Contract Airline Services


"We are the protagonists of our stories called life, and there is no limit to how high we can fly."


PHD. MBA. MHS. Type rated on A350, A330, B777, B747-400, B747-200, B757, B767, B737, B727. International Airline Pilot / Author / Speaker. Dedicated to giving the gift of wings to anyone following their dreams. Supporting Aviation Safety through training, writing, and inspiration. Fighting for Aviation Safety and Airline Employee Advocacy. Safety Culture and SMS change agent.

Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Happy New Year 2026!

Filled with Blessings!

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is image-1024x542.png



In whispered dreams, the old year fades,
With lessons learned and joys that cascaded.
The clock strikes twelve, a vibrant sigh,
A tapestry of stars, the endless sky.

Hope unfurls like blossoms in spring,
Each petal cradling the joy we bring.
With every heartbeat, let courage arise,
To paint the future in radiant skies.

Beneath the weight of yesterday’s care,
We rise together, inspired to dare.
With hands held tight, we’ll journey this way,
Chasing the dawn of a brand new day.

Through laughter and tears, we’ll weave our fate,
With dreams of kindness that will not wait.
Let love be the compass, let grace be the guide,
As we walk forward side by side.

So here’s to the moments yet to be made,
To hopes rekindled, and fears laid to shade.
In the heart of this year, let happiness bloom—
A sanctuary of light, dispelling the gloom.

Raise your glass to the future, bright and bold,
With every story waiting to be told.
Together we’ll cherish, together we’ll strive,
In this New Year’s promise, we’ll truly thrive.



The year won't close without my resolutions. 1) Replace sugar as my primary food group; 2) publish my memoire, A330 study guide, children's book: Yes I Can, and the final novel in the flight for series; 3) Win the PNWA horror contest with the new book 4) finally start law school, yes I applied; 5) take a golf lesson or two; 6) accept what I cannot change and have the courage to change what I can, 7) Lift weights daily to strengthen my bones; 8) start each day with a prayer of gratitude to strengthen my soul, 9) find grace and forgiveness for all, including myself, and 10) laugh louder, smile often, and practice patience daily.

May Focus, Compassion, and Joy be yours in the New Year!
Filled with Health and Happiness!


Enjoy the Journey!
XOX Karlene

Saturday, December 13, 2025

Happy Holidays

Spreading Christmas Cheer 

As a book lover, I was gifted with meeting Marc Fredrick, alias Mr. Whimsy, and a copy of his incredible children's book. Not only is the story delightful but the artwork is spectacular. If you're looking for that special book for the little ones in your life, this is it! A gift of love, of joy and an absolute delight. The best Christmas gift. He's provided the poem so you can read the story, but the illustrations are phenomenal. I'll share just a few year.  This is definitely a put on your book shelf!! 


JASMINE AND THE SNOWMAN

It’s a snowy, licorice Christmas… the world is black and white.

The zebras, pandas, penguins all fit the scene just right.

The polar bears and Arctic hares all celebrate in white.

The Christmas seal cavorts with zeal in coat as black as night.

What’s happened to the colors, so vivid, warm and bright…

the red, blue, green from which we glean such holiday delight?

It’s somewhat of a mystery that’s caused this color blight

and left us with a Christmas so starkly black and white.


’Twas Christmas seen through the snowman’s eyes which stood out in the cold,

forgotten, ’cept by Jasmine Skies, who’d just turned five years old.

Yes, little Jasmine saw it all… the Snowman set apart.

She felt, as snowflake tears did fall, “This creature needs a heart.”

To Mama’s room she ran right quick; in sewing box dug deep.

She thought, “Now this should do the trick,” and left without a peep.

Then outdoors to the Snowman white she ran with cloth of red.

While to his chest she pressed with might, she also softly said,

“This heart will help you, Snowman. Your eyes of coal will see.


My mama’s sewing basket is magical to me.

It’s filled with love and colors and many things quite rare.

And every time we open it I know that she does care.”

The Snowman seemed to listen. The sun came out to play.

The Snowman’s skin did glisten in a rainbow prism way.

And everything grew brighter. The world just seemed to smile

as Jasmine hugged The Snowman and he hugged her back awhile.


Get yours on Amazon Today!! 


Enjoy the Journey!!

