Happy Mothers Day

To All those Special Women...

The author is unknown... but the meaning special. I edited it from women to mothers to celebrate our special day.

"Why Mothers Cry"

A little boy asked his mother, "Why are you crying?" "Because I'm a mother," she told him.

"I don't understand," he said. 

 

His Mom just hugged him and said, "And you never will."

Later the little boy asked his father, "Why does mother seem to cry for no reason?"

"All  mothers cry for no reason," was all his dad could say.

The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why mothers cry. Finally he put in a call to God. When God got on the phone, he asked, "God, why do mothers cry so easily?"

God said, "When I made a mother she had to be special. I made her shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world, yet gentle enough to give comfort. I gave her an inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times comes from her children. I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep going when everyone else gives up, and take care of her family through sickness and fatigue without complaining.

"I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any and all circumstances, even when her child has hurt her very badly. I gave her strength to carry her husband through his faults and fashioned her from his rib to protect his heart. I gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife, but sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to stand beside him unfalteringly. And finally, I gave her a tear to shed. This is hers exclusively to use whenever it is needed.

"You see my son," said God, "The beauty of a mother is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a mother must be seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart - the place where love resides."

 

Happy Mother's Day!

Captain Gaurav Sawai

Fridays Fabulous Flyer! 

 Captain Gaurav 

For those who have a passion for flight, and a dream of accomplishing something spectacular in their life, nothing will stop them. Captain Gaurav has proven that setbacks, accidents, typhoons, finances, or anything that life has thrown in is his path were only challenges to overcome. And he overcame them all. Now this is a pilot I would be proud to call my captain.

Enjoy Captain Gaurav's story of 

passion, perseverance and perspective:

Captain Gaurav:

All these years of struggling to fit myself in cockpit as a professional pilot, I don`t know about others but It was truly thrilling to me. I started my journey overseas. At my last stage of teen-age when rest of the children were excited for their admission in engineering colleges to keep India`s name in producing highest number of engineers. I gave entrance test too but I tore all my counseling letters after I made sure that I am medically eligible to take-up my flying exercise in order to obtain the commercial pilot license.

As I waited for my passport issuance, the period stretched for 7-8 months before I can have it. After which I approached the bank for study loan, none of the bank manager took me seriously when an 18 years old boy asking for 1.5 Million INR as a study loan for flight training. Well, upon my request one of my uncle helped me to speak to manager and my dad came on the very last day for loan approval, He came for the paper-work and signatures. And later my fee was transferred to flight academy overseas. Flight-ticket, Visa, all just happened quickly.

But still it wasn`t easy though, time tests you, and in my case it’s often and I am use to it now. Just three days before my departure, I met with an accident. It was a compound fracture on my toe and fingers of right leg with ruptured skin, It all happened when I am just about to reach my dream to touch the sky for the first time. And while shivering in cold and anxiety, my first question to the doctor was- “Shall I be able to walk properly? I want to become a pilot!!

Well, It’s just a matter of 2-3 months and you will be fine my boy, He replied. But I felt really bad, in three days I suppose to depart. After my operation, my father came and said, leave it. It was a bad luck, do something else, flying is full of risks. Even earlier my dad was not in favor to send me abroad for training as it needs a lot to study to clear the exams and I was not a bright student, I just secured some more than 60 percent marks to keep my eligibility for competition entrance exams. And pilot exams are tough thing to deal. But I promised and convenes him for it and now he has some more to add on it to stop me to go for it. But if you have a will nobody can stop you to achieve what you really need, what you really dream for, tough time trills and entertains some people, easy things looks boring and I am one of a kind who wanted to give a try to taste it.

Exactly after three months, with pain and swelling and after getting re-medical by aviation doctor I was at IGI Airport, New Delhi strolling my bag for security checks, Immigration etc. It was all new to me, I never had a chance to sit on an airplane. It was a beautiful introduction with the machine what I am going to fly for the rest of my life and call it an office. But due to rush I could not see it properly and a warm welcome was just happened and my first step inside, I could not sleep that night. All the way, struggling with the questions- how it is flying? How they might be doing inside the cockpit? I will be flying this too, very soon!! And so on.....and once we landed, it was morning and all I was looking at, the giant birds around.

It was not easy again, once I started flying. The typhoon kept on hitting the state where I was living, after 11 months of struggle in flying and quarrel with management I was almost at 87 hours of flight time so I decided to change the college and completed the total flight time of 200 hours required to obtain pilot`s license I completed in 17 months inducing a trip to South-East Asia where I did multi-engine aircraft training as well.

