Hi

It’s the easiest thing in the world to be critical of the way other people do things. But this is to remind you that big brands don’t guarantee quality.

Tonight I chanced upon a TV program which has been running for some while and enjoys many repeats on the many digital channels now available. What irks me is that just because a big brand chooses to do something that there is an assumption that it’s done well and it’s done properly.

In tonight’s program a lady with a fear of flying was  a principle story line. If she overcame her fear of flying enduring what she was subjected to… well all I can say is  anyone doing anything will overcome a fear of flying.  The poor lady was very upset, and in an attempt to re-assure her that everything was OK, the pilot explained that the aircraft turned by means of the ailerons which are situated at the ends of the wings. Another of her fears was explained away by showing her the use of some switches on the flight deck. In all the people I have helped  a technical explanation has never reassured anyone who was crying.

Then we saw her in the flight simulator…unattended and left to cry while the pilots demonstrated how simple it is to fly a plane. There was another person on board who described what was going on, not in  normal language but in technical jargon. Even when she asked for the camera to be taken off her the filming continued.

I am incensed when peoples fears are disregarded just to promote an airline or make a program. The damage that can be done is enormous.

Never once were her fears addressed, never once was she asked how she felt, never once was her viewpoint considered.

The whole episode was a disgrace and even though everyone was doing their best to help the best was wrong. And if this lady flew I doubt that the foundations of continued success were properly established.

Big brands don’t guarantee quality. We treat all our customers as individuals and we use methods that work, so if you’re thinking about doing one of our courses please do not think that we  do it like that!

Captain Keith

Bad weather operations

Each year in europe when the weather is bad I get a lot of enquiries about the safety aspects of flying in what people see as bad weather. The first thing to remember is that the chaos that we get on the roads is caused mailny by bad driving and secondly by the actual road conditions.

Part of a pilots training and re-current training is toensure that their knowledge and competences to operate in poor weather is maintained. This is done by information bulletins , reminders and simulator training.

The airports of course have to be maintained to minimum standards for planes to use them. So runways and taxiways are kept clear  and in much better condition than the roads.

Newtons Laws numbers one to three mean that there is less chance of a plane skidding than a motor car. Motor cars are always  turning braking and accelerating….which is when wheels skid and control can be lost.

It’s all been thought about … so if you have a fear of flying in winter conditions then it’s time to relax and leave it to the well trained crews who fly you.

Captain Keith

I found this message to the people who were on the flight when we made the DVD.  It’s  embarrassingly  generous about my part in Jasper’s success in overcoming his fear but the important thing is that after 38 years he went flying again. The message is YOU CAN DO IT!

I met Keith in the summer of 2003, because I absolutely had to get on a plane to Washington DC in December of that year. I was pursuing every avenue I could in order to get as much help as possible, because I was really stuck on the ground, as it were. (I had decided, at around the age of three, never to fly again. So I grounded myself for the next 38 years.) Having endured a few fear-of-flying courses with various firms, and failing to find my wings, I felt increasingly entrenched, and thought I would never be able to let myself fly.

Everything changed when I met Keith .You will observe a charming and funny, rather self-effacing man, and notice acute intelligence and sensitivity. You will sense the (for me) rather mystical qualities of a professional Pilot, a man who can *fly*, a man who can teach others to *fly*, a man who can fly and teach others to fly whilst also successfully taking responsibilty for other people’s lives and hugely expensive and complex vehicles. And there’s something else in a man like Keith, an authoritative strength and power, in repose, but always ready. If I were shipwrecked on a desert island, and Keith were there, I know things would be ok. Undoubtedly, you are most fortunate to be where you are today (wish I was with you) and fortunate to have Keith on the plane with you. Thankfully not as the pilot. I say this for two reasons; one, becausewhen he flew with me in the simulator, he put his feet up on the dashboard and let the co-pilot drive the thing, and secondly, because he’ll be in the cabin with you, talking and laughing. As will you.
All this is not to say that you *need *Keith to get you off the ground. There’s only three things that can do that, the engines, wings and you. And I think that being around Keith helped me find *my* inner strength and power to fly. We all have it, we can all create it within us.I learnt from Keith that passenger aircraft are like Bentley Motor Cars. Built to be stronger than they need to be, meticulously maintained, and never pushed anywhere near the limits of their capability.

Rather like cruising about in a Ferrari at 15 miles per hour. I learnt that Turbulence or whatever you want to call it, is never dangerous. I discovered that my worst fears were phantoms. They only existed in my mind. My first flight was in an 8 seater twin-engine Piper Chieftain from Biggin Hill to Southend International airport. I kissed the tarmac at Southend. “Don’t do that” said the pilot, Chief Instructor at the Flying School “they’ll all think I’m rubbish!”

We tried to find a cup of tea, couldn’t, so with special permission fro air traffic control, flew down the Thames to Vauxhall, did a big circle over London, and nipped back to Biggin. I flew to Washington DC. I flew back to England. Then I flew to Barbados. And Back. Then I did two fear-of-flying flights to keep myself topped-up as it were, and to have a go at helping others get flying. Then I flew to Thailand. That’s a long way. I recommend Business Class.I can now get on a plane, and go somewhere, anywhere. And even enjoy it. I love Jumbo jets best. I am still apprehensive sometimes, and less so each time I fly. And that’s good enough for me. I don’t panic, or die of fear, or go mad, or get up and try and get the door open. I watch the movies, enjoy the food, even look out of the window, and take photos! Well, look, I’m rambling now, so I’ll shut up. I am there with you in spirit, fly well, happy landings!
Jasp

Jasper Britton the narrator of The CD set  and star of many videos on the Logbook 24/7 Social Network