Flight Safety!

International Air Safety Summit  

I am in Miami Florida for the week at an incredible conference! Monday was an amazing day where fascinating topics of discussion included: 

Delta's CEO Richard Anderson was a keynote speaker. His down to earth speech about a safety organization was incredible! Since I am focusing on Safety Culture, and Safety Management Systems (SMS) for my PhD, I plan to schedule a meeting, if he has time in his busy schedule, to discuss ideas I've got. His speech left a legacy and solid impression with the entire audience.

I happened to sit by an incredible woman at lunch, who I learned knew one of my sisters as they were not only neighbors in Seattle, but worked together on the crisis team for Alaska Airline crash. Sue gave an emotional filled speech on what was necessary from a corporation if the worst happens, and how Alaska held together... it was all about the people (and proud to say my sister Karolee was one of those people).

We discussed SMS, Safety Culture, Crew health, aircraft tracking, lithium batteries in the cargo compartment. We also heard the FAA and NTSB speak on tips and tools for what to say to the media, and discussed their new directive on a learning culture. I wrote a bit about this during my Aviation Law course, but it's all about attitude and forthright learning that will make the difference in education or punishment if (and when) you make an error. This goes all the way down to GA pilots. So... be honest, have a learning attitude (Similar to what you will read in Flight To Success be the Captain of Your Life on the Learning Chapter) and you will see the new FAA. This is all about SMS! 

And then Airbus sponsored a great pool party. Sorry the photo does not capture the essence of this spectacular event.  However, I happened to sit with someone and engaged in a great conversation on aviation and professionalism, human factors, etc. We were all wearing name tags. I looked at his and  said, "I recognize your name... have you written an article some where?" An article? Nope... Numerous books! And two of which happened to be on my desk at home.

Who is this famous Aviation Author?

More to come!!

Enjoy the journey!

XO Karlene

Literary Journal

Conclave

Bill Bernhardt

I met Bill many years ago at the Hawaii's writers conference.  Bill is not only a fabulous writing instructor, but an incredible mentor. When he sent me a request to help, I jumped at the chance to share his information with the world. The flight to success world.

To learn more about Bill, you can find him at WilliamBernhardt.com

Every Pledge Counts!

"Literature and writers have always been at the forefront of positive change. We want to create a meeting place where writers and words can, to quote Joseph Conrad, "teach us how to see." Too many excellent writers have trouble finding a suitable place for their work. 

We will open the door to submissions from both established and emerging writers. Each issue will feature exceptional fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and photography. Your donation will help defray the cost of printing, design, editorial input, maintaining our Submittable account, and marketing. Every pledge will bring us closer to our goal. If we don't hit our goal, you lose nothing. If we do make our goal, you will receive perks based on your donation and we get Conclave into waiting hands like yours." 

KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN

Enjoy the Journey

XOX Karlene 

Happy Halloween!!!

The Scariest Thing of 2015....

MY DESK!!! 

Or the Number Of Stats Books...

Or That I'm Having Coffee  With a Pumpkin at 0300 in the Morning doing homework!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

CARLOS STEPHEN SÁNCHEZ SERRANO

Friday's Fabulous Flyer!

CARLOS

 

"My life in aviation began in 1999, when I started my training as a commercial pilot. After many years reading about aviation on magazines and books, I had the opportunity of studying what I had always wished. 

After finishing my studies and considering the different possibilities in order to start my professional life in aviation, I chose flying instruction. I remember the first day, when the teacher told us to explain why we were there. Everyone said almost the same “I’m here to get flying hours”. It was then when I realized that I thought differently because I was there due to my love for teaching.

After 4 years carrying out instruction tasks such as flight instruction (more than 1400 hours), simulator instruction (more than 1600 hours), ground instruction, and a year as a CFI (chief flight instruction), I considered that it was the time to change and continue my career.

In 2007 I got the opportunity of flying an executive airplane – a Cessna Citation 560 Ultra – which allowed me to have my first experience flying a jet airplane across Europe, and flying to many different places. The fact of changing from flying light Cessnas and Pipers to a Cessna Citation was a pretty important step forward, especially in terms of professional maturity achieved by performing a charter operation in an airplane flying at 0.7Mach, travelling to many different airports and with just a few hours to prepare the flight.

Unfortunately, this project just survived only for 2 years. The worldwide crisis which affected in a very important manner to the private aviation sector, closing companies, including the one I was flying for. Despite that situation, and taking into account that in my career I’ve always had the goal of learning and give the most in every company I worked for, I could add to my résumé 370 hours of jet time and the experience of being the security and safety manager of the company.

In that moment, the doubt of what to do appeared. The aviation market was really affected by the crisis. Airlines weren’t hiring pilots and in the only offers that could be found on the Internet, the requirement of being a B-737 or A-320 experienced pilot was common.

Was in that moment when I took the decision of developing a project that had been in my mind since for a long time. A project focused on working in these areas: aviation instruction, quality and image services, both for individuals and companies.

This project, FLYLAB CONSULTING, was established in 2012 and continues growing up in services and partnerships. Nowadays we are creating a database for aeronautical members in order to help people in their job seek, through contacts with airlines or international brokers, and by offering complementary training to improve their resumes.

