Flyin' Brian

Nicole Visits the Rat

With my transfer to LAX, I acquired American Airlines benefits and it proved to be the most convenient option going to Orlando after an uneventful day of reserve. The cost for this privilege was about $3.00 for both Nicole and myself. Not a bad price to fly across the country. Poor Nicole was seated behind…
Evading June Gloom

It has indeed been a few weeks since my last post, but there is good reason for this. No, I have not quit my job. Rather, I have been enjoying the fruits of my labor. I was able to take a week long trip to Japan, which I wrote about on my other blog. If you…
May Grey

Yesterday, I checked off another new airport — this time in Pasco, Washington. The picture at right is a view of the Columbia River while descending toward the field. Having only seen the airport, I have no idea what Pasco itself is like. Perhaps someday I will be overnight there. This would be my second…
First Flights out of LAX

My very first flight out of LAX as a pilot based there was delayed. Weather? Excessive flow you might ask? Nope. A dog on the loose on the tarmac. For 30 minutes airport police tried to corral the four-legged antagonist to no avail. The ground controller was very busy directing planes to stop and go…
Day 3 of Southern Road Trip and Houston Makes a Final Stand

Waking up in New Orleans on what turned out to be a relatively calm street, we played tourists and got beignets at the famous Café du Monde. Every employee appeared to be angry and Vietnamese. We asked for four beigets and the lady yelled at us and said, “No! Two! For you two!” and promptly…
Second Day in the Dirty South

After eating a very southern-style breakfast of grits, andouille sausage, and beignets, we walked a little bit around Mobile. We saw a shipbuilding yard for what can only be described as stealth boats for the navy. There were about as many people out and about during the day as there were last evening. At one…
Day One of the Great Southern Road Trip

Due to the unpredictable nature of flying standby, I successfully made it to Orlando from Houston, but Nicole found herself in an oversold situation on the only United flight from LAX to Orlando for the day. After her unsuccessful first attempt, I routed her through Atlanta and on to Daytona Beach, where I picked her…
Winding Down in Houston

I have entered my final week at the Houston base and things are finally coming to a close. The area has been pounded by storms and heavy rains that resulted in flooding. There was one day of good sunny weather when I took this picture of a 777 with a Star Wars BB-8 livery. We…
Tacos.

I was assigned a simple out-and-back trip down to Leon/Guanajuato in Mexico. This time, I would be arriving in the evening, and departing early morning, so not much time to venture out and explore. However, while introducing myself to the crew, they inquired, “Do you like tacos?” Who doesn’t like tacos? Everyone likes tacos. You…
Ca$h Money Outing in Palo$ Verde$

My reserve schedule this month is not that great. The longest period of time I have off is this weekend with four consecutive days off. And keep in mind, I am still commuting from LA to Houston which cuts into one of the days. I landed Friday evening in not-so-sunny California where it had uncharacteristically…