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 November 25, 2014
National Adoption Month. Where Do Storks Come From?
“Father?” Said the almost five year old. “Listen, there is something I’ve been thinking about. You and I have been watching a lot of classic television programing lately. Shows like Tom and Jerry and Dumbo and I’ve noticed… 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 June 14, 2014
The Things You Find in Hotel Beds
Do not read this if you are in a hotel bed. If you are in a hotel bed please tell me you removed the bedspread. Please tell me you didn’t eat something with your bare hands after touching… 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 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 February 5, 2013
Thomas the Tank Engine in “Just Say No to Drones”
It was a bright and sunny day on the island of Sodor, and all the trains were running on time except for one. Thomas the Tank Engine sat with his big engine idling and burning fuel at Sodor… Read More
Posted on August 27, 2012
Folks, It will Be Yet Another Hour Before We Depart.
Some days, I actually do work. But it’s not the work you would assume. It’s not fighting nasty storms or battling wind shear down the final approach to an icy runway. It’s interacting with the passengers and assuring… Read More
Category: Flying Tags: airlines, airport, departure, Flying, portland, thunderstorms, washington, weather
Posted on August 3, 2010
Returning from vacation – time to catch up on the news
I returned to work yesterday from a three-week vacation with the family. While at work and living on the road, I have lots of downtime that I fill with ‘entertainment’ that I would never make time for at… Read More
Category: Flying Tags: celebrity, Flying, gossip magazine, jersey shore, real housewives
Posted on June 10, 2009
Alert the pitcrew, we’re coming for more fuel
I showed up in DC for a 5:30 AM flight to Kansas City, followed by a flight to Milwaukee where I faced a 3.5-hour layover in the airport before our return trip to DC. Then it was back… Read More
Posted on May 14, 2009
Holds and diverts and storms, oh my.
This was our third leg for the day. We began in Omaha around 2 PM, flew from Omaha to Milwaukee, and then off to Boston. On the return from Boston to Milwaukee, we ended up holding over Grand… 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
Posted on February 10, 2005
LOST AND FOUND POETRY AT 37000 FEET
I took a walk to the back of the plane in flight today to pee. This is something I try not to do too often and is called the “Walk of Shame” for good reason. First of all,… Read More