Articles
Real airline life, explained by someone who lives it. New stories are added as they publish.
Latest
Learjet Crash in Palm Beach County: What We Know, and What Happens Next
Developing: 9 people died when a Learjet 60 crashed in Palm Beach County. A pilot sorts confirmed facts from social media claims and explains what the NTSB does next.
United 1157 and the Turbulence You Can't See: A Pilot Explains Wake and Clear-Air Turbulence
Four flight attendants were hurt when United 1157 hit sudden turbulence. An airline pilot on what's confirmed, why radar can't see it, and whether it's getting worse.
flydubai Co-Pilot Attack on FZ1073: What Happened and How Cockpit Security Works
The co-pilot of flydubai flight FZ1073 attacked his captain with the cockpit crash axe. What's officially confirmed, what isn't, and how cockpit security really works.
How Many Days Do Airline Pilots Actually Work? A Real Airline Pilot Schedule, Explained
Reserve or a line, bidding and seniority, credit hours, rest rules and the commute: what a pilot’s month really looks like, from the inside.
By section
Schedules & Seniority
Bidding, reserve, holding a line, PBS and how a seniority number shapes every month of a pilot’s life.
Layovers
Hotels, crew rooms, overnights, and what actually happens on a 14-hour stop in a city you didn’t choose.
Ops Explained
Why your flight was delayed. How fuel, weather, dispatch and maintenance decisions really get made.
Incidents Decoded
Calm, careful explanations of the aviation events in the news, without the sensationalism.
Training & Checkrides
Sims, checkrides, upgrades, recurrent training, and what it takes to keep the job year after year.
Life at Home
Commuting, crash pads, missed holidays, family, and the trade-offs behind the uniform.