica emphasizes the importance of formal weather education through her company, Gilbert Aviation:
Live weather courses meeting weekly for deep dives into weather theory, weather products, and aeronautical decision-making
IFR training courses for instrument skill development
Week-long IFR immersive training in Cirrus SR22T aircraft, including actual icing conditions and challenging instrument approaches
Visit Gilbert Aviation to learn more about professional weather training that complements the daily awareness provided by your MyAeroGlass display.
The Perfect Combination: Art, Function, and Daily Weather Connection
Erica's perspective perfectly captures why MyAeroGlass displays represent a breakthrough in aviation weather awareness tools:
Beautiful enough for prominent home placement
Functional enough to provide real-time METAR conditions
Personal enough to feature your specific aircraft and airports
Engaging enough to start conversations about aviation
For pilots serious about weather confidence, the combination of daily visual weather exposure through MyAeroGlass displays and professional training through programs like Gilbert Aviation's creates the ideal learning environment.
Ready to transform your weather awareness? Configure your custom MyAeroGlass display featuring your aircraft and home airport.
About Erica Gilbert: Certified Flight Instructor with Instrument Privileges, Cirrus Standardized Instructor Pilot (CSIP), TBM Part 91 pilot, and host of the Aerosafe YouTube channel. Connect with Erica through Gilbert Aviation for professional weather and IFR training.
Transform your aviation passion into handcrafted art that displays your aircraft's plan view and home base airport with real-time weather conditions. Order your MyAeroGlass display today.
