Flight For Truth!

More Fact than Fiction?

Imagine the following message being left on a pilot's phone by their union medical advisor. The names have been changed to protect the guilty. But Flight For Truth is underway! Justice will be next!

Spoiler Alert! 

Flight For Truth

Chapter 10
January 8, 2018

“Hi. It's Dr. Fourberie calling from the ALPO Air Medical office. Hey, I just got a little bit more correspondence on your situation and some information from Dr. Wood. I saw the back-and-forth with you requesting sort of his actual diagnosis from him and also a suggestion for a treatment plan that might get you back to flying, and he defers on the treatment plan because he's correct. As an evaluator he's not in the role of your treating physician, so he would not sort of determine a treatment plan. You would go to your own specialist or provider to manage any condition like that. 

The problem is, is that with— you know, the only way back to medical certification is to dispute the diagnosis of a bipolar spectrum disorder. That's disqualifying. And even if you were to say, okay, I'll do a mood stabilizer or some other thing and get into either pharmacological or non-pharmacological treatment or therapy, that's not going to be satisfactory to the FAA because all of the medications for it are disallowed. It's considered a condition that can be treated and managed but is not essentially curable and is always disqualifying, even if it is fairly— you know, effectively treated for the time being. So unfortunately, sort of getting treatment is not going— for a condition like that, I don't think we're going to have any luck with regaining medical certification. 

The one option to regain medical certification would be to effectively and completely and convincingly dispute the presence of the diagnosis to begin with. That's the— based on our experience with the FAA that's the one and only way that a bipolar spectrum disorder we can have any sort of success with. So we are, of course, standing by to assist you with this however and whenever we can. 

I am here until about 4:00 Mountain time today. I'm not sure if they're going to close the phones up a little bit and cut the staff loose a bit early because it is right before a four-day holiday for the New Year. We are going to be out of the office Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. I'm back on Tuesday and then I'm actually out of the office next week, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and then back the following week. Dr. Max is another flight surgeon, will be filling in for me during the hours that we are here Wednesday, Thursday, Friday next week that I'm gone, so certainly there's someone else standing by to assist you with anything you need immediately. 

But that is our next sort of step with this as far as medical certification goes, which is my primary function in assisting you here, is to try to get an independent evaluation that would very, very effectively counter Dr. Wood’s conclusion of a bipolar spectrum disorder, and that's going to be tricky because Dr. Wood is sort of a big gun with the FAA. You'd have to convince the FAA that he's totally wrong and that you do not have any sort of bipolar spectrum disorder, and that would be a difficult situation. But I think I gave you Dr. Brody’s name and number. She's certainly a good person for you to talk to and explain your situation to, and she would probably be the best next step. As I stated, she would read your report for free and tell you if this is hopeless. 

But as I say, we are here standing by. I'm here for a little bit longer, at least, today and a little bit next week and Dr. Max is also covering for me next week. So if you have any questions or want to talk strategy on that, please feel free to give us a call. Thanks.”

Only the names were changed 

to protect the guilty. 

Hard to believe. 

Start the Series Now!
Be ready for the next two novels. 

Flight For Control 

The journey begins! 
How far can you break an industry 
before you break a pilot?

Flight For Safety 

Economics before safety?
Safety Management Systems is an FAA 
mandate designed to improve safety.

But what about pilot training?

Flight For Survival  

How far airline management would go 

to destroy a pilot in their economic path.

Flight For Sanity 

The most sinister plot 

of all! The process to remove a pilot

who is attempting to improve safety. 

Flight For Truth

From diagnosis to discovery. 

The shocking truth of corruption!

(February 2020)

Flight For Justice

The courtroom battle. 

Truth? Honesty? Justice? 

We'll find out. 

(February 2021) 

Enjoy the Journey!

XO Karlene 

41st Annual ISA Conference, Sydney

You're Invited! 

May 7-8, 2019 

Our annual ISA conference is in Sydney in May. It will be a wonderful opportunity for our Australian women airline pilots to meet and spend time together with other women airline pilots from around the globe. Qantas has generously agreed to sponsor us this year, and will host us at their Sydney campus. 