XOX Karlene 



Friday, December 12, 2025

Liz Booker

FRIDAY FABULOUS FLYER

LIZ BOOKER

Liz Booker, is a retired U.S. Coast Guard Commander, helicopter pilot, and foreign diplomat, and a writer who is inspiring the next generation of women in aviation. During her 28-year career, she flew the H65 Dolphin (AS365) helicopter on search and rescue, law enforcement, and humanitarian missions around the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean. Liz has also served as the U.S. Senior Defense Official to seven Eastern Caribbean Island Nations.

Since retiring, she has built a community of readers and writers around stories featuring women in aviation as Literary Aviatrix on social media, and with the Aviatrix Book Club and Literary Aviatrix website, YouTube Channel, and podcast.

Liz holds her Commercial Fixed and Rotary Single-Engine Land and Sea licenses with tailwheel endorsement, a Master in Public Administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, and a Master of Fine Arts in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She continues to fly recreationally, a.k.a. ‘research’.

I grabbed the preceding information from her website. And what an accomplished woman she is. But what I know personally of Liz that her website failed to disclose is that she is energetic, supportive, talented, organized, and a carrying person who has been sharing the love of aviation, reading and writing with others for five years. Well, probably longer than that, but December 2025 is the 5th anniversary of the Literary Aviatrix Community and she is inviting you all to join her in celebration. I should say, join us! She also has a book of her own underway, and we are all looking forward to the publication.

Happy 5th Anniversary Literary Aviatrix

Liz has just announced the lineup of books for the ensuing year's book club (2026) and you can see the list and learn more about her efforts HERE This is where readers, authors, and those who love to engage come together and discuss aviation books. This is such an incredible group of people and the discussion is always fascinating. I now book everything on the last Sunday of the month around this book club. The last Sunday of every month at 10 am Pacific Time. If you would like to join us on December 28, Click Here to join Meeting ID: 874 4978 1521 Passcode: 779609

The book we're reading in December is:

I just began reading Flight of Olivia West last night, and this is the most fun I've had in awhile. I barely started but the writing is strong, characters enjoyable, and the intrigue has captured me. Next writers club is also my little sister's 60th birthday and I have an 11 am tee time with her. But, I'll be on for the first 20 minutes.

Everything else you want to know about Liz and all that she gives to the world of aviation can be found @LiteraryAviatrix

Thank you Liz, for all that you do for female aviators, authors, readers, and those lives you have touched in so many ways. We love you!!!

Monday, November 17, 2025

RV-7A

Jumpstart Your Build 

My friends are selling their partially completed Vans RV-7A kit. Located near Seattle, WA is a complete Vans RV-7A slider kit with no laser cut parts, numerous upgrades, and more than 1000 hours of labor put into the construction. 

It’s at a point where you could finish the cabin, mate the canopy, stand it up on gear, and then move on to avionics or your engine. It comes with the following:

All plans: (e.g. instructions and engineering drawings) Empennage kit: build complete. Horizontal stabilizer and elevators mated to the fuselage. Vertical stabilizer and rudder need to be attached to the kit.

 The electric trim kit has not been installed, and no fiberglass work has been completed, but all of the parts are included. Wing Kit: build complete. Conduit run. The landing (Duckworks) and position lights have not been installed. No fiberglass work has been completed. All the parts are included. 

Fuselage Kit: mostly complete. The fuselage kit is at a point where the cabin group needs to be finished, and the wings need to be mated. 

Finishing Kit: no work has been done with any of the parts of the finishing kit. Once the cabin group is complete and the wings are mated, removed, and set aside, you’ll be able to install the roll bars and mate the canopy to the fuselage. And then put it on gear. 

The engine mount is for an O/IO 360/375.  

I asked why they were selling. The owner said, "Although building is deeply satisfying, I have too many competing priorities (e.g. family, work, volunteering, flying and maintaining other airplanes). I don’t need to sell, but I would like this kit to find a home with a builder that can dedicate the time to completing the project, and enjoy the finished product."

I won't part out the kit. Everything will be sold together. I’m also happy to help you load it up, but I expect you to handle shipping or transportation of the kit to your preferred location.

This is a great opportunity for a motivated builder to get a jump start on finishing a Vans RV kit. 

And the best part, it's only $35,000


Enjoy the Journey!!!
XOX Karlene 

Saturday, November 15, 2025

What Is Santa Bringing YOU for Christmas?

Wrap it Up for Yourelf! 