In addition to my work at FLYLAB CONSULTING, I also work in a Spanish airline, as an ATR 42 copilot , Head of Training of the ATO and Safety Manager (SMS).

Although it seems to be a very busy life, I’m very lucky because I can develop a personal project and continue flying. The most important thing for me is that I have enough time to spend with my family without being forced to fly all the time. That’s a priority in my life. Of course I love flying, but the fact of saying “good night!” to my baby almost every day is amazing.

I hope you have enjoyed this quick summary of my professional life. I invite you to visit the web of my company - www.flylabconsulting.com/joomla/en - in which you will find, more in detail, all the services we offer.

Carlos, you are most definitely a Fabulous flyer. 

Thank you for sharing your story with us. 

And I wish you the very best success in your future! 

Enjoy the Journey!!

XO Karlene  

Sir Frank Whittle

NOTAM SPECIAL -- BACK TO THE FUTURE WHITTLE JET

By Mark Restorick

"Hello from a dull wet rainy damp Nottinghamshire, this article was on our regional news last night, so missed my original newsletter of all things airline this side of pond. 

"Whittle jet" Gloster E28-39 upon the roundabout

In memoriam to from whence the dawn of a new propulsion age began, the " jet age ", the memorial upon the roundabout just off jc 11 M1 motorway at Lutterworth Leicestershire and 1/2 mile south from airfield " Sir Frank Whittle" developed the co - axial jet engine in 1936 after writing a paper for his r.a.f. college course in 1929, but the Air ministry would not believe him. 

"Sir Frank Whittle" then with his own money and help of initially" British Houston Turbine" then "Rover car group" and after several issues due in experience of " Rover"and " Rolls Royce" with their Aero engine knowledge stepped in after swapping a contract for armoured cars, at same time then Squadron leader Whittle, registered it design at patent office. 

The replica " Whittle jet " as known, or its true name Gloster e28-39, is 10 years old and looking a little worn by weathering even though whole " Whittle jet " is made from stainless steel. The trust who care for the " Whittle jet" have launched a call for donations to help towards overhall that will see the a/c restored for a further 10 plus, the end result will see the " Whittle jet" not in its stainless steel existing look, but, painted in the colors as worn by the original prototype.

The trust though have the issue of, how do you repair / restore an aircraft that is life size mounted upon a roundabout, one view is to erect scaffold about the aircraft and encase all in a tent, the other is to remove the whole aircraft temporarily from the roundabout to a site close by very possibly to the original buildings as once used by Sir Frank Whittle of which still remain in tact and are preserved."

 Thank you Mark!!

Enjoy the Journey!

XO Karlene

Unicom Podcast

Flight Simulation and Real Life!

The Unicom Podcast is an audio broadcast that covers flight simulation and, to a lesser extent, real world general aviation and airline topics. The show is hosted by several staff members of the iFlySimX.com website. Namely, Nicolas Jackson, a flight simmer and internet broadcaster with more than nine years of experience, Dmitri Scheidel, an enthusiastic flight simmer and real world student pilot and Jordan Greene a real world CFI, CFII and MEI. 

Nicolas Jackson 

Every other week, this great team puts together a show based on a round table format that features one main topic of discussion, or guest, along with the most recent flight sim news and a brief overviews of the reviews being worked on by the iFlySimX.com staff.

The show is designed to entertain, educate and expose the listener to the happenings in the flight sim world. The show is a new and vital part of the iFlySimX.comhttp://iflysimx.com website... a redesigned flight sim website covering sim news, reviews and offering a live Twitch stream in addition to The Unicom Podcast. Listeners can interact with the show by signing up for the Disqus commenting system, joining the forms or sending an email to nicnacjak@gmail.com. 

We hope you enjoy the show! 

Check out their 4th episode:

Sim versus real world

Enjoy the Journey!

XO Karlene  

Night Witch

Historic Fiction~

My friend Sandy McCormack's book has just released!

From Farm Girl to Aviator. 

June 1941 Nineteen-year old Raisa Tarasova’s peaceful life shatters when Hitler’s forces invade Russia. Her two brothers immediately enlist in the air corps. Despite Raisa’s desire to fly and her many hours of flying time, neither the air corps nor her father would allow such a thing. She is, after all, “just a girl”.

In September Raisa returns to her engineering studies at the university in Moscow. Once there, she jumps at the opportunity to join a newly formed women’s aviation unit. Wearing men’s uniforms hurriedly cut down to fit, Raisa and 300 other female recruits are loaded into railcars and transported to a training base.

After six hard months of schooling, Raisa is assigned as a navigator with the all-woman Night Bomber Regiment. Their aircraft is the PO-2, a biplane made of plywood and fabric. Months later, after a night of heavy losses, Raisa is given a field promotion and the new responsibility of pilot. She has no choice but to carry out her orders and face down a most significant enemy…her own fear.

Courage, an impossible romance, and a daring rescue only a woman would devise become part of Raisa’s new life as a member of the 588th Night Bomber Aviation Regiment, the NIGHT WITCHES. 

 

Available on Amazon Today!

 

Enjoy the Journey!

XO Karlene