When you’ve flown a fighter jet, managed high-stakes missions, and performed under relentless pressure, you learn quickly that confidence is not optional — and it is not accidental.
In our latest PPOT partner webinar, we welcomed Tammy Barlette, founder of Crosscheck Mental Performance>. Tammy is a former fighter pilot who now works with aviators across the industry, helping them build the mental skills required for consistent, high-level performance.
What followed was not a motivational talk. It was a grounded, practical discussion about mindset in aviation — the kind that rarely gets addressed openly.
Confidence Is Built — Not Granted
Early in the session, Tammy addressed a question that many pilots quietly wrestle with:
How do you balance confidence with humility?
Her answer reframed the issue entirely. Confidence, she explained, is not bravado or personality. It is the byproduct of preparation, honest debriefing, and disciplined repetition. Humility keeps a pilot coachable. Confidence grows when performance is backed by evidence — not ego.
For student pilots starting from scratch, this was particularly relevant. Confidence is not something you wait to feel. It is something you build through action.
Imposter Syndrome in Aviation
The conversation quickly moved into territory that resonated deeply with attendees: imposter syndrome.
Pilots shared concerns about:
- Starting flight training later in life
- Taking extended breaks from flying
- Watching peers get hired while their own timeline feels slower
One participant described returning to aviation after an 18-year break and successfully regaining their IFR rating step by step — a reminder that skills can be rebuilt and confidence restored with deliberate effort .
Tammy emphasized that comparison is one of the fastest ways to erode confidence. Aviation careers are rarely linear. When pilots focus on controllable inputs — study habits, preparation quality, debrief honesty — progress becomes sustainable.
Imposter syndrome, she noted, often appears precisely when someone is stretching into growth.
Compartmentalizing Stress Before Flight
Another strong theme was stress management.
Attendees asked how to handle personal stress before a flight and how to train effectively when life becomes complicated.
Tammy shared a practical approach:
- Develop a consistent pre-flight mental routine
- Use structured breathing to reset focus
- Identify what is controllable in the moment
- Acknowledge distractions without allowing them to dominate
The objective is not to suppress stress. It is to direct attention intentionally.
For many in attendance, this was one of the most actionable segments of the session.
Anticipation Anxiety & Performance Pressure
Several questions addressed anticipation anxiety — the stress that builds before checkrides, interviews, or evaluations.
Tammy reframed anticipation anxiety as energy that can be directed rather than eliminated. When preparation is strong and routines are established, that energy sharpens performance instead of undermining it.
She also addressed the emotional weight of watching colleagues move ahead professionally. In aviation, hiring waves and timing factors are often outside individual control. The discipline lies in maintaining preparation standards regardless of external pacing.
Training Through Life’s Difficult Seasons
Perhaps one of the most grounding parts of the discussion centered on training during challenging life periods.
Aviation does not pause when personal life becomes demanding. Tammy emphasized scaling effort instead of abandoning progress. Smaller, consistent steps rebuild momentum and prevent overwhelm.
Capacity fluctuates. Commitment can remain steady.
Watch the Full Webinar Recording
If you were unable to attend live — or would like to revisit the discussion — the full recording is now available.
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/veEqblSTGWYvItjxLmL3H9IVJHEedimwsS1jbU4wIdEY2xSVA56eScIjs7NKMbNv._2J6WJaIJ8-oNHf_?startTime=1771548657000
Passcode: &dfwq6BQ
This session is particularly valuable for:
- Student pilots building foundational confidence
- Aviators returning after time away
- Instructors refining leadership presence
- Pilots navigating self-doubt, comparison, or performance anxiety
Tammy’s experience as a former fighter pilot brings clarity and credibility to the conversation. Her work now extends that expertise to the wider aviation community.
Access the recording and continue developing the mental skills that support safe, consistent performance in the cockpit.