A year ago at the Western Washington Aviation Conference I met a delightful couple with two amazing children. The kids each went home with one of the children's books and then this fall, I attended their school and read the Happy Plane to the students. Amazing connections came from that conference. When I heard they wanted to sell their family plane, I offered to share that here because she is a beauty and needs a good home. Due to their busy life and two growing children, they just don't find themselves flying her much as they did. She is a clean, beautiful airplane, with a fascinating history. 


N349RF began life on Mactan Island off the coast of Cebu in the Philippines where she was manufactured as a fast build kit—serial number ES-102-FB. Built by a Boeing engineer, and his building partner, he wanted additional range. Therefore, he called upon coworkers at The Boeing Company to model out and flutter test wing tanks that extended past the ribs of the Lancair's existing wing design. The testing showed stable flight characteristics, so he built this ES with "50 gallon" tanks. He shared his engineering data with Lancair and they later incorporated his design into future kits.



The construction of N349RF and the required hours for phase one were complete, along with DAR sign off, in 2003. At some point the primary builder sold the airplane to his build partner. Unfortunately, the build partner passed away, and the Boeing engineer repurchased the aircraft in an estate sale. The original owner / builder cared for and maintained N349RF until 2017 when he once again decided to sell the aircraft. 


The aircraft was then purchased by a retired airline pilot, turned Seattle realtor, who possessed a love of restoring wooden boats and airplanes. The new owner began a modernization project that included overhauling the engine (i.e. Poplar Grove Airmotive) and propeller (i.e. Tiffin Aire), as well as installing a new interior (i.e. Douglass Interior), and avionics (i.e. SteinAir).


Unfortunately the new owner passed away, unexpectedly, in the early stages of the modernization project. The widow worked with Galvin Flying in Seattle on Boeing Field - KBFI, to reinstall the overhauled engine and propeller, as well as the new interior. She worked with Duncan Avionics to remove the old panel and install the new panel.


The current owner was based at Boeing Field and had seen N349RF. He immediately fell in love with her sleek lines, but never thought anything of it. In 2021 he saw her on the ramp again and decided to do a little digging. To his delight he discovered she was for sale, so he bought her.


N349RF was very much a “90% complete, 90% of the way to go” project when he purchased her. She possessed a long list of squawks spanning engine, electrical and avionics. He knew this going in, and didn’t mind, since he had  experience with avionics and maintenance from the US Air Force, and had been caring for a Vans RV-6A.



Over the course of the next couple of years the current he worked through the punch list of squawks. Some of the projects included:

  • Troubleshooting and resolving inoperative turbochargers, so he could make full power at FL180 - 220KTAS WOT and mixture rich. Lots of fun, but burned way too much fuel
  • Replacing the Garmin GMA 340 audio panel with a Garmin GMA 245 with bluetooth, USB charging, 3D audio and playback functionality.
  • Troubleshooting and repairing the Garmin autopilot system anomalies (e.g. chaffed wiring), so that he'd be able to shoot GPS coupled approaches down to minimums in IMC.
  •  Simplifying the transponder configuration, by replacing the Garmin GTX 330ES.
  • (ADSB-out only) with a Garmin GTX 45R (ADSB-in/out) and using the Garmin GDL 52 solely for Sirius XM radio and weather.
  • Adding a second Garmin GDU 460 to the panel.
  • Simplifying the electrical system that included 2 separate battery buses, with 2 heavy lead acid batteries, but only 1 main electrical and 1 avionics bus. The current system has 1 battery bus with 1 Earthx battery and a primary and secondary alternator.
  •  Replacing the primary alternator with a new one that is more consistent.
  • Overhauling the fuel divider that began to leak.
  • Making baffling modifications to help with engine cooling.
  • Balancing the prop.
  • Configuring the unmetered and metered fuel pressure and flow per TCM manuals.

"N349RF is our family airplane. When she’s not resting in our hangar, we use her to access the Pacific Northwest. What’s possible? We can drive to Bend or Sunriver OR in 5-6 hours, or we can fly there in slightly more than 1 hour. We can fly from Seattle to Bozeman, MT in less than 3 hours, or drive there in 10.5. Wine country? No problem. We can fly to Walla Walla in an hour, or down to Sonoma in 2 and a half hours. This airplane puts family adventures on steroids. We have 2 girls and our whole family flew from Seattle to Raleigh and back last summer, along with weeks worth of baggage."


