Captain Ray Stark

I am Captain Ray Stark. I have been an airline Captain for 13 years and a pilot for 26 years. I started out flying in the Air Force and then won the lottery when I was hired by Southwest Airlines. For those of you sweating out that upcoming 4-hour flight, I have logged nearly 21,000 hours aloft. That is like flying nearly 2.5 years -nonstop.

Fortunately, I did stop along the way and am married to my wife of 27 years, and I have a 23 year-old daughter, who is a commercial pilot. I have a dog and two cats. I like building and flying model planes and I like riding my motorcycles and scooters. I am the author of This Is Your Captain Speaking: Flight Training For Passengers (available on Amazon.com or via www.thisisyourcaptainspeaking.com).

I fly each week so I am offline for a day or two now and then. I'll check in periodically and answer any "airplane" or "pilot" type questions you my have.

While I have no fears of flying, I do have fears associated with the following: Riding in speeding hotel vans driven by kids who look like they are 12. Losing my checked luggage. (I FedEx my stuff home from Hawaii!). Eating pre-prepared salads in airports (grumble-grumble-burppppp). Getting an airplane change on the one stop we planned to get killer food at ("What? NO POTBELLIES??? No La SALSA??? ARRRRGHHHH!!!). Opening my suitcase and finding out the one pair of jeans I have to wear on the three-day trip are actually my wife's. (Happened once and I never quite recovered from it). Kids who,after a cockpit tour, go back and tell their parents, "The pilot asked me if I like gladiator movies. What are gladiator movies?" ( I always ask kids to see what their reactions are. One 5-year-old boy answered enthusiastically, "YEAH!" and his mom, right behind him, said while laughing, "He doesn't even know what they are!") Passengers who ask me what side the sun will be on. (I tell them "The TOP SIDE.") Big trucks that rocket up to you while you are stopped in traffic. That pretty much covers it.


Monica Sosnowitz

Hi. I'm Dr. Monica Sosnowitz. I'm a therapist who has been practicing for 25 years now. I'm licensed to work with both Mental Health and Substance Abuse clients.
I own two counseling centers where we address issues such as anxiety, depression, phobias,eating disorders, addictions,marriage counseling and the list goes on. I'm one of those very lucky people that works in a warm, supportive atmosphere and I absolutely love what I do.

My luck also extends to my personal life. I have a very close knit family of 4 kids, a great husband, a crazy dog and an even crazier cat.

I grew up in a family that loves to travel and developed that love myself. I always enjoyed flying...until I had kids. Then I become one of those folks that felt uncomfortable when I would fly with my family. I have since learned that it's not unusual for that to happen. However, it was very important to me that my kids not pick up on any discomfort and that they share our love of travel.

So, I got on the internet and discovered a group of fun, bright people that are committed to making flying an adventure and helping others to do the same. I have learned so much from this group that I sometimes surprise myself with the aviation knowledge I have. And as a good friend of mine often says "With Knowledge Comes Comfort."

Armed with knowledge and understanding flying has once again become a good way to get to all the interesting places we all enjoy exploring.
But now it's even better because I get to enjoy it with my family.


John Robinson

Hey there!

I'm John Robinson, and I'm a Regional Airline Pilot. If you've flown any the past ten years or so, there's a good chance that you've flown on a regional jet, or RJ. Some people like them, some people hate them, but the RJs are now a staple of the airline industry worldwide. I've been a First Officer on RJs since 2005, and took my first flying lesson in 1999.

After graduating from college, I went to work for Southwest Airlines in the Flight Operations Training Department for a number of years-it's where my affiliation with Capt. Ray Stark began, and being immersed in the day-to-day training of airline pilots only whetted my burgeoning interest in aviation. I started taking flying lessons, got all of my ratings, and started flying the CRJ and all of its variants in November of 2005.

Like Capt. Ray, I'm here to answer any kind of question that has to do with those pointy tubes with wings that we take you around in! I'm on the road as much as he is, but I do try to take my computer with me on most trips.

As Ray has said, I don't have a particular fear of flying, but have a dreadful time with the following aviation related topics:
-No Dr. Pepper on the plane.
-People asking me if I'm old enough to fly the plane.
-Packing shorts for a trip in the Northeast in January.
-People asking where the safest place to sit on the plane is. I'll usually reply with "Oh, most definitely in one of the seats."

That covers it for me! Welcome aboard!


Ken

Needs a Bio :D


Debbie

Needs one too :D


Sean Engelin

Hi!

My name is Sean Engelin. I am a frequent business traveler and recovered fearful flyer. Everywhere I go, I meet people who tell me that they just hate to fly. They avoid it. They pass up important business opportunities because of it. They miss precious family events because of it. I used to be one of those people. I was flightless for seven years.

Since making the decision to beat my fear of flying, I have logged nearly 200,000 miles in the sky. My job takes me to every corner of the United States, often on short notice. I couldn’t do it if I didn’t get on that plane.

When I’m not working, traveling or sleeping, I spend time with my lovely wife of 12 years. We live in South Florida, where the road rage (we’re #1) will make even the worst fearful flier long for the sweet serenity of a jet airplane, high up in the sky. We love to get out and see and do things and we have no kids, so we’re free as birds, now literally since I can fly!


Chelle

I'm the geek