THANKFUL

 Happy Thanksgiving!

 

With warmest wishes to you and your family...

May your life be filled with gratitude. 

 

T.H.ursdays with Tom Hill

 

Thankful:

A beach appears in the distance. Our flight is low to the water as we approach from the east. The formation of F-15's is spread out so it maximizes our look ahead while allowing us to keep track of each other with a glance. We scream over local fishing boats. I'm not sure but I think they're from the little villages just off the beaches up ahead. In the pre-flight brief, someone thought the land ahead was the same Philippine beach used in the movie Apocalypse Now. 

 

I'm concentrating on the dozens and dozens of tasks inherent to a low altitude training flight when a thought creeps into my head: I am terribly impressed by all this, how cool it is. I think how fortunate I am to be there doing this exact thing. As far as I am concerned, I am the luckiest person in the world. There is much to be thankful for.

This event was more than 20 years ago. We had just finished a big exercise in the Philippines with other Air Force units and an Australian contingent. The flight up the beach was a final training flight before heading home. The interchange for the month was fantastic. 

 

The events memorable, especially with our international allies. Flying over that beach was icing on the cake. We left a couple days later, returning to our base in Okinawa. Not two weeks after that, Mount Pinatubo erupted, devastating the area. As I watched the aftermath on television, I thought again how lucky I had been to be there, and how lucky I was to have left before things got serious - to have those opportunities and then not to be there two weeks later, an eye-blink in geological terms.

First Snowfall of the year

Our Flight Surgeon was sent to Cebu Island to support the US recovery effort following the volcano eruption. He returned weeks later with stories colored with the perspective of his pre-Flight Surgeon days as an ordained minister: the abject lack of resources, the sea of people, the misery, the constant and steady relocation process. We all listened, spell-bound, beers in hand, as he told of his experiences.

In the coming months we got more stories from comrades who where caught with their families in the middle of the craziness - the ash showers, the convoy drive from Angeles City to Subic Bay, the personal losses - all things I couldn't really fathom because they sounded so biblical and incredible.

I'm thinking of all this now because the region was hit by another gigantic natural event, a typhoon, a few weeks ago, and because it's Thanksgiving. As much as I might feel separated from events around the world as if they're on another planet, these events are a great reminder to me that it is only through small differences in circumstances that I don't have firsthand experience of such calamity.

I've been through plenty of natural "events," though none caused the damage I've seen on the news lately. Over the years, I've lost family and friends due to disease, crime, and chance. There is no explaining or justifying how things happen. I have my health. I'm blessed with great relationships. And, I feel fortunate I am able to embrace the fact that, by luck, I'm not one of those on the beach searching for relief. I am thankful.

I'm not suggesting I should regret my set of circumstances. Far from it. I only embrace the accident of my good fortune when I feel a little put out by some minor thing. It helps to always know that whatever my situation is, it could easily be worse. It is only through a crazy set of circumstances that it's not.

On this day, Thanksgiving Day, I remind myself how little would have to change to make my life a completely different story, and I take time to reflect and be thankful for my happy destiny.

Cheers

Tom

What Every Pilot Needs

By Chris Oquist, 
Flight To Success Guest Blogger

Chris Oquist is not only a private pilot and web developer at Banyan Pilot Shop in South Florida, he has a way with the words too. Chris is aviation enthusiast who is passionate about sharing his knowledge on all-things-aviation.

What Every Pilot Needs

Pilots are a unique breed. We are adventurers at heart. We seek excitement and tend towards boldness, competitiveness, and self-reliance. All in all we are passionate individuals. I do admit to possessing all of these traits on a regular basis. But let us not forget what every pilot needs to be truly successful….

Planning and precision

Even with all the safety training and procedures in place, risk is still there. We are inherent risk takers, so it is a huge draw for a lot of us, even if we don’t realize it. Preparedness, planning, and precision are skills that we must be well equipped with. Successful pilots plan their entire flight before takeoff and review their performance after landing. It is a continuous effort of learning from mistakes and finding ways improve.