Registered to attend so far:

120 women airline pilots
35 guests of pilots
32 airlines from around the globe are represented
43 women from Australian carriers

CHECK-IN TUESDAY 7 MAY, 1000-1600 

(Pre registration online required) 

The ISA Conference registration check-in will be on the mezzanine outside the LOFT 1 meeting room, on Level 3 of The Four Seasons Sydney Hotel 199 George St, The Rocks. Pick up your conference ‘Welcome Bag’ and name tag, drop off your silent auction items, and meet up with ISA delegates for coffee and chat.

GALA COCKTAIL RECEPTION, 

TUESDAY 7 MAY, 1830-2200 

Hosted by Qantas in The Street at Qantas Head Office Mascot, as you arrive head up the red carpet to the ‘Engine’ for photos. The festivities will begin with a Welcome to Country ceremony and a few speeches. The very talented Qantas Pathfinders’ Charity Review cast and crew will perform for us. Throughout the evening, canapes and drinks will be served with plenty of time for everyone to mingle with our international members and guests. The silent auction will also be happening all around, so take the opportunity to bid online for the fabulous prizes. 

The fundraising proceeds go directly to the very successful ISA scholarship program, which enables the future success of women airline pilots. So far ISA has provided over US$1.4M in scholarship assistance and they would like to promote and encourage aspiring Australian women pilots to participate in their scholarship program. ISA holds a silent auction with items donated both by members and sponsors and tend to be very popular with those wanting to secure a memory of significance from the conference. This year bidding in the silent auction will be on-line and in $USD! An email with details will be sent out before the conference. 

Dress Code: 

Evening cocktail wear 

BUSINESS MEETING, LUNCHEON, CAPTAIN AWARDS & PHOTO WEDNESDAY 8 MAY, 0800-1600 

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce will speak, as well as Captain Deborah Lawrie, long-time AU ISA member 

DINNER CRUISE, 

WEDNESDAY 8 MAY, 1830-2300 

The raffle will be held during the dinner cruise on Wednesday. Tickets will be sold in both $AUD and $USD for our international guests. 

PRE-CONFERENCE ACTIVITIES 

On Monday 6th the pre-conference activities include the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb and dinner at Mr Wong’s. 

POST-CONFERENCE ACTIVITIES 

Please check the ISA website for the post conference activities. There is still some availability at the Featherdale Tour and River Cruise on Thursday 9th, the Blue Mountains tour on 10th and the HARS Museum tour on Sunday 12th.

Enjoy the Journey!

XO Karlene 

AIRPORTS

Each with stories all their own! 

Join Eastern Airlines Kitchen Talk Radio to learn more than you ever thought you could know about the airports that Eastern used to call home. Your stories are welcome too! 

LaGuardia Airport

Newark Airport

John F Kennedy Airport

Atlanta Airport

Miami Airport

Episode 410
Monday
April 22, 2019
7 pm EST

Call in: 

213-816-1611

at 7:00 P. M. EDT 

or listen in by clicking the hyperlink:

www.blogtalkradio.com/capteddie.

Enjoy the Journey!

XO Karlene 

MAX 737 Discussion on

Eastern Airlines Kitchen Talk Radio

"Tonight, the EAL Radio Show presents Mr. Gregory Travis, our Guest Host in Episode 409, and the topic is "An Interview with A Pilot and Writer of Aviation, and Software Engineering, "(Discussion on Pilot Training). 

Greg Travis has written a recent Abstract on the Boeing 737 Max incidents that have occurred with two international airlines, Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines. Our interview with Greg presents questions on his Abstract as well recent articles on the two fatal airline crashes in the brand new Boeing 737 Max published in the news the last several months. 

A recent article in the Wall St. Journal read "Crash Investigators believe an automated flight-control system that went haywire led to last month’s fatal crash of a Boeing 737 MAX in Ethiopia. But some pilots, industry officials and air-safety experts are also raising questions about the actions of the cockpit crew as detailed in The Preliminary Accident Report". 

Greg has written many articles on the aviation sector back in the 1990s and his future direction is heading into more technical/aviation writing on a full-time basis, though he is currently writing on the U. S. healthcare issues that have been published in that space. 