I even faced one worst typhoon and situation of flooding there as well. Where I was forced to live on breads and uncooked water soaked instant noodles for 15-20 days, No electricity, and no clean water for bath. Living like nomads, the scene what I see often on television, where packets of food were thrown to the people stuck in flood through army choppers, I witnessed it live. 750 people were killed on one go, when a ship of Negros-navigation sank with no person on-board alive. And more than 1000 people got killed in total. Somehow I managed to live there, after grumbling storm, sunny days came back, life became normal and I earned the title of commercial Pilot.

I came back to India and started preparing for Indian Pilot`s License conversion exam, which was not an easy deal, But I made it in few months and here comes the real deal, I kept my promise to my father and I did real hard work to clear all of my exams, but I did that because I had passion for it which made me a brilliant student, who taught few friends later and even started writing blogs and articles on aviation. No-body believed me when I told them my percentage in my academics.

I went for recurrent training abroad one more time and after my recurrent training I submitted my papers to claim my Indian license. As I said earlier, life tests you and in my case it’s often. It took 13 months for Indian authority before they could issue me a license and the reason behind that was, all the papers were under scanner after few cases came up where pilot`s got their license with forged mark-sheets where some candidates never passed the exams, and authority was working under pressure with few officers responsible for the issuance of license and applicants were in some 1000`s and they had to scan the older files to eliminate if any fraud and forged case exists while keeping new applicant waiting for it. It was one of the toughest time of my life when I use to visit authority and I started living in Delhi to chase the progress of my file, I started working in call center to keep myself busy and also reduce some burden of my parents, I did not asked for any financial help from my parents and started earning a salary of 14,700 INR.

"On Nov 2012, I got my New-Year gift in advance, the authority issued me my Indian Pilot`s license with no objection on it."

Since then, the condition of Indian Aviation sector was not in a good health. I kept preparing for exams for airlines and also I started running behind the Non-Schedule operators for a flying job. Up-on my several time of request one of the company took my flying-test on simulator and then interviewed me and agreed for the hiring.


After a long struggle from year 2007-2015 I am now officially lined-up by one charter company who operates for VVIP`s and I am waiting for my joining. It was not at all easy but I achieved it because I loved it, which gave me a passion and patience, both. And during all these years I lived at many places, including several metros abroad and India, both. I use to carry a back-pack with me and that was my home. Where-there is me and my bag stays, It is home, Being job less these years and surviving with little pocket-money. I am still at home. A home which I make everywhere I go with my back pack. Whenever I have time from the rush of city, I go home and I love to live with my parents. Whenever I get tired of chasing dream, when I feel low, I go home and live with my parents and recharge myself.

- Capt. Gaurav Sawai

 It's an honor to know you Captain Gaurav! 

For all those who say they have it tough 

and they can't make it...

You have proven otherwise. 

Thank you for being an inspiration!

Enjoy the Journey!

XO Karlene

Pay To Fly

While carrying passengers? 

Pilots learning to fly paying big money for the privilege. We work hard, build hours, gain experience and then we receive the opportunity for employment. At that time we are paid to fly. Or better said, we should. And while US commuter pilots are often paid below a standard of living, guess what's happening in Europe? Apparently there are airlines where the pilots not only make minimal income, but they also pay to fly!

The term indentured servant comes to mind. Should this be legal? It's not in France, nor in the US. Charging pilots for the privilege to build flight time, while carrying passengers has an unethical tone to it. Taking advantage of the financially challenged pilot who spent all their hard earned money on becoming qualified, is wrong. What can be done? 

Take a moment and read more at the European Cockpit Association (EAC), sign the petition and then  come back to tell us what you think about all this.   

Read: Pay To Fly

Sign and Share the: Petition!

Enjoy the Journey!
XO Karlene

Transition to Flying...

In Three Easy Steps! 

Learning a new aircraft is never easy, but it is fun. And one of my favorite activities. Over my years of training pilots, however, there have been a few common themes that have blocked the transition phase:

• Learning how to work with a crew after being a single pilot. 

• It's all about communication and working as a team. 
• Use your fellow pilot as another resource. 

• Carrying old habits that don't work with the new equipment.

• Use what does, but leave the rest behind.
• Build new habits.

• Comparing the old equipment with the new. 

• Lose the phrase.... "But in my other plane we did...." 
• Remember: This is not your other plane. 

This month Rob Burgon is representing our  BIF Team and discussing transition to flying different aircraft in three easy steps. He's got some great advice. Click on over to Tally One!

Transition to  Flying a Different Aircraft 

in Three Easy Steps.

Enjoy the Journey!

XO Karlene

Happy Cinco De Mayo and

Happy Birthday 

to a very special lady...

Darby Bradshaw!

Today is Miss Darby Bradshaw's Happy Birthday, and the celebration of Cinco De Mayo rolled into one! And Darby is never one to miss a chance to drink tequila... the good stuff. As a matter of fact, for those who have not read Flight For Control... it's time. 

And you will be a believer...

Tequila does in fact makes your clothes fall off.

Be safe and party responsibly! 