"We love N349RF, but we realize we are not the flying family we originally envisioned. We don’t fly as often as this beautiful bird deserves. We put in a ton of work to make this plane turnkey for the next owner. Everything is ready for you to load up, hop in and fly away.  We hope you enjoy her as much as we have!"







Enjoy the Journey! And check out this plane. She needs a new home that will love her as she has been throughout her life.

XO Karlene 

Friday, November 14, 2025

NOVEMBER CLUE

 One Step Closer to Winning $1000


Dr. Faulkner From Then to Now

When the legal system doesn't hold anyone accountable, someone must take justice into their own hands. The 8th Novel in the Flight For Series is released. Flight For Revenge. And those deserving characters are being disposed of, one by one. 

I'm now revealing the truth and what's gone before to help you win $1000. For those who don't know, I wrote novels throughout my ordeal with Delta. They were fiction based on truth, but exposing realities. In those novels I had to include murder, sex and a sinister plot because nobody would believe the truth could actually happen with an airline like Delta. Now, that truth is being exposed. However, I thought Revenge would be the only fully fictionalized novel, but I was wrong. There is too much truth in the pages. Therefore, I am running a contest for one of my lucky readers to win $1000. You don't have to have all the answers, just the have the most correct answers. 

November Clue:


Dr. Marsh, in the novel, is inspired by Dr. Faulkner, Delta’s in house doctor. If you want to know what is true about Dr. Marsh’s character in the novel, read Dr. Faulkner’s deposition testimony here. Each fictional character was dealt with in a manner befitting to them and their behavior. Read both Flight For Revenge and the deposition, and those truths will be revealed. 

You can also read the novels Flight For Discovery and Flight For Justice, to confirm more truths. All Trial  and Deposition Testimony is verbatim. More truth than you can imagine and it could help you win the contest. 

Previous Clues: 

September: All Revenge in this book is fiction.

October: If you want to know my favorite Bourbon, Kathryn and Josh drink it.

Check out the Bookstore to get your autographed copy!

Sunday, November 9, 2025

Victims of The HIMS Program

 WE NEED YOU!

HIMS was a 1974 study to research military pilots with respect to alcohol abuse who would become airline pilots. This HIMS research transitioned into an assistance program. Today, however, this program has shifted from helping pilots to a money-making pilot abuse program that has enabled a medical industry to extort money from airman. Doctors assert airman have a substance abuse disorder, whether they do or not, and then threaten their airline careers if they don’t participate in the program, forcing them to pay exorbitant amounts of money and time to retain their career.

Pilots for HIMS Reform

The Pilots for HIMS Reform (P4HR) group is working to end this abuse, but they need your assistance.

If you have fallen victim to HIMS, you are not alone. Pilots for HIMS reform is trying to fix the problems, which are many. But they need to show the current reports of system abuse are not isolated cases.

Current Reports Indicate

Dr. David B Altman

There is no FAA oversight. Instead, the FAA has abdicated their accountability to HIMS AMEs.

To put this into perspective, the once leading HIMS AME doctor, Dr. David B. Altman, who testified in a court of law that he conducted more pilot evaluations than any other doctor, forfeited his medical license to avoid prosecution. Altman had accepted $74,000 from Delta Air Lines in exchange for providing a false diagnosis against me. Three years of my effort but one dirty doctor was gone.

HIMS AME Dr. Chien, stated, “Doctors can be bought” and “This is a dirty business.” Chien also told me he was an anesthesiologist and quit to become a HIMS AME because he could make more money. Dr. Alan Kozarsky is a trained ophthalmologist who is acting as a HIMS AME for Delta. Faulkner, is managing his own emotions with long-term anti-depressant use.

Unfortunately, airlines and unions use the HIMS program to control pilots while bastardizing the HIMS process. Any doctor can become an HIMS AME without any additional training. Dr. Faulkner testified in court that all they must do is attend a four-day conference. Well, at least that’s what he did. Yes, alcohol is involved at these seminars. Not for research but for consumption by the doctors at the end of the day.

Airline management sets arbitrary standards such as random thresholds for PEth or ETG testing. Airlines also require far greater monitoring than required by regulatory standards, and they force pilots to sign contracts, that are not required by the FAA. Where is the union? They are participating in this fraud.

When a pilot enters an airline’s HIMS program, the airline controls the pilot with the threat of medical certificate revocation, something they should have no control over. The HIMS contracts restrict the pilot’s ability to use sick leave, and the company threatens pilots when they call in fatigue, write up maintenance, etc. Airline management uses this program for control.