Authority without arrogance

Having the right attitude is just as important as competence when you are in the cockpit. Courage and confidence is necessary and will get you far. Arrogance is always destructive. It is so easy for that feeling of authority to morph into arrogance. Never forget how different they are.

A level head

Before you even settle into the cockpit having a clear, level head is key. You can’t successfully fly a plane without it. You need to have a solid ability to make good judgment calls and stay focused on the task at hand. If something were to go wrong, a clear head yields a better ability to handle an unexpected situation.

Respect and humility

Respect for your equipment, procedures, regulations, and process of flight is essential. Be aware of your capabilities and limits. Over-confidence will get you nowhere. No, you do not have super human abilities, nor do you know more than your plane, or manual. Learning from your mistakes and seeking the help from others will keep you humble.

Passion

And finally, passion. I’d say it is the most important and probably the most universal quality pilots possess. Becoming a pilot is never a spur of the moment decision. It is one we contemplate well before the day of our first flight lesson arrives. As a general rule, we are obsessed with planes and aviation before we ever step into a cockpit. Don’t forget that – it will keep you going

Chinese Jet Engine Maintenance

Truth or Fiction? 

A friend sent me the following post.  Truth is often stranger than fiction. You decide the reality.  But remember... one bad egg does not mean the entire carton is rotten. It does mean we should inspect closely.

"For anybody who is not familiar with a jet engine, a jet fan blade should be perfectly smooth.

A pilot for a Chinese carrier requested permission and landed at FRA ( Frankfurt , Germany ) for an unscheduled refueling stop. The reason became soon apparent to the ground crew: The Number 3 engine had been shutdown previously because of excessive vibration, and because it didn't look too good. It had apparently been no problem for the ground crew back in China: as they took some sturdy straps and wrapped them around two of the fan blades and the structures behind, thus stopping any unwanted wind-milling (engine spinning by itself due to airflow passing thru the blades during flight) and associated uncomfortable vibration caused by the sub optimal fan.

Note that the straps are seat-belts.... how resourceful! After making the "repairs", off they went into the wild blue yonder with another revenue-making flight on only three engines!

With the increased fuel consumption, they got a bit low on fuel, and just set it down at the closest airport (FRA) for a quick refill.

That's when the problems started: The Germans, who are kind of picky about this stuff, inspected the malfunctioning engine and immediately grounded the aircraft. (Besides the seat-belts, notice the appalling condition of the fan blades.) The airline operator had to send a chunk of money to get the first engine replaced (took about 10 days). The repair contractor decided to do some impromptu inspection work on the other engines, none of which looked all that great either. The result: a total of 3 engines were eventually changed on this plane before it was permitted to fly again."

Be Thankful for maintenance regulations... 

They can keep you safe!

Enjoy the Journey!

XO Karlene

Evergreen International Airlines

Takes their last flight...

"At the end of the day, 

be thankful that we had the gift to fly"

This month is a sad day in Aviation History for many. Evergreen officially shutdowns November 30th, 2013. Putting aviation history month to bed.

My first airline job was flying as a 727 first officer for Evergreen in 1987. It wasn't too long ago I was reflecting on my life, wondering if I had never left Evergreen how my life would have turned out. At the time a  friend was applying to them, and I thought... I could have been his captain.

In 1988 I had the choice to go to Braniff or upgrade to a first officer on the 747. I chose Braniff. I thought that flying for an passenger airline would be more conducive to raising a family. Well, we all know how well that worked out. Shortly thereafter Braniff filed bankruptcy.

That started pattern for my career of starting over for multiple airlines. But mere months ago I had said, "What if I never left Evergreen? I would have been flying as a whale captain for previous 24 years of my career."

If I had stayed with Evergreen in those early years I may have been a whale captain for many years, amassing widebody hours. I would have experienced the stability of one airline. I would have been senior.

But...

• I would never have known that I had an aptitude and loved teaching. 

