Author Description

I have been flying for the airlines for over 13 years. I am currently a Captain on the MD-80 flying both domestic and international trips. The majority of the flying public has little understanding of the complexities involved in boarding passengers onto an airliner and safely delivering them to their destination. As with many things in today's society, a lot of us just take for granted that qualified professionals who know their responsibilities are operating our flight and are doing the best they can to make the flight comfortable and safe. I hope this book will provide a basic knowledge of what is going on behind the scenes on an average flight so that you as a passenger can stay cognizant of what is happening and why. To many people, flying is a slightly scary experience because, as humans we do not like to relinquish control and put our lives in stranger's hands. Rather than relinquish control entirely, wouldn't it be nice to understand what the pilots and flight attendants are doing and why? When the flight attendants tell you that you can't use your cell phone or you can't put your bag on the seat next to you for takeoff, rather than feeling like we're raining on your parade, we want you to realize that we are only following regulations enacted for your safety. When you hear the flaps coming out or the gear going down, we want you to relax knowing that these sounds are normal. When you're getting bounced around in turbulence at 35,000 feet, we want you to know we're doing our best to find a smoother altitude. Most people have no idea how a plane stays in the air and how the flight crew works together to move the passengers from one point to the next. After reading this collection of over 13 years of experience, I hope you will be more relaxed on your flight and more secure in knowing how the flight crew and air traffic controllers work together to keep your flight out of harm's way. Take some time to get acquainted with your surroundings and don't