Call in with your questions for Greg on his written abstract and on your thoughts on this very critical matter to the airline industry. Join us to hear more by calling 213-816-1611 during the show. Our Producer will take your call and you can speak directly to Greg with your questions."

Episode 409
Monday
April 15, 2019
7 pm EST

Call in: 

213-816-1611

at 7:00 P. M. EDT 

or listen in by clicking the hyperlink:

www.blogtalkradio.com/capteddie.

So sorry to miss this one... 
as I will be enroute to Tokyo! 

My two cents... Airplanes will break. Therefore, we need pilots to be proficient when automation fails. However, we have an industry that lacks safety culture worldwide. This negative safety culture is the source of training programs that have a negative impact on pilot performance. 

How do I know? 

These facts were the results of my research. 

Now presented in an easy to read book.

Enjoy the Journey!

XO Karlene Ph.D.

M. J. Hinds

Friday's Fabulous Flyer! 

M. J. Hinds 

M.J. began her aviation career in 1983 at America West Airlines (AWA). She was number 6 in seniority. She began as C.S.R.'s, customer service representatives. What's CSR? These were the fabulous people who were flight attendants, baggage handlers and gate agents (3 in 1). They flew out of Sky Harbor, Arizona, in the good ole days. 

In 1984 M.J. left AWA to start on the ground floor of another startup company, McClain Airlines. McClain Airlines would be an entire aircraft with only first class service . M.J. said, "I was hired as a flight attendant but was offered a flight attendant supervisor position rather quickly. I went around the country hiring flight attendants. I was a consultant on many decisions to include; uniform, menu, to allow smoking or not on our beautiful aircraft, etc.. "

They operated 727's with telephones at every seat, well before any other carrier offered phone service.  Art hung on the walls and they served first class meals and liquor for the price of a full fare coach ticket. The plan was to appeal to the frequent business traveler. They probably could have made it if they charged a first class price. But, that is history. 

"Our flight attendants wore navy colored Jones suits out of N.Y. with ivory colored Seville blouses. Our planes were all first class, painted navy blue with gold leaf lettering and a gold leaf phoenix on the tail. We had seating for only 74 with three flight attendants. "

I met M.J. at the NW aviation conference and she began telling me about her writing, as well as her history at America West Airlines. 

M.J. has drawn upon her  traveling experiences, as well as having been a resident of Bermuda and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. As the former innkeeper/owner of The Anniversary Inn, originator of Fashions For Fun Boutique, flight attendant and airline supervisor. She's been a public speaker and model and has gathered much material that has been transformed into a non-fiction book and a novel. Her published works are Dreaming Of Inn-keeping and Reunion In Paradise. M.J. is a grandmother of twin grandsons and resides with her husband, Bruce, and their Old English Sheepdog, Oliver, in Port Orchard, Washington 

"Living in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 

was a real experience." 

"Our 6 year old son and I accompanied my husband who flew for TWA. I was the only female who lived in the compound, in the garbage dump, with all the other pilots from around the world. Originally, we went for 6 weeks but ended up staying 3 months. They confiscated our passports at customs when we entered the country but were unable to leave until they were returned. My son attended the P.C.S. (Parents Cooperative School). His only playmates were the wild desert dogs, he was the only person they let near them. He had a favorite little puppy he named “Hashbrown.” 

Stephen and I committed a huge NO-NO and took a taxi into town so he could join the Cub Scouts. My husband on a trip out of the kingdom, which he often was, I was determined my son was going to be able to join the scouts. Going home in the dark to the compound we had to give the driver directions in Arabic. The driver didn't know what to make of us; an American woman and a fair- haired child and no man with us. 

When we first arrived in Jeddah we went into town to shop in the Souke (marketplace). I had on short sleeves and jeans. I later learned you did not show any skin for the paint squad would throw red paint on your exposed skin to shame you. So, after that it was a long-sleeved blouse, long skirt, and covered head at 120 degrees! All in all it was an enlightening experience." 

For more information about M.J.'s books 

check out her website.

https://www.bookstore.media/mjhinds

Enjoy the Journey!

XO Karlene 

More Truth than Fiction

In Aviation Thrillers...

