The degree of complexity required to masterfully operate a
supersonic aircraft in a hostile environment is very high. In fact,
without technology and teamwork, it is overwhelmingly impossi-
ble. The variables involved in flight are almost endless: wind direc-
tion and intensity; barometric pressure; humidity; aircraft altitude;
aircraft speed; ambient temperature; aircraft weight; distance from
destination; amount of remaining fuel; required arrival time;
changing visibility; engine efficiency; conflicting or hostile aircraft;
restricted airspace; aviation regulations; information from electri-
cal, fuel, hydraulic, navigation, and communication systems—and
the list goes on. Add to this equation thousands of airplanes in air-
space at any given moment, and you have world-class complexity.
Albert Einstein is said to have advised, “Make the solution as
simple as possible, but no simpler.” Aviation systems are designed
with Einstein’s advice in mind and work to distill the confusing
universe of flight data into a few bits of vital, actionable informa-
tion. These systems are designed to assist multiple pilots to consis-
tently, safely, and successfully complete the objectives of their
respective missions by simplifying the bewildering array of variables
so that aviators can operate with relative ease in a large, complex
environment.
The instrument landing system (ILS), the principal system that
pilots use to extend human capability during low-visibility land-
ings, is a good example. The ILS cockpit display looks like
crosshairs imposed within a circle (see Figure 27.1). The horizon-
tal bar represents the glide path to landing, while the vertical bar
represents the course line. As long as the pilot centers the two bars
and maintains correct airspeed, he or she will stay “on course, on
glide path” and is guaranteed to arrive at the desired threshold for
a perfect landing flare.
The genius of the ILS is that it integrates and simplifies all of
the variables with which a pilot would otherwise have to contend
during this critical phase of flight. Many phases of flight are forgiv-
ing of mistakes; the landing is not one of them.
Executives also face an extremely complicated set of variables
when operating in the corporate environment. Customer demands,
302 LEADINGORGANIZATIONALLEARNING