User Profile
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Ray Stark |
| Captain Ray Stark has been a pilot at Southwest Airlines since 1988. Before Southwest, he served in the US Air Force where he initially started as a Missile Combat Crew Commander sitting nuclear alert in a SAC ICBM silo in Tucson, AZ. When a pilot slot opened up, Ray jumped at the chance and following graduation from Undergraduate Flight Training (UPT) at Williams AFB, he flew T-43s (Boeing 737s) and later, C-130s. His hobbies include motorcycles, karting, and helping people overcome their fear of flying. Ray answers questions about commercial aviation at www.takingflight.us a site built by and for those who grapple with questions or concerns about airline travel. Ray is the author of, “This Is Your Captain Speaking: Flight Training For Passengers.” | |
News
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Emergency Descent! |
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Anytime you use the word “emergency” in the context of aviation, people get understandably concerned. A look at what happens during such an event reveals the planning and forethought that goes into aviation. And, as a good friend of mine likes to say, “With knowledge comes comfort.” Categories: Flying, Under the hood Jan 11, 2010 |
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The (First) Blizzard of 09 |
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An odd thought ran through my mind the week before Christmas. Spending my second night in a hotel while the "BLIZZARD OF '09" dumped a couple of feet of snow on Baltimore and much of the Northeast, I began to realize, we have this all wrong. We need to have Christmas in summer like they do in Australia. |
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Flight Report: What We Up Front Are Thinking And Doing While Our Passengers Are Thinking: "What Are THEY Thinking up front"? |
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It is day two of a three-day trip. We are on our fourth and last flight of the day en route from Chicago Midway (MDW) to Long Island MacArthur (ISP). Weather observations for ISP are good, and the forecast is also fine. My partner, Bernie, and I are talking about what dinner options the hotel in Islip offers as he pulls up the ISP weather. Big surprise! |
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Fast approach in gusty weather... |
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Fast approach in gusty weather...
From a frequent flier: While landing in gusty winds it looked like we were going way faster than normal. We floated way down the runway and then pounded on the runway after which the pilots slammed on the brakes! Why would this happen? Categories: Flying, Under the hood Oct 21, 2008 |
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Applause--Not Needed but Appreciated |
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If you fly on Southwest Airlines regularly, chances are you’ve probably been on a flight where the cabin breaks into applause upon landing. This happens from time-to-time for various reasons. Often, it’s in response to a “sporty” approach in gusty winds or bad weather that has the Passengers who are not “comfortable fliers” clutching their armrests until touchdown. Categories: Flying, Working at Southwest Sep 29, 2008 |
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