Friday's Fabulous Flyer

Fan mail, that touched my heart. 

This week I received a wonderful letter in response to my newest book, Flight To Success, Be the Captain of Your Life And the photos are from another reader, taken from his village in Southern Switzerland (Ticino). I hope you enjoy both as much as I did. Anyone married to someone who doesn't listen... you will laugh, and then you will run out and get your loved one this book.

"Dear Karlene,

I am half way through your book which I bought with your recommendation on twitter. If you get this message I hope you take some gratification from what I say. I'm not a big reader as I'm not a well educated person. 

I'm a Dad of two and proud, and also well loved and loving to my wife of 18 years. My kids are 8 and 15 and Im just realizing how challenging our kids life has become. They are more inspiring than i realized before i read your early chapters about fear and listening. 
 

My 8 year old has been hit by fear of school. We are having to drag him in crying traumatized by an idiotic teacher. Kids get loud, she gets louder. She doesn't listen to them, she just yells at them. Children are so delicate at that age (not all agree) and also so much more intelligent than I was, its scary. I would love him to learn from your book and face his fears as you have and we all have. I have already quoted parts in a more simplified manor and hope it plants a seed in his mind. More so I wish his teacher would read it  lol. 

He wants to be a pilot so much. Games on tablet, p.c, even xbox are part of his life. Hes been influenced by myself because I've loved aviation since crawling. After a trip, he sat in the copilots seat and his eyes lit up like the instruments. The pilot looked at him and said, "do you know what that is?" He replied, "yes its the throttle." He laughed and said I bet you don't know what that is. Again he replied, "its the flap control." The pilot looked at his co pilot and said, he's the next one.   

I intend to pass your book on to him in a couple of years and follow his dream. He wants to join the R.A.F and then go on to the 747 and A380. Start small hey. In spring we will put him back in the air in the cessna and see if he continues to enjoy his flying. That's what's really important to us at the moment.

Then my daughter wants to be a surgeon. She has also already faced huge fears. Anxiety caused by bullies. Nasty but she is amazing. She has come through the other side with dignity, honesty and pride. We guided her best we could. Bubble wrap round her she ripped it off and faced her demons by herself. I help my son with a very basic interest in aviation but my daughter is on her own. My medical know how is none. 

Then there's me. I have just realized that my listening skills are poor. My wife has told me this for years, and I admit shes right. From your book I am changing my ways today. I wouldn't admit that it's your book after all these years but its never to late.

Conclusion ... I love the book so far and got loads to go. I hope you get this message and I understand you cant reply because of the probable amount you receive. But thanks for your book. First one I have read in years and not going to be the last. I feel better about myself and I think I can be a better person. I have two jobs and me and my wife work hard to secure our kids future. We also enjoy life as well. This is our year."

Are You The Captain of Your Life?

The first Step is a Click away.

 

Enjoy the Journey!

XO Karlene

Power of Intuition

Magical Powers Turn Science

In Flight To Success, Be the Captain of Your Life, I discuss the power of fear. In order to achieve success we must find the strength to face our fears. Pushing through them builds strength. But we must also respect fear. How do you know when to respect fear, and when to fight it?

For those of us who follow your instincts, and understand the power of intuition, you get it. You understand the feelings. Those hunches when something is not quite right, and you turn and run, or select another alternative. The reality is, this power of intuition is science based. Our brains are continually being programmed through experience. Living life, reading, hearing stories of others...all this builds experience and programs the all powerful mind.

When something doesn't feel right, it probably is not. When a Flight Attendant tells you something sounds off... believe her/him. They may not know what it is, but experience is guiding those feelings. When you think something isn't right, follow that gut feeling. Learn to embrace your power of intuition, as the signals are coming from deep within your mind. Learn to honor your gift, it may save your life. 

Have you read 

Flight To Success, Be the Captain of Your Life?

It's Time!

Enjoy the Journey!
XOX Karlene

Aviation Inspiration and Books!

The Northwest Aviation Conference and Trade Show was a huge success!

Chicago's Aviation Pilot Shop,

Aviation Universe, was there in Spirit 

With the gift of Bags!

All the way from Homer Alaska

Chris Palmer 

Twitter @FlyAoAmedia

 

Austin was the first Sale!

108 Autographs, 

Much laughter, 

Many hugs! 

A successful debut

 For

Flight To Success

Be the Captain of your life!

 

For the love of reading 

Make every word count!

XO Karlene  

Mike Trahan

Friday's Fabulous Flyer 

Mike Trahan

Mike Trahan grew up on the Louisiana border in the small town of West Orange, Texas, just twenty-four miles from the Gulf of Mexico. As far back as Mike can remember he was enamored with flying. He started building model airplanes at the age of ten, and took his first airplane ride at the age of fifteen. Mike said, "the airplane had barely cleared the ground I knew, without a doubt that this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. "  Seven days later he took his first flying lesson.

