Summers along the New Jersey coastline are filled with vacationers enjoying the bright sun, the warm ocean water and their time off. Beaches are packed with tourists who often hear single-engine planes flying overhead tugging a large banner advertising a bar, restaurant or local craft beer. These planes are as common as suntan lotion, the smell of hot dogs, and kids building sandcastles. 

Landon Lucas, an 18-year-old pilot with an associate’s degree in aviation, was flying his single-engine plane near Atlantic City a couple of weeks ago when his engine suddenly rolled back to idle. It was windy, and the updrafts from the water made for heavy turbulence. So, Lucas dropped the ad into the ocean and headed for Ocean City, 12 miles south, and the nearest airport. 

As he was approaching, the engine stopped, so he faced a major decision: land in the bay or on the busy causeway bridge leading to Ocean City. 

Lucas noticed a gap in the bridge traffic, which is normally heavy during the summer months, and went for it. He successfully landed his 35-foot-wide plane on a 39-foot freeway. Remarkably, no one was injured. 

“Being scared does nothing,” he told the Philadelphia Inquirer after. “It was either water or bridge. There was a gap in traffic, and I went in. I just did a 90-degree turn and put it on.

“It was my only option. You look left, you look right. There was really only one spot to put it in. One good spot.”

“It wasn’t the smoothest of my career,” he said of the landing. “It was smooth enough.” 

Lucas relied on his training and experience to remain calm under pressure and to prevent fear from creeping into his mind. By systematically breaking down his trip into small parts, he slowed down his process, gave himself two options, never second-guessed his decision, and trusted his skills.

He did what many of us want to do each day when we come to work — he ate the elephant one bite at a time. When we break down our projects into little sections, taking on one small part each day free of multi-tasking, we become more productive.  When we complete one small task perfectly, our motivation improves to do more, and we’re eventually able to increase our efficiency. 

Lucas is a shining example of how slowing down can remove the fear we feel when a tough challenge awaits. 

Shed fear the way he shed his banner.

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