Airline management also uses the “HIMS contract” to terminate pilots who are not “compliant” with that contract, of which is outside the Pilot Working Agreement (PWA). Compliant can be subjective. One pilot faced consequences that he was not "working a good program" despite evidence that he never drank. Pilots have no job protection under the HIMS program despite what the union touts, and instead they expose themselves to arbitrary termination.

An entire industry is profiting from HIMS. Psychiatrist, rehabilitation centers, group therapy providers, and individual medical providers are all profiting by forcing pilots to jump through ambiguous hoops. Some of those pilots don’t even have a “substance use disorder” but are coerced into the program for other reasons than drinking. Many are forced by their union. Why? The union profits from this program too. While airlines reimburse some pilots for their medical expenses, there is no recouping the extensive time lost in their lives. I know of two pilots who quit the job because the program itself. One said it would have cost him his marriage. The HIMS program is a non-paid full-time job.

The linchpin in all this is the AME who is forcing pilots into psychiatric referrals. While the FAA does not use medical standards for the HIMS program, the AME and psychiatrists at the rehabilitation centers write insurance codes requiring proper medical standards. There exists a huge medical disconnect.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

If you, or anyone you know, was pressured into attending MARR (Maine Association Recovery Residences) or any other addiction recovery center, or if your AME has taken liberties with undue and arbitrary requirements, high expenses, or in any other manner harmed you, you can help by sharing your details.

Examples of the information requested:

  1.  Your position and where you work. Example, Pilot at Delta, or pilot at major airline.
  2.  Who told you to go into the HIMS program? (AME, Union, Management, FAA)
  3.  What happened that forced you into the program?
  4.  Who forced you to see a psychiatrist? (AME, Union, Airline management, FAA)
  5.  Was any pressure applied to join the HIMS program?
  6.  Were you coerced into seeing a psychiatrist?
  7.  Were you coerced into admittance into MARR or another treatment center?
  8.  What is your current medical status?
  9.  Was any employment action taken?
  10.  What were your out-of-pocket expenses?

All Documents you can share, such as letters, emails, notes, even invoices will be much appreciated. You will remain anonymous, unless you're mad enough to share your story. We understand those still employed, need anonymity. Do not believe that your story is unique and they will figure out who you are, too many, too much of the same, will protect you. This is simply data collection to prove the numbers.

Email everything to: P4HR@pilotsforhimsreform.org

Please forward to anyone impacted.

— Pilots for HIMS Reform

Together we fly — and we reform.

Monday, October 6, 2025

Kitsap High School Needs Your Help!

We Need Your Vote! 

This week Dylan Phillips reached out asking for help. His school, South Kitsap High School, is in the finals of the T-Mobile competition! They won the first two prizes and now we can help them win the big prize of a $1,000,000 dollar stadium makeover and an all expense paid trip for selected school representatives to the 2025 SEC Championship game!


All you need to do is Scan the Link below or go to the website HERE and enter your email and click vote. I voted on the scan. My husband at the website. Both worked great. And, you can vote each day.

Dylan said, "Our school has put their blood sweat and tears into this competition getting us to were we are now. We all have put so much effort in because this money would make a huge impact. We have youth soccer teams, youth football teams, youth cheer teams, and all of our high school teams using this stadium. This infusion of funds would help the community in so many ways."

The current stadium has no cover. The impact of that in the middle of winter in Washington State with parents, families, friends, and fans of band, cheer, dance and football as well as all other sports, suffer in the rain. Let's help make dreams come through.

HELP a High School in Need!

Vote HERE Daily!

Or Scan this on your phone:

I will be voting daily! Thank you for doing the same!!  

Sunday, August 31, 2025

Winner of 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse

CONGRATULATIONS!

Winner Announced! 


I'm giving my car away as a gift to say THANK YOU to my readers. Tonight I drew the name. While there could only be one winner of the car, you are all winners in my heart. Therefore, I will be running another contest soon and giving away $1000, for all those who read the books and want to play Fact or Fiction and What has gone before. I will provide a clue each month. Details coming soon. 


THANK YOU ALL!!!

CONGRATULATIONS
TO the WINNER! 

Tuesday, August 26, 2025

TIME is Running Out!

FOR YOU TO WIN THE CAR!

THIS is a Classic. And I will draw one lucky winner!!!


I am giving my car away on August 31st!
 