What happens when you observe an industry that is stripping the pilot career? Mergers, acquisitions, pay cuts, pension loss... how far can you break an industry before you break the pilot? 

Flight For Control is the novel 

that begins this journey.  

After all the bad stuff happens at the first airline, a merger occurs. But within the new airline, pilot training is horrendous, leaving pilots short on knowledge with resultant performance issues. Nobody would believe this is just how they do business, there must be a sinister plot. 

Flight For Safety is the novel 

that identifies pilot training issues 

and safety challenges. 

Safety Management Systems is an FAA mandate designed to improve safety. Is compliance possible with the current safety culture? Could management physically hurt a pilot who is passionate and attempting to make change? How far would someone go to control their empire? 

Flight For Survival  provides a glimpse 

of what could happen. 

Just when you thought there were people working on your behalf to improve safety, reality hits and you learn how far airline management would go to destroy anyone in their economic path.  

Flight For Sanity is the story 

that takes the reader into the most sinister plot 

of how to remove a pilot 

who is attempting to improve safety. 

In the midst of all these novels, the author decided to take the themes of pilot training, understanding, safety culture, performance and aviation passion and conduct research to learn what is impacting pilot performance. The results have identified that these novels may not be as fiction as we think. Pilot training is lacking, performance is suffering, crashes are resulting from lack of understanding, and retaliation is occurring due to lack of a reporting culture. 

The results of this research became

  Normalization of Deviance. 

There is nothing fiction of what is happening within the airline world. The next two novels will be the fight for truth and justice.  I have been told that the legal system is not about truth and justice, just what you can prove in court. However, when truth, justice, and what you can prove in court are mutually inclusive, the system works. We need the system to work for the future of aviation safety.

As an offshoot of the methods of retaliation airlines use,  Weaponization of Mental Health is coming soon.

The psychiatrist who has evaluated "more pilots than any other psychiatrist", and has been doing business since 1988, will be featured in this book. His statements in court are some of the most unbelievable and atrocious things I have ever heard. To think how many lives this doctor has destroyed because of a payoff by an airline, makes me sick. We cannot let the bad guys win, or everyone loses. Safety is at stake. How dirty doctors helping airlines to violate FAA regulations will be exposed.

Enjoy the journey! 

And know that there are people fighting for your safety. 

XO Karlene

Fight For Aviation Safety Continues!

Air 21 in progress: 

Court continues! We thought that 5 days was enough... we were wrong. The process continues for an Air 21 complaint. This is a public venue, where the public is encouraged to observe these types of hearings. Far too many people are unaware of the protections designed for safety, and this is just one step to improving airline safety. Nobody should ever be retaliated for reporting safety. 

There is no jury. An administrative law judge will be ruling on behalf of public in the interest of aviation safety. 

April 29th we are back in court

promptly at 9 AM!
(April 30 and May 1st too)

NOTICE OF HEARING LOCATION 

Monday, April 29 through Wednesday May 1, 2019. 

NORTHWEST MOUNTAIN REGIONAL OFFICE 5W-265 

GERAGHTY HEARING RM 2200 S 216TH ST DES MOINES, 

WASHINGTON 98198 

SCOTT R. MORRIS Administrative Law Judge

Many of the elements within this case reflect my resent research. If you cannot join us, please read Normalization of Deviance. Safety Culture and associated training have proven to be impacting pilot performance in a negative manner.  No longer can we simply blame the pilot. No longer can we have a culture that retaliates against employees for reporting safety. The FAA's SMS mandate is designed to improve operational safety, but only if it is followed. We need to prevent that next accident. What can you do to help?

The public is welcome! 

The courtroom is located in 

the new FAA building 

just 5 minutes south of SeaTac Airport.

Enjoy the Journey!

I will be back at the end of the week!

XO Karlene 

Health and the Pilot

Friday's Fabulous Flyer

Charles Harris

Charles is nothing short of a private pilot extraordinaire. He has been a pilot for over 45 years, and used his two planes, a Mooney and Conquest II, in his law practice. When an attorney is a pilot, they they have the knowledge and understanding of safety, and the importance of quality parts,  tools, maintenance and training. He is now focused on training, but the education is on maintaining optimum health, in or to be safe. 