• I would not have 747-400, 737, 757/767 and A330 type ratings on my license.

• I would have missed the vast experiences and friendships I amassed along the way. 

• My novels would not have come to life, because I would not have experienced the world.  I would have known one world only. 

• I may have been in some foreign country during a critical time I needed to be home with the family. (And there were many.) 

• This month I would be out of a job. 

 

We never know if we make good or bad choices along the way. But I do know life always has a way of working out if you take action and do the best you can. I am grateful for Evergreen and all I learned working there. I'm also thankful for many opportunities that followed. Many funny stories along the way. This is a very sad event for me, and my heart breaks for all involved.

My advice to the displaced pilots...pack up that flight bag and apply to the airlines. They are hiring! When they say all good things must come to an end, it's true. That also means something better is around the corner.

The Few the Proud Zone...

You can teach an

Old Freight Dog new tricks!

Enjoy the Journey!
XO Karlene

Justin Reed

Friday's Fabulous Flyer

At age 14, today’s Fabulous Flyer is not a pilot. But he once hijacked a school bus to escape his orphanage. Before his father’s murder, he traveled the world as an Air Force brat, becoming fluent in both Japanese and Spanish—especially the cuss words. Oh, and watch out for your wallet: rebellious New York street kid Justin Reed is an exceptionally gifted pickpocket.

Ok, so Justin is a figment of airline captain Eric “Cap’n Aux” Auxier’s imagination. Justin is also the main character in Auxier’s first book, a Young Adult spy novel, Code Name: Dodger.

Written in the First Person from Justin’s point of view, the adventure follows Justin and beautiful illegal immigrant Mira as they solve his father’s murder and outwit the Pharaoh—an evil enemy spy. In a desperate attempt to protect Justin from the unknown enemy agent, the CIA is forced to train the boy in multiple survival, fighting and evasion skills. Little do they know, they create a little monster!

KP: Thank you for visiting with us today, Justin.

JR: Thanks for inviting me, Mrs. Petitt! Although, um, I’m not sure if I'm comfy with the term, “little monster.” Then again my dad, when he was alive, used to call me, “Little Kamikaze.” My newly adopted father, CIA Agent Bob Cheney, would totally agree!

It's true, I’ve never flown airplanes, but I’ve ridden in the back of plenty of ‘em. Several times while my dad was in the Air Force, and once while I was tracking down the Pharaoh. Oh, yeah, and I got thrown out of a helicopter once, without a parachute. But that's another story.

To tell you the truth, my favorite transport is my skateboard. It makes a really good weapon, too, as I learned while running from Pharaoh’s henchmen. Then again, I definitely love Shadow, too. That’s what I nicknamed my old, beat-up but souped-up CIA Camaro. It really kicks some serious—er, um, booty! 

KP: Wow, I don’t think I know any 14-year-olds that own a Camaro.

JR: Yeah, well, CIA Director Cole—his code name’s, “King Cole,”—would totally deny this. But he was so blown away with how I tracked down the Pharaoh and solved the case, that he gave me a fake birth certificate that says I’m 18, and the Shadow as thanks. He really, really wants me to join the CIA as an agent! I’m sorry—but no friggin’ way!

Bob would totally agree, no CIA for me! Jeez, he won’t even let me skip to Junior year in high school. I guess he’s got a point: I’ve played hooky more times than Ferris Bueller!

KP: Speaking of code names, how did you get the name, “Dodger?”

JR: Oh, that. Well, it’s actually the Artful Dodger, from my favorite book of all time, Oliver Twist. My dad gave me the book, right before he was killed. After that, I really identified with Oliver, the orphan who always got the shaft from life. But when King Cole was handing out our code names for my witness protection survival training, he figured me more as a streetwise, scamming Artful Dodger type. LOL, I gotta agree with him on that! Agent Bob, as my main trainer, was named Fagin, after Dodger’s teacher.

KP: I see. Well, for a young teen, you’ve certainly had your share of adventures.

