Stories about Flying

Learning to Tow Banners for Fun, Profit and Improved Stick and Rudder Skills

I was hired by Chicago Aerial Advertising when I was in my mid-20s to learn how to safely drag a huge airborne advertising display around Chicagoland with a tiny 150-hp C

Labor Day Explained

Much about the American Labor movement has changed dramatically in the past 100 years. But some of the more unsavory aspects of labor remain exactly the same as they were

Airplanes and Water Can Mix

I reminisce about the adventure and the fun of adding a single-engine seaplane rating to my pilot certificate.

ATC: 45 Years After the PATCO Strike

August 3 is the 45th anniversary of the infamous PATCO strike that cost 11,435 air traffic controllers their careers after they called a strike against the FAA. Nearly f

Aircraft Emergencies & the Saga of Speedbird 009

Ever wonder how pilots think during an emergency and why they never seem to panic? Listen as I describe what happened aboard a British Airways 747 flight when they enco

Work Life Balance ... for Pilots?

At a recent CAP Squadron meeting, a cadet officer commented about how unsavory the schedules could be for pilots. Having spent much of my life in a cockpit, I took his co

Are You a Space Geek

Rob's personal reflection on his lifelong fascination with space exploration and astronauts. It was recently highlighted by attendance at the Chicago premiere of Spacewom

When a Standard Instrument Departure Becomes Hazardous to Your Professional Health

A routine instrument departure turns into a career-defining moment when poor cockpit communication and rushed decisions lead to a serious ATC deviation. In this episode,

The Coveted 1500 Hours

Before 2009, pilots who wanted a career as an airline pilot could easily be hired with as little as 300 hours total time in their logbooks. That all changed after the cra

There's More to Flight Instruction Than Simply Logging hours

No individual can enhance aviation safety as much as a flight instructor. Flight instructors possess a powerful opportunity to make a tangible difference in someone’s li

Stories about Flying intro for Jetwhine readers

Bare with me here, because in this brief episode, I'll be introducing Jetwhine readers to the Stories about Flying podcast.

The Accidental Correspondent: Part 1

Fledgling journalist Brian Coleman departed the US last week after snuggling up with a United Premium Plus seat enroute to the 2026 Singapore Airshow. This will be his fi

Armchair Accident Investigators

Have pilots acting as armchair accident investigators gotten out of hand? Sometimes. But not all accident investigators are created the same.

Being a Co-Pilot in the Early Days of the Airlines

In the early days of the airlines, there were no Captains or First Officers ... only First Pilots and Co-Pilots. This episode describes an early memo from American Airway