Getting Over Jelly Legs

Well, I'm 3 weeks in and I'm loving it! Sitting in the airport for 8 hours waiting to fill-in for someone is a little less fun, but actually flying is great! My passengers have been really good. I've had some get sick, cranky, and a little weary of the bumpy journey but I think my smile and a few reassuring words have straightened them out. I realize it's been forever since I've written, but a lot has been happening! I think I've flown about 20-25 flights on my reserve time. I have my schedule for next month already! Praise be to God that I was able to get Sundays off all month. I'm sure not every month will be that way, but for now I'll take the blessing and fly with it!

I find myself lacking meaningful relationships at work. I have the few people I trained with and a some acquaintances from the crew room, but nothing really personal. I have a hunch I'm hear to be a light in a dark place, but I feel very dim right now :-(. I'm doing my best to stay vigilant. I would love to have a Christian friend though, untainted by the gossip and inappropriateness in the crew room.

My hosts in Atascosita have been fantastic! I've known them since birth and it's been great to get to know each other at this stage in life. They enjoy spending time with their 2 grandsons and their family, as well as enjoying retirement. It's a really laid back relaxed environment to come home to. I do miss my own family when i'm away though, especially my puppy dog :-).

The more and more I fly the less I have the feeling of "Jelly Legs" when I'm back on the ground. It's very similar to sea legs I imagine. It's been a lot of fun to surf down the aisle while serving, and not spilling. Its so much like surfing it's unreal! The plane drops out from under you or it swerves left/right throwing you around, but if you keep your knees bent and get your center of gravity under your hips you'll do fine!

Well, I am going back to cleaning up the house! Good afternoon and happy travels!

Free to move about the country

I am finished!!!  I passed all my inflight training, and am ready to starting flying solo. I have been to New Orleans, Mcallen, Killeen, Shreveport, and Tyler already! Everywhere we stayed was lovely. The Holiday Inn in Tyler was especially nice.

The flying itself was a ton of fun. My first trip out on either aircraft I was a little timid (hard to believe, I know), but I took control by my second flight. My bag got left in New Orleans all day the first day. It finally showed up around 11pm. I had to be up at 0330 the next day. Thanks to everyone who flew that 5:20am flight with me after only having 4 hours of sleep. I had the best passengers in the world. Not one of them gave me a hard time, most of them were laughing with me (you who weren't know who you are, don't think I didn't notice you laughing AT me). I am still working on getting my "sea legs" so to speak. Every night when I lie down to sleep it feels like i'm on the ocean waves and my body is rocking with the surf. Its an odd sensation that will pass with time I hope.

Today was the most exciting of all, I think. I only flew one leg and it was my exam. I feel I did very well and will represent the company fairly well when I'm on my own. I still bobble a little as we begin to taxi and fumble  with my announcement cards, but the awkwardness will subside. I think maybe 2 of the 6 flights I flew this week were on time...I really will have to work on the semper gumby style of life. My last flight today (The Test) was flown without the cabin being pressurized. The pilots kept the plane at a breathable altitude and we did just fine. I don't think a single passenger noticed. It was bumpier than normal at the lower altitude, but I managed to not spill drinks on anyone or fall...All in all I think it was a successful day. I'm pooped and ready for bed. I've got my dog and my teddy bear ready to go!

As always, good night and happy travels.  

Graduation Day

I finally made it! I received my wings today!!! Some of my very very good friends were able to make it and I couldn't be happier! Thank you all so much for coming out to support me. It has been a whirl-wind experience, and I know I would never have made it with out all your prayers ;-)! God has been so good to me and blessed me with a many splendid things. I have my first in flight exam on the 6th of July.  I am flying a two day trip and staying overnight in deep in south Texas. I fly again on the 10th and I bounce all over the place for 3 days. It's all so exciting! I just can't wait to get to it and start working :-)! I fully intend to keep writing as long as I am flying, and maybe even after (who knows really!). As always, good night and happy travels!

Drillzzzzz

Spent all day in the hanger working on our drills. This is probably the most important thing we learn and my whole class was behind me and helped me get to this point. Between staying up all night to practice together, quizzing each other over commands, or sweating it out with me in the hanger they all are equally responsible for my success. Enjoy!

Good night and happy travels!