I'm sure Darby is.

Enjoy the Journey!

XO Karlene

May The 4th Be With You

Chicago to Seattle!

This morning will begin with an 0530 wake up (0330 PDT) and a flight back to Seattle. A fabulous time had by all in the Windy City! And an upgrade to First Class for my birthday present.

Derby Day at Arlington Park 

we met a great group of people! 

What were the odds that we would be seated with a woman working on her dissertation for her PhD in Leadership? Another couple who is truly enjoying the journey, as they are traveling the US visiting every state! And the twin sisters, who were not originally at our table, but through another twist of fate ended up joining the group and so glad they did. Gio taught me the art of celebrating the hat! 

And then off to Aviation Universe for a talk, book signing, pizza, and the simple net radio broadcast. What a fun night with the great folks at Aviation Universe, and as always, chatting with Marc at Simple Flight Radio was a blast!

Simple Flight Radio

Thank You

Lora and Richard 
for the great hospitality 

And the birthday cake too!

It's officially my birthday and time for a nap before I fly. So for all... remember life is short, maybe we should learn to eat the cake first!

Enjoy the Journey!
XOX Karlene

Andy, New Zealand

Friday's Fabulous Flyer! 

For the love of flight...another incredible journey...

ANDY

"My fascination for flying began with visits to various air museums and attending local airshows as a kid in England. Learning about WW2 during primary school had all but convinced me that I wanted to join the Royal Air Force when I grew up, but my family’s decision to immigrate to New Zealand just after I turned 12 helped broaden my horizons somewhat.

Throughout my teens, I was still able to enjoy watching the local Warbirds flying from my local GA airfield in Auckland, whilst becoming somewhat of a flight-sim fanatic, learning to understand the basic principles of aviating from the computer software. I was also fortunate enough to be taken up in the air by older pilots happy to share their enthusiasm for flying with me as a youngster in aircraft such as a Piper Cherokee, ACA Citabria, Pitts Special and one of two remaining airworthy Douglas DC-3’s in the country- enough to get me properly hooked on the bug.

After finishing high school, I knew that I loved the feeling of being up above the world, and that if I could end up getting paid to experience that sensation on a regular basis, I would be happy forever. I visited a few different training establishments around NZ, ranging from aero clubs that would run self-funded part time theory and flying courses to purpose built flying schools that ran full time programs that would take me from 0 experience through to a commercial licence and multi engine instrument rating via a student loan funded system. It was the latter type that I ended up applying for and being accepted into- although had I been able to afford it, in retrospect I would have liked to have gone down the club route.

New Zealand is a great environment for pilots to learn to fly in, with exposure to a high variety of terrain types and weather patterns. I gained my PPL and CPL over the coming years in the schools fleet of Cessna 172R’s, mainly flying the analogue instrument variant, although also receiving training on the Garmin G1000 glass cockpit equipped models.

 

The cross country flight phase (which I’m lead to understand are referred to overseas as VFR Navs) was the most enjoyable for me, being able to choose my own route, plan the safest route passage around the hills and clouds, then pick which airport I’d like to make a full stop landing for lunch!

After passing my commercial test, there was a long waiting list at my flight school for those students wishing to progress to a multi engine instrument rating, so I opted to go and get myself a parachute drop rating in the hope that it would help aid my employment chances. I turned up at the right place at the right time soon after and was given a job flying for a small skydive company in a town two hours north of where I had learnt to fly with a modified C172 and C182.

I flew for this company just on weekends over the winter, and full time during the summer, eventually sitting my instrument rating on the BE76 Duchess during my days off. After two seasons of the VFR parachuting work, I was happy to accept a job offer to fly a twin engine Cessna 310 on aerial survey operations, based out of the same airfield in Auckland that I had learnt done my training at.

So far I have spent a year flying the 310, all around the country and even over to Australia and back, keeping IFR current on the positioning flights but my pay check still relying on mother nature’s mood for the majority of the top-down photography work.

In the near future I am hoping to go one step further, with an offer to fly the slightly larger Piper Navajo on scheduled IFR passenger operations. The hiring and recruitment climate in general aviation in NZ is governed almost entirely by the flag carrier and their subsidiaries and with little ‘outside hiring’ going on at the airline, there is little movement at the general aviation companies below, so I’ve been very fortunate to be presented with all the opportunities that I have had.

I have also been privileged enough to be taken on as a part time first officer on the aforementioned DC3 that I first went for a jumpseat ride in as a 15 year old. Having leant a hand volunteering at the operation as a ground handler upon my return to Auckland, I was offered the opportunity to get type rating and will shortly be crewing the 30 seater tail dragger on weekly scenic flights around the region and the occasional charter.

I’ve detailed my journey thus far in a lot more detail over on my blog, along with plenty of photos and the occasional video."

Check out: www.ardmorepilot.com