JR: OMG, you can say that again! Right now I’m halfway through writing the story of how Bob and I got kidnapped by Mexican drug smugglers, as revenge for busting up Pharaoh's worldwide spy ring. I guess it’s sort of a sequel to Code Name: Dodger. I’m gonna call it, Cartel Kidnapping. I hope to publish it some time next year.

KP: Wow, can’t wait to read it! I loved reading of your adventures in Code Name: Dodger. That spy Pharaoh really made Darth Vader look like the Pope! Briefly, before you go, tell us about Mira. She’s so beautiful and loving. Any young romance brewing there?

JR: (Blushes deeply.) Um, well, I’m gonna have to say that’s Classified, for reasons of National security! Seriously, though, we’re still really close. My good friend Glen’s tomboy sister, Joya . . . well, right now, I can’t get her out of my head. She punched me in the arm, you know. Hard. Coming from her, that’s like a first kiss!

KP:(Laughing.) Well, I wish you the best of luck out there, Justin. Any last thoughts?

JR: Well, of course a lot of what I'd like to tell you really is classified by the CIA. Not that I give a rat’s butt. Umm, let’s see…well, next week, Bob’s taking me on a surveillance mission to Israel. He’s shadowing some suspected terrorists. It’ll probably be boring, but who knows? I wasn’t supposed to go with him, but Bob grounded me. Says the only place he can trust me is right by his side . . .

See, I got suspended from high school for taking out the entire first string of our varsity football team. Hey, what could I do? They were picking on a poor, nerdy little freshman kid. They started it, really!

KP: (Laughing even harder.) "Little Kamikaze" you are, Justin!

JR: Haha, can’t argue with that! Sorry, I’ve gotta go catch the A-train up to North Brooklyn to see my old buddies at the orphanage. Randy just got released from juvy prison, and I need to give him some serious noogies!

TOP SECRET — EYES ONLY

Subj: Reed, Justin M.
Descr: Male, Caucasion, early teens
Loc: N. Brooklyn Orphanage, NY

Action: APPREHEND AT ALL COSTS

Rebellious teen orphan Justin Reed and beautiful illegal immigrant Mira search for Justin's father’s killer. But in their quest for vengeance, the two are plunged into a seamy world of intrigue, espionage and assassination.

CIA Agent Bob Cheney joins them in a frantic search for a missing key that could hold the clue to his father’s murder—and change the course of world history. But can Mira’s stunning brown eyes be trusted? And is Agent Cheney really the “good spy” and father figure he pretends to be?

Justin must rely on his old orphan street smarts—and his new CIA training—to track down the key and outwit the Pharaoh, an evil enemy spy. 

Author Eric Auxier is an airline pilot by day, writer by night, and kid by choice. Code Name: Dodger is his first novel. His second, The Last Bush Pilots, captured the coveted Amazon Top 100 New Novels Award.

“An all-time fun ride! The author hit a big win on this. Looking forward to the series!”—Karlene Petitt, author, Flight for Control; Flight for Safety.

“Like Harry Potter, fun for kids of all ages.”—Tawni Waters, author, Gold Dust; Grand Prize Winner—Top Travel Writers of 2010.

Thank you Eric and Justin for sharing your story! 

What did I think of this book?  loved it. I actually read it in the bathtub on my cruise a couple months ago, and turned the water cold! This was a really fun read.

To read an excerpt click HERE!
To watch the trailer click THERE!

A portion of all proceeds go to warmblankets.org

Enjoy the journey!

XO Karlene

The Hard Way

T.H.ursday with Tom Hill

Karlene and I shared a couple observations when I sent in an article a few weeks ago. I told her how impressed I am with her crazy schedule, the many irons she has in the fire, and the recent "watch" she had over her husband while he was in the hospital. I know lots of people, myself included, might've cried, "Uncle!" if we had half her list of things to do. Our discussion traveled quickly from what comforts us in trying times to a quote I found by noted polar explorer Ben Saunders: 

 

 

"Inspiration and growth only come from adversity and from challenge - from stepping away from what's comfortable and familiar and stepping out into the unknown." 