Charles retired from his San Francisco legal practice, with a degree of Juris Doctor from the University of California, about 20 years ago. Life does not stop after retirement. He is now a healthy lifestyle consultant for the Medical Center at the Parliament of Thailand.  

"Sometimes, I give seminars to pilots about how to stay in shape. My topic is "Getting Your Insulin Rating" ... focusing upon controlling insulin levels in the body and preventing "hyperinsulinemia" (otherwise known as chronically elevated insulin levels). As it turns out, modern medical research shows that hyperinsulinemia is the leading cause and unifying factor in all chronic diseases."

(For the Thai Readers) 

Training and education is focused on such topics as metabolic health, improved cognitive function, attitude, and judgment. He now lives in Chiang Rai where he hosts seminars on healthy lifestyles and preventing diseases of old age, including weight control, diabetes, hypertension, Alzheimer's, cancer, heat disease, macular degeneration, and other chronic diseases. 

In support of a healthy lifestyle, he owns an organic farm, a chemical-free drinking water filter and chlorine-free exercise pool research facility, a healthy lifestyle center featuring chemical-free swimming pools, and an organic whole foods bakery. 

(For the Thai Readers)

How does healthy living apply to pilots?

"As pilots, we are surrounded by electronics in the cockpit. Sophisticated instruments apply the latest in engineering and quantum mechanics. But, pilots rarely consider that they, too, are highly complex electronic systems called upon to function at peak proficiency, too. Safety depends on it. Staying alert and proficient - staying safe - are the goals of every pilot."

"In the end, safety comes down to pilot health."  

"My training progressed in the usual fashion: multi-engine, commercial, instrument, and ATP. But, there was one rating I never got, even though looking back, it would have been the most important one; i.e., my "insulin rating." 

Charles states: 

When it comes to pilot safety, proficiency, and attitude, nothing adds more to the equation than understanding insulin. Getting an "insulin rating" improves pilot performance. Teaching senior captains for American Airlines and private pilots alike, I have learned that nothing addresses fatigue, drowsiness, mistakes, lack of awareness, etc., like a healthy well-tuned pilot. 

Pilots usually do not think too much about their metabolic function, inflammation, circulation, nutrition, etc., until, perhaps, their flight physical shows early signs of hypertension or metabolic syndrome. Subjects like molecular biology, energy production, mitochondrial function, the production of ATP (yes, the other ATP) never crosses their minds. But heart and brain function are at the core of pilot safety."

If anyone is interested in pursuing their health to the next level

you can reach out to Charles: 

charliehealthylifestyle@gmail.com

Stay Healthy!

Enjoy the Journey!

XO Karlene 

Blue Angels

In My Backyard! 

"Blue Angels over the southern end of Lake Washington and Renton Airport in Washington state.

This footage is of the "slot man" in the Diamond formation - toughest flying due to wingtip vortices, etc. When he "smiles", he is pulling some serious positive/negative "g" forces."

Enjoy the show!

Enjoy the journey!
XO Karlene

MAX Training

Economical Pilot Training

Training doesn't have to be expensive to be effective. Dick Verburg has a solution to reducing training expense, but not at the expense of learning.  My friend An and I had the opportunity to fly his training device. This is a fabulous solution to a full flight simulator. Dick sent me a news flash this morning. 

NEWS:

MAX Training

Lately, significant focus has been placed on (additional) B737 MAX training. As a solution provider and the first organization to develop a B737 MAX FTD using original Boeing Data, MPS is ready to assist you by being able to deliver an FTD that provides full systems and training accuracy. This includes level D control Loading for those training items that you want to provide your pilots.

Knowing that delivery time is of the essence, at this point, MPS can provide you with a B737 MAX simulator within 6 months of ordering. This means that your additional training can take place prior to the end of this year. No other provider, either of a Full Flight or a Fixed Base, can support such a timeline to meet your training needs.

Delivery slots with this lead-time are filling up fast though, so please reach out to us with any questions you may have or for further information. You can reach us at info@MPS.aero

Enjoy the Journey! XO Karlene