Graduation Approaches

We received our uniforms today. Not very glamorous. Excited to have them, it means I am one step closer to my wings, but man...I wish they were at least a little fashionable. I spent the heat of the day today in the hanger with no air conditioning on a plane with no air conditioning pre-flighting equipment and playing around on the PA system. I have completed the pre-flight checks for both types of aircraft we work on. All I have left now is to do about 3 emergency drills, operation of some equipment, and my written final. After I pass all that, I get WINGS!!!!

Graduation is tentatively scheduled for Saturday morning. I need to get a head count of who Might be coming, so we can have enough chairs for folks to sit it. You can e-mail me at rebecca.nelson88@gmail.com. Don't be shy about coming either. Most of my class isn't from the Houston area so they won't have anyone there for them. The more of you that show up the more people there to show them love. There will be cake, and possibly cookies, but other than that I have no idea what to expect. Its supposed to be a 2 hour ceremony so I can't imagine what we are supposed to show you guys!

Not much else to report on this end. As always, good night and happy travels!

The Goose Story

We spent the day talking/learning about team work and how that can prevent fatalities in most crashes. There is a story they shared with us to really illustrate what they meant, it's called "The Goose Story"

Next fall when you see geese heading south for the winter, flying in their familiar "V" formation, you might be interested in knowing why they fly that way. Science had learned that, as each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird immediately behind it. By flying in a "V" formation, the flock together gains 70% more flying range than if each bird flew on its own.

Like the geese, people who share a common direction and a sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier, because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

Whenever one goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to do it alone. It will quickly try to get back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the birds in front. If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed the same way we are going. 

When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wing and another goose takes over the point position. It pays to take turns doing a hard job. 


The geese from behind honk constantly, as you've no doubt heard whenever a flock passes overhead. They do this to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. An encouraging word goes a long way. 


Finally, when a goose gets sick or is wounded by a gun shot and falls out of the formation, two geese follow it down to stay with it and protect it. They stay until it is either able to fly again, or dies. They then launch out on their own or with another formation to catch up with the group. If we have the sense of a goose, we stand by each other. 


~ Author unknown

Week 3 in Houston...

So this monday was the start of week 3!! I'm halfway done and still going strong. The fatigue is starting to show a little, but I'm pushing through as best as I can. Sunday my roommate left training to return to White Plains, NY. It was a sad day for me. I really enjoied her company and had bonded quite a bit. We still chat through text and she seems to be doing well. Another one of our class members left Monday. He was a retired NYPD officer who had helped with chaos after 9-11. He went home to be with his 2 children. To him it was more an imoprtant that he be there for his 2 pre-teens. I agree. Father's need to play an active role in the lives of their children. I am so proud of him for making that decision. Yesterday we got up on the aircraft for the first time! Above is a photo of my attempt to get the door open. It took several attempts and eventually it took standing on a small staircase to get it open. :-) There was no a/c in the hanger and none in the aircraft either...It got so hot and so sweaty everywhere. I had a blast! I got to take out the emergency exit windows and the emergency door. It is surprisingly easy. I expected them to be super heavy and to barely be able to lift them, but I am confident I could hurl them from the aircraft if needed. Yay!!!

Many of you met my class mate Eugene on Sunday or at least saw him with me at church. Today is his birthday! I organized a surprise birthday party in the lobby with help from my classmates. He was thrilled and got teary eyed :-). I remember how hard it is to be away from home on your birthday and without your family.  Everyone here feels like family and tries really hard to lift each other up! We lost two more classmates this morning so we are down to..23 from the original 28.

I can not wait to get on the Dash 8 Q-400 to practice! It's such a pretty plane! It's the same length as the 737, but has a 2-2 seat configuration in place of the 3-3. It is also quieter than a jet (seriously!). They have installed equipment on the Q-400 that acts like noise cancelling headphones in the cabin. There are microphones all along the inside of the cabin that pick up and analyze the noise frequencies coming from the props. The cabin then emits a frequency of its own to counter act the noise of the props. It's one of the most amazing pieces of technology in the air! The Q it's self is significantly more fuel efficient then the most jets and on a 2 hour trip only takes 15 minutes longer than a jet. It's a really cool aircraft :-)

Tomorrow I have a quiz over the general layout of the Q so I am going to get to studying! Good night and happy travels!