Mike continued flying throughout high school and attained his commercial pilot and multi-engine ratings, and graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management. After graduation from the University of Texas, and receiving his officer commission through the Air Force ROTC program, he went to undergraduate pilot training (UPT) at Webb AFB in Big Spring, Texas.

Following graduation from UPT, he flew the C-141 “Starlifter” jet transport, with the 76th Military Airlift Squadron out of Charleston AFB, South Carolina. After two years he was reassigned to the 4th Special Operations Squadron in Vietnam, where he flew the AC-47 “Spooky” Gunship. He flew the AC-47 for eight months and when the Air Force turned that mission over to the Vietnam Air Force, he was reassigned to the EC-47 “Electronic Countermeasures” aircraft. He was assigned to the 362nd Electronic Warfare Squadron in Pleiku, Vietnam. 

 

Mike separated from the Air Force in April 1970, and was hired by Delta Air Lines in July of that same year. He flew for Delta for thirty-two years. He began his career as a Flight Engineer (Second Officer), Copilot (First Officer) and eventually upgraded to Captain. He also served as a Flight Engineer and Pilot Instructor in Delta’s Flight Training Department.

With Delta, Mike flew (in chronological order) - the Convair 880, Boeing B727, Douglas DC-9, Convair 880 (again), Boeing B737, Boeing B727 (again), and finally the Boeing B757 and B767. He served seven and a half years as Engineer on the 880 and the 727, and eight years as Copilot on the DC-9, 880, and B727. He flew as Captain on the B737, B727, and the 757/767 aircraft for his last sixteen years with Delta. He retired, at the mandatory retirement age of sixty, in 2002.

 

Apparently retirement gave Mike some time on his hands and he began writing his memoirs in 2013. To date has published three books in his autobiographical series The Gift. The fourth, and final, book of the series is in progress. He has also published several short stories. 

The Gift – The Beginning "This book covers my life from birth, until I graduated college, and left home for Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training. The main focus is my advancement as a pilot, and my quest to qualify for a slot in UPT, and contains an intimate picture of growing up in East Texas, playing sports, serving as an altar boy, dating girls, and flying airplanes. I also spent two years playing football at The University of Mississippi."

The Gift Part Two – The Air Force Years  "Covers my four and a half years as a United States Air Force Pilot. It contains detailed descriptions of my flights in Pilot Training, flying around the world in the C-141, and my year in the AC and EC-47 aircraft in combat in Vietnam."

 

The Gift Part Three – The Delta Years 1970 – 1986  "is about my time as a Flight Engineer, Copilot, and Engineer Instructor / Check Airman at Delta"

 






The Gift Part Four – Delta 1986 – 2002 (In Progress) "chronicles my adventures as a Captain and Pilot Instructor / Check Airman during my last sixteen years with Delta."

  

 

 

 

 

Mike’s books can be found on Amazon

In addition to “The Gift” series, several of Mike’s short stories are also available on Amazon. All the books a may be purchased in Paperback and Kindle format. The short stories are only available in Kindle.

This is the ultimate ... a life and career of a young man who fell in love with the sky, learned to fly, and soared through life following his dreams with a passion. This is what stories are made of, and what makes life worth living.  Congratulations Mike, on a life served well! 

You, too, are writing the story called life... 

make is spectacular! 

Enjoy the Journey!
XO Karlene 

Your Time To Fly!

In Puyallup Washington...

Career Day! 

Pilot Jobs and More! 

February 20th

 and the

NW Aviation Conference and Trade Show.

 

Click Here to Learn More 

and Register for the Career Forum!

- See more at: http://karlenepetitt.blogspot.com/2015/01/an-aviation-career.html#sthash.sp03lfpY.dpuf

Attention: Aviation enthusiasts!  

There will be professionals from Alaska Airlines at career day! Rumor has it, 400 people were hired via the career day/trade show last year.  I'm thinking you want to join us this weekend. You will have a chance to ask questions, meet pilot hiring, and learn what it takes to get a job. Even if you don't want to be a pilot there is something for everyone!

To Learn more and Register click HERE! 

I am also the key note speaker for career day. What will I say? Who knows. How many people will be there? Well... let's push for a 1000 to really put me on the edge. When you read Flight To Success, you'll see that I am afraid of speaking in front of people. How can I do it filled with fear? Ah... you'll have to read the book. This and more secrets will prevail.

AVGEEKS are joining us for the weekend too!!!

Just in time, my shipment of 500 books arrived for the weekend! These books have many aviation stories embedded within the pages, and many more stories bringing them to market. Last minute editing prevailed that will be a plot point in Darby's 3rd book, Flight For Survival. I cannot make this stuff up... inspiration comes in the most unique ways.