 

That is so true. What I found from my own experiences is that the path that takes me to the most satisfying events in my life is most likely the one colored with the most challenge. If you are a seeking to accomplish significant things, challenge is simply the cost of doing business. There's no free lunch, in other words. Unfortunately, in our "instant and constant satisfaction now" world, the harder path isn't easily embraced.

Since this is an aviation website, let's consider this: it's not easy becoming a pilot. If you're just starting your training, the economics of making a career as a commercial aviator could look foolish. The cost is so high and the risks are so great. If you get a little carried away with the facts, you might even convince yourself it's safer to stay in bed than risk wasting money on another cross-country flight. Doing a little math, you could estimate the total cost of earning all the hours required by a commercial operator. With tens of thousands of dollars staring at you at the beginning of your training, you might say to yourself, "How am I going to afford that and still put food on the table?"

This is a reasonable question, but people figure it out. Folks take the leap and start the journey all the time and eventually make their dreams come true. Ask Karlene. I'm sure she has story after story of people who took that first step into adversity and it all worked out. It's kind of miraculous how it happens.

What I promote is this perspective: don't be put off by the hard path before you've even started. In fact, that path might be the best one in the end. For one thing, assessing how hard something will be while sitting on your couch is terribly unreliable. In the end, that hard path is never as difficult as we fear, and life always seems to work out. When you're committed to something, life always seems to work for you. At least that's been my experience.

As Ben Saunders says, "inspiration and growth only come from adversity and from challenge...." While we aren't talking about something as epic as schlepping a sledge weighed with hundreds of kilos of food and equipment across the Arctic ice, there is opportunity in our everyday lives for inspiration and growth just by turning toward challenges instead of turning away. With each step on the epic journey, there's an opportunity to realize what's possible and expand our lives. How cool would that be - to discover there is more to our lives than we thought?

Is it possible to be inspired and grow while sitting in the comfort of your den eating bonbon's? I guess, but I don't see how. After all, how can you realize what more you can do unless you actually get out there and operate at the edge of your comfort zone?

How can these thoughts turn into everyday action? I think it's pretty simple. It's related to my article last week, "Our Experiences." The topic last week was about living a life colored with epic stories. To help us find those stories, to identify that path toward inspiration and growth, take the hard way. When given the choice between two directions, don't be afraid of the one that looks more difficult. That one will likely be the better choice.

Cheers
Tom

Be Part of The Movie!

My Friend, Syd Blue... Pilot, Author, Business Owner and all around great lady is doing something spectacular and would like you to become part of the creation. One of her books, Circle is going to become a movie.

 

"Circle is about a 14 year old, Spencer, who finds an ET girl living in his house. You'd think discovering an extraterrestrial girl hiding under his bed would be shocking enough! But it's not until Spencer finds out why Mandy came to earth that the real surprise comes.

Ever since the jet she stowed away on crashed in the desert behind Spencer’s home, Mandy has been lost and alone. The pilot was captured by the Air Force. She asks Spencer to risk everything to rescue the pilot from Edwards Air Force Base and help them get back home with the one thing their civilization needs to survive.

On the run from soldiers, fighter jets and attack helicopters, Spencer and his family fall apart when Mandy's secret is revealed. The one thing her people need is the ONE THING they can NOT let her take." 

 

Circle Project Kickstarter Campaign 

Meet the Author:

"I had my 1st flying lesson on my 14th birthday. Now I’m a commercial pilot living a life in the skies. As Chief Pilot running an aviation business specializing in aerial surveillance, I fly above the Southwest. On the ground, I wrote, edited and produced for everything from TV stations to production companies, from book publishers to national magazines. I have had over 40 articles published and screenplays optioned, and supervised writing staffs around the world at magazines and news services. I also produced an award-winning documentary, TV shows, commercials and short films. A pilot passionate about producing? Only when I’m on the ground. 

