Posted on June 29, 2024
From a Journal 23 Years Ago.
Recently I was asked to find a journal I kept when we met twenty-three years ago. In it, I found a passage in which I wrote about a dream I had awoken from. Twenty-three years ago! We had… Read More
Posted on September 3, 2016
No longer an Airline Captain and I’ve Lost My Mojo
I’ve been an airline Captain since 2001. With a recent airline change I’m a First Officer again. The copilot. Just like Kareem Abdul-Jabar… and the guy who sat next to Sully. I’m one step up from Otto the autopilot… Read More
Posted on August 4, 2014
What I Did Not Do During My Summer Vacation
I was on vacation during the month of July. I ceased all work related activities. I also didn’t… It was a blissful month away from the airport. I return to the cockpit tomorrow. I just hope they didn’t… Read More
Posted on June 30, 2014
How Hollywood Gets Airline Life Wrong
In many ways… Hollywood’s depiction of airline life is completely wrong. In some ways it’s spot on and I claim those scenes as just another day at the office. My ownership to what scene I sell as truth… Read More
Posted on June 17, 2014
Captain Dad – I Called Maintenance Control for a Toy Helicopter
My work life and home life collided yesterday when my son complained that his toy Hess helicopter wasn’t working as it was supposed to. “My helicopter won’t fly anymore!” It never flew. The blades spun. It lit up…. Read More
Posted on May 28, 2014
Eat, Sleep, Fly
Sometimes people ask me what it’s like to be a pilot. “Wow, that must be so cool! I bet you’re really smart. You must have been good at math in school. Are all pilots as handsome as you?”I’ve… Read More
Posted on February 17, 2014
The Time I Told an Aviation Icon I Didn’t Have a Business Card
Filed away years ago as, “Well, that sure was stupid.” Once, I met Southwest founder and former CEO, Herb Kelleher in the airport. We talked at length and I got the impression he liked me. He suggested as… Read More
Posted on January 27, 2014
Is the First Officer Actually a Pilot?
Since the beginning, there have always been two pilots up on the flight deck. Had it not been for the Wright Brothers, maybe we’d only have one seat up there. It’s a common misconception that the First Officer… Read More
Posted on January 18, 2014
What You Should Not Ask Your Flight Crew
We obviously spend lots of time around the humans. We are in the service industry after all. Day in and day out we spend our time carrying you, your loved ones, your bags and your ‘service animals’ from… Read More
Posted on November 8, 2013
Living in Hotels – It’s Us or The Bedbugs
I spend about ten nights a month in hotels. I’ve been doing this job for fourteen years. I’ve slept (or attempted to sleep) in a hotel bed roughly 1700 times since then. I’ve learned a few things about… Read More
Posted on September 5, 2013
But They Do Have Free Breakfast
When I was a young airline pilot and new to ‘the road’ I ranked hotels by their proximity to good food and entertainment. Now, I judge hotels on two things: internet speed and shower pressure. Oh, and free… Read More
Posted on July 24, 2013
Why it is Imperative you Land a Pilot
This article was floating around Facebook today explaining why it is imperative you land a pilot. 6 reasons to be exact. Since I am a pilot, I figured I’d explain my reasoning why scoring a Jet Captain should… Read More
Posted on January 31, 2013
Being a Pilot is Ruining Me
I’m not gonna go into all the obvious hazards of flying likes skin cancer, alcoholism, divorce and controlled flight into terrain. Those have been covered before. It’s the day to day stuff that is killing me. It’s not… Read More
Posted on July 25, 2008
6 hours ahead to 3 hours behind
On Woensdag (Wednesday), we left Amsterdam for Reno. Well, we attempted to leave Amsterdam for Reno. The daily Usairways flight from AMS to PHL was full and rather than roll the dice on one flight we figured a… Read More