We also noticed a missing C on the binding. My friend at Embry-Riddle stated, "There are no C's in success for Doctors." (If we get a C we are out of the program). It's good to laugh during the challenges. Thus, I paid a lot of money to get them here in time, a rush/rush 4 day order. However, a shipper's delay to "hacking" fear, followed by East Coast weather pushed that to 8 days. 

The delivery driver knocked the stack over in his truck and broke open boxes, as he blocked our street when "4" neighbors were trying to get out last night. Timing is priceless. But with all that...we had one day to spare and my neighbors all know that the books have arrived, and there was minimal damage.

Last night I autographed 26 books, to those who pre-ordered and for those whom I wanted to thank in the process for all their help. I also mailed a couple to young aviation enthusiasts and to the BIF Team. Oh...and the first shipment is going international: Brazil! Canada! and Guam! (Guam might be a US territory, but to get there this book will do so via Tokyo... so we are calling this part of the great journey... International!)

 

Join me at a great aviation weekend and get your copy!

Reviews on Amazon Here

Check out the 

NW Aviation Conference and Trade show! 

Feb 21-22

Enjoy the Journey!

XO Karlene

Building Better Pilots Without 1500-hours

Never doubt the power of action!


July 23, 2013, I posted: The Future of Aviation concerning three issues within our industry:

• Pilots losing their skills due to automation
• Pilots not learning core skills because they are flying automated planes 
• The pending pilot shortage

At the time my plan was to get into Embry-Riddle’s graduate school in fall of 2014, earn a PhD, and change the 1500-hour requirement and provide credit toward glider time.

Step 1: Accepted into Graduate school. ✔
Step 2: Begin research to support the plan—in progress

Yes, my partner in crime (who shall remain anonymous for now) and I are busily building a case to encourage the FAA to provide credit for flight time.

 

Did you know:

• The FAA currently allows glider time to account for cross-country
• You can log up to 1,250 hours toward the ATP license 
• You can solo at 14-years-old 
• You can get a glider license at 16-years-old 
• Glider flying teaches skills you will carry throughout life
• Glider clubs are found worldwide 
• The Soaring Society of America Badges can be earned! 
• Contest flying to test your skills are available 
• Civil Air Patrols provide free orientation flights for cadets and intensive glider camps throughout the country 

“Glider flying teaches stick and rudder skills, coordinated flying, pilotage, decision-making, aerodynamics, situational awareness, navigation, understanding weather, soaring ability, teamwork, formation flying, and off-airport landings”

What are you waiting for?

Go Fly a Glider!

WHEN we are successful, you might get a gift of reduction in hours, too! We are currently working on this, and the research we’re uncovering supports our theory—glider pilots have skills like none other!

Note: There is nothing in my life, that I have set out to do that I have not accomplished. I have no doubt this will be one of those endeavors. If you want to know more about the power behind success, and why we will be able to make this theory a reality, read:

Flight To Success, Be the Captain of Your Life

 Amazon paper

Kindle

Autographed copies on this site

After reading the story of my life, you will realize that this reduction in flight hours will become a reality. Never doubt the power of commitment when you make a plan and never give up!

Dream. Believe. Achieve.  

What are your thoughts on glider flying?

Would you fly them if there was additional credit given?

Enjoy the Journey!

XO Karlene

A Weekend of Love

Is not about buying power...

This morning I was listening to a mediation on love. The message...

Life is Love. Love is Life.

The greatest force in the universe is free. You can give it with a kind word to a stranger, share it by spending time with those you care about, and receive it by doing something that feeds your passion.

"Love is life. And if you miss love, you miss life."

Leo Buscaglia

"Love is not about what we get, but what we give. Love can bring the greatest joy, a thousand tears and the most painful heartaches. But love is so worth the pain and something you do not want to miss in your life. At the end of the day, with all the success in the world, if you don’t have love, what do you have? If you haven’t loved until it hurts, you have not lived. One of the secrets of success is...."

 To read that secret and more... you must read Flight To Success Be The Captain of Your Life 

Available here and on Amazon too!  
And Kindle!

Happy Valentines Day Weekend! 

I'm going to be home on call, sitting reserve (unless someone calls in sick). I'll call that the love-sick call. For me... warm house in a wet city, love songs on the stereo while I'm doing homework, a game of scrabble at the end of the day followed by a bubble bath. Simple but filled with love. It's not about the stuff, but the joy.

Homework will be spent on something in my PhD program, working toward reducing the 1500-hour total time requirement for the love of flight. Stay tuned!

How will you spend your weekend? 

Enjoy the Journey!

XOX Karlene