This is the plane it all started

My parents had more children than seats in their single-engine airplane, so I started writing novels in the back of their Mooney when I was small enough to fit in the baggage compartment. – There’s nothing else to do in the baggage compartment! Trips to grandma’s house were even more fun in a plane, especially when I could get the yoke away from my 3 brothers, all of whom are pilots too."

The Trailer...

Syd is working on getting the word out for her book, via a trailer on YouTube and other sites. But this is no ordinary trailer. This is a live-action trailer... the making of a movie!

Why make a live-action trailer for a book? 

I’m tired of seeing panels of words strung together with uninteresting still images. We have the technology to do better. Yes, it’s expensive, but why not bring a book to life visually? It also serves as a visual tool when talking to producers for the movie version. This trailer will be used to raise the funding to produce the feature-length film.

 

What makes this book special?

"Circle is unique because Spencer takes on the U.S. Air Force. Growing up on Air Force bases excited my imagination. What if drones, attack helicopters and fighter jets were after you? No other book features a 14 year old involved in military action. Plus, the flying. I write my flying scenes in a way even non-pilots can understand and get a taste of life in the skies."

• The book is being read in middle schools as class curriculum.
• At book signings, I average selling a book every 8 minutes – just as fast as I can sign them and briefly chat with a new friend.

 

Become Involved in the Process:

Syd is using Kickstarter to help fund her movie trailer. I have had many people send links asking me to help fund a movie, or a project via kickstarter. But I never felt confident that any of it was real... Not until now, that is.

I know Syd, and she is an awesome individual doing something great.Why is she using kickstarter?

"The trailer for my last book FlyGirl was done on a shoestring budget – super, super low-budget. This time I’d like to hire professional actors, a full crew consisting of Oktay Ortabasi and his experienced pros at The Dreaming Tree Productions. He’s an amazing DP (Cinematographer) and his wife is a fabulous editor. They are the real deal. 

So, we need some real money. With your help, the project can be absolutely amazing and exciting. The budget has been created to keep costs down; however, we won’t go cheap on the talent. Oktay is the one who can pull this off and he’s worth every penny. In my opinion, he’s the best in the biz, bringing intelligence, vision, and invention to getting the hard shots to look good without a studio budget. 

The shoot will consist of 3 days for all the locations. We’ll work hard and fast to create awesome footage. We will only need a little CGI for the jet crash and some of the jet scenes. Joining Blue Blaze Productions and The Dreaming Tree Productions is Stoutheart Entertainment. Damon Stout recently raised the budget for his short film on Kickstarter. 

For info about Damon and his team of producers, check out StoutheartEntertainment.com. Damon brings years of experience and his fabulous Emmy-award-winning film making skills and mastery. With this team, we’ll have the best production possible!

The funds cover:

1. 1. The filming crew, such as the DP, the sound technician, a grip/gaffer, the PA, the makeup artist/script supervisor.
2. The cast, including the casting agency, audition location, actors gas to get to the sets and expenses.
3. Insurance.
4. Props such as airplane flights.
5. Food on set.
6. Video editing.

This trailer will be used to kick off the feature film fundraising, too. Shooting a trailer properly takes time, experience and vision.

I’m confident that I can keep everything on schedule, but should the project require additional time (due to a natural disaster, a mega mothership making contact or an act of ET AI taking over my brainwaves) I’ll let everyone who pledged know as soon as possible, and I won’t sleep until this thing is ready to dazzle audiences worldwide. "

Syd Blue is the real thing. She is a friend of mine. Her movie will be on the big screen one day. So if you want to tell your kids you were part of the making... check this out: 

Circle Project Kickstarter Campaign

For more info, check out SydBlue.com 

and visit her on 

Twitter @SydBlue

I'm seeing Disney Studios wanting this movie... It's going to be great! Good luck Syd!

Enjoy the journey.... and become part of it! 

XO Karlene