Know YOUR Safety Margin

     Establish firm – but flexible – ideas about your margin of safety.   These should include altitude, speed, bank angles, escape options, the performance and handling characteristics of your aircraft, prevailing weather, and potential turbulence.   Realize that safety margins will change with the weather and numerous other factors.   Be honest with yourself - other pilots' margins may not suit your needs.   Wherever you are, over low ground or high, keep this moment's margin foremost in mind.   If you inadvertently exceed it without getting hurt, see that as an undeserved lucky break, not something to be repeated.   YOUR LIFE COULD DEPEND ON THIS!