Five days remaining in to get your entry in. Learn more about the car here. It's a collectors item (or will be soon). So, if you're in need of some summer reading, checkout the bookstore. Every purchase gets an entry because I am thanking my readers!  If you read on Kindle, just send me your info that you bought it, and I'll add you into the contest! 

From now until the drawing, anyone who purchases all the novels will get an extra 10 entires (17 total... unless you buy revenge then 18. If you want to purchase all of them and gift them to someone this Christmas, while you win the car), go to Flight To Success blog. (shipping is smarter on the blog than the website. But if you buy more than one on the website, I will refund your shipping that goes over the actual.) You can also pre-buy the newest book Flight For Revenge. I think it's my favorite. And I'm going to be running a contest for those who read all and will be giving $1000 as the grand prize.

There Are Seven Novels


Number Eight Is Complete 
Available for pre-orders:

Flight For Revenge, When there is no Justice. I'm also going to be giving a $1000 away for those who read the books with a contest to guess what is "fact or fiction" in the newest novel:



If are reading and hoping to win the car, you want to get one more entry in before the drawing and pre-order flight... Flight For Revenge, When there is no Justice  You'll get an entry now for a thank you... the book will be available November 2025. But Sunday you could have a chance to win the car! 


If Novels are not for you... I thank all those who are purchasing the Non-fiction too!! And You'll get an entry. Even audible or Ebook... send me the proof of order and you're in. 



DON'T FORGET THE KIDS!!



Best of luck in the drawing!!!
Thank you for your support!!!!

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Flight For Revenge!

Revenge is Complete, and Coming Soon! 

All the novels that have gone before were based on truth, with real accidents, real events, and real people whose names were changed to protect my job. There was more truth than fiction in all of them. I had anticipated that Flight For Revenge would be the only book that would be 100% non-fiction. 

I was wrong! 

SPOILER ALERT: Only one of the bodies in this novel was at the pointy end of a knife. I call him shark bate. The others' demise were all far more creative. Death, torture, and gaslighting. Psychological torture as well as physical. I suspect a few of the characters might have wished for death instead of what they experienced. Who thinks this stuff up? Oh. Wait. I did!   


When there is no Justice, 
There is Revenge! 

Warning Airline Management: 

Beware! If you falsely accuse a pilot of mental instability, you might just might get what you ask for. When Global Air Lines called Darby crazy, they pulled her from duty. When they paid a doctor $74,000 to make her bipolar, the union told her that her career was over. While she never lost her medical, the airline prohibited her from flying. Even when the Mayo Clinic stepped in.

Darby Bradshaw embarrassed Global Air Lines in court, with win of the century. But they didn't learn their lesson. The airline appealed. She fought back. Then management escalated this game of chess to the highest level. Nobody is held accountable. Passenger safety be damned. Laws and regulations that are supposed to protect the public are worthless. When the legal system is a toothless tiger, and the FAA looks the other way then it's time to take action. 

While Global's appeal is in process, all those who participated in Darby's demise are being dealt with. One by one they are eliminated. This is a thriller that reads like a mystery. And the most fun "who done it" book you will ever read. Why is it fun? Because the bad guys get what they deserve, exactly how they deserve their punishment. What do you get? A great read! And a chance to win $1000. 


YOUR CHANCE TO WIN $1000 

All you have to do is read all the novels. Then, when you read Flight For Revenge, you will be asked to tell me all the facts that were in the previous books now brought forth in revenge. And then identify all the facts in the novels that are true. The person with the "most" facts correct will win $500. If you get them all, you win $1000. If there is a tie, then we'll do a drawing. Final details will come when Flight For Revenge is released. For now, read the books! Be ready. And pay attention. Take notes on what you believe to be true.  


Order all the books off the Flight To Success blog, as a package deal. Hardback on the top left margin, and paper on the right. Or go to KarlenePetitt.com bookstore and buy them individually. More so, if you order them before August 31, 2025 you will enter a chance to win a car. Details Here. More you buy, the more chances you have to win. You can also order via kindle, and just let me know that you purchased them and I'll add your name to the drawing for the car. 

Enjoy your summer reading!!! 

Friday, June 13, 2025

Aviation Industry Concerns

Is this the New World?

A couple days ago I received yet another letter with concerns regarding aviation safety. This came shortly after a Delta check airman voiced his concerns that Delta had changed their A330 manuals to an FCOM without adequate training. An FCOM is compilation of all manuals into one, where the information is difficult to access. I'm told all the company did was provide some online information, with plans to train everyone how to use it when they arrive to recurrent. The concern is, those who won't see recurrent for another 9 months will be using a product they have not been trained on.

