Episode #146 - Human Factors in High Stakes: Ken Wylie - The Helicopter Podcast

Send us a text Welcome to The Helicopter Podcast , brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS ! In this captivating episode of The Helicopter Podcast, host Halsey Schider welcomes Ken Wylie, an International Certified Mountain Guide and author of Buried. Unlike typical guests, Ken’s expertise lies not in aviation but in mountaineering, where he has dedicated his career to understanding human factors and decision-making in high-consequence environments. Drawing parallels between mountaineering and aviation, Ken shares his transformative experience surviving a tragic 2003 avalanche in Revelstoke, where seven lives were lost. He reflects on the critical role of intuition, the dangers of hierarchical decision-making, and the importance of balancing courage with humility. Through his Archetypal framework, Ken explores how countering mindsets like the “addict” and “alchemist” shape decisions under pressure. This episode offers profound insights for pilots and high-risk professionals on managing fear, complacency, and responsibility to enhance safety and performance. To learn more about Ken’s work, visit: https://www.archetypal.ca/ To also read more about Ken, be sure not to miss Vertical's latest issue release as well! Thank you to our sponsors HeliLadder , Enstrom and Sellacopter .