I used the FCOM for the first time on the A350, and navigating the manual was more difficult than learning the systems. The explanation provide to me was we should select the tab per our knowledge level. If you know a great deal, select one tab for abbreviated information. If you average knowledge you could select a second tab that provided a little more information. If you had no clue, select the third tab to get a full explanation. But what if you don't know what you don't know? Gone are the good old days of looking up the systems in a systems manual. The reality is, this manual is a technicality now, more so than a useable product.

"Nobody knows where to go to find information"
Anonymous Pilot

  

Then another check airman wrote his concerns of the "One size fits all" door policy. Apparently the flight attendants wanted a universal policy for the door procedures. Inflight told flight operations to make it happen. Flight operations is doing just that, despite the A350 and a B737 being complete different configurations, and some (many) pilots are objecting.

Below is the letter I recently received. Should we be concerned with what's happening in this industry? I'm curious if this is ongoing at other airlines, too.

Dear Karlene,

Here are just a few things that have me highly concerned about going to work these days. These things are leading me to believe Delta is headed for a major accident. I’m not sure if this happening at other airlines but I feel the industry is headed in the wrong direction. I am not sure what to do. Any suggestions? Anything reported to Delta is all for the public and FAA show and is total hypocrisy.

Abysmal E-QRH roll out. Trained via QCQ last fall. Delayed because daddy D crashed the server putting their hands on it. Memory items change with little notice.
MCC in ATL is ignoring maintenance messages sent from the onboard aircraft reporting systems. Writing up a discrepancy under an improper MEL to keep the aircraft on time.

MCC giving out MELs before troubleshooting.

MCC have improper understanding of a malfunctioning aircraft system and therefore testing it improperly which leads to a cannot duplicate problem (eg. improperly checking a pressure regulating bleed valve with the APU…here’s a hint…you can’t properly check operation without running and engine.)

There is an incentive program for MCC in at least ATL that pays more for on-time departures. This has been verified with a former person from Tech Ops.

ATC:
Lying about weather and rides (eg. IAH lying about the ride through moderate and extreme precipitation calling it smooth then changing it to occasional moderate turbulence once you’re in it) it caused one of our aircraft to be hit by lightning.

 


Dispatch playing games with fuel and weather. (Eg. I have heard stories of them trying to bargaining fuel with the PIC on international flights…trying to give them 500LBS of fuel when they requested more.

STRESS

Failing to comply with paying people for overtime properly and then initially denying the claim. Verified from the Union.(It’s wage theft) And causes too much stress.

Crew tracking editing times to make people legal for duty…(eg. changing or not changing estimates in times for legal FAA rest).

Thanks for listening,

A concerned Delta Captain.

 

What do you think. Should we be concerned?

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

The Captain's Voice



“As a former 747 captain for Northwest Airlines,
Pam’s low-pitched voice served her well coming
from the flight deck to calm and reassure her passengers.”


Retired from flying Pam has been using her incredible voice to narrate audio books and so much more. You’ll have to listen to know how powerful her voice is. She is now recording all my books. The first is AIR21 Delta’s Debacle, Legal Lessons Learned and Shared to Save your Career and Improve Safety. And it’s just come live! A little taste of what you’ll hear.

Pam will bring all my books to life. She is the most amazingly talented woman in so many ways. To learn more about her and read her much deserved testimonials you can find her at The Captain’s Voice.


This is a book that provides insight, wisdom, and legal education for any dispute. But more so, it will help improve aviation safety by making it safe for employees to speak out and improve operational performance. You, as the frontline employee, know what needs to be done to improve safety, maintenance, operational performance and so much more. When those in management don’t want to listen because money trumps safety, you need to protect yourself.

While you never think you’ll lose an engine, you train for it regardless. This is your training. But also, there is a chapter on how to survive emotionally and save your mental health when the attack tries to steal it.


Now Available In:


With audible you also get a free downloadable PDF attachment



WIN A CAR

With every order you have the ability to win a car. Email me if you download the audible book or purchase the kindle so I’ll know to add you to the contest. If you buy off my website, I will automatically add your name. DETAILS HERE The drawing is getting closer! And we should have three more Audible books coming your way before we give away the car.

Enjoy the Journey!