Five years ago, I asked my laptop's screen, "What is this blogging thing all about?" The rest is history. Over 500 posts and still gaining altitude. Unbelievable!
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Five Years Against the Wind
Five years ago, I asked my laptop's screen, "What is this blogging thing all about?" The rest is history. Over 500 posts and still gaining altitude. Unbelievable!
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83 comments:
Congrats and thank your for keep on writting. Love your stories.
Regards from an Spanish PPL
I have enjoyed reading your posts since finding your blog via Aviatrix. Thank you, and please do continue!
Congratulations on the milestone Dave - your blog always makes for interesting reading - here's to 5 more years!
Thanks for continuing to post to this blog. As a phoenix based corporate pilot, I wonder how many times I have taxied by you. Keep up the good work!
Thank you, Dave. A new post always makes my day. I'm hoping for many more years of enjoying your blog.
I read all of them from the beginning and they only got better.
I live under a Heathrow approach path. Thanks for making the noisy things up there seem interesting.
I hope it has not always seemed to be against the wind. For us, it has been with!
Bryn, I found his blog the same way, Viva Avitrix!
Go for the Astronaut wings Dave
Just found your blog a few weeks ago, and have been reading it frequently ever since. So many great stories! Please keep them coming!
via Aviatrix. I've read every one of those posts and I thank you for sharing them. May you contuinue as long as it's fun.
Captain,
Thank you. Thank you very much.
James
Thank you, Dave! I enjoy reading your Blog. Like everyone else has said please continue with your Blog.
Atta boy Dave! Keep going! You're our hero!
May you always have runway in front of you. Fuel in your tanks. And altitude below.
Thanks Dave for keeping us in the loop of life on the line. I was sharing your blog addy with my son's friend who is home for the summer from UND-North Fork when the quake shook us up and down. Wonder if that was a sign that he needs to continue his flight plans?
You're part of keeping my sunny side up.
Thank you!
Easily one of the best blogs on the Web. I know next to nothing about flying, but I love reading your stories.
Dave - Love your stories and eagerly look forward to each new one. I have to admit that I am a 757 fan (probably because that was the first jet I ever rode on) but you have given me a new appreciation for "Fi-Fi" as well. There are quite a few of us down here who look up yearningly at passing contrails but must be satisfied with once a year or so(if we are lucky). Your blog brings it all home to us and makes us feel like we too are there.
Life would be that much poorer without meeting with Dave on Flight Level 390.
I first came here via googling for views flying into Anchorage, about 4 years ago.
Congratulations, Dave - and may you long continue flying safely and sharing your stories and thoughts with us. So many appreciate and value your time and effort.
Dave,
Congrats. Looking forward to the next 5 years. I read many blogs, but yours is by far the one that cheers me the most when I see a new posting.
Dave,
So many thanks for bringing your world in Aviation to one who never could have known otherwise. It is always a fascinating and extremely well-written commentary!
Mate, you are a high-altitude champion.
Paul
For some reason, you come across as arrogant and condenscending discussing your FOs. I don't know if its intentional but thats how your blog comes across to me - in my opinion. Do your FOs know that you write about them in not so flattering terms? Don't know why you would do that but its your blog.....
Thank you for your hard work- both in the cockpit and on your site. As an aviation enthusiast and occasional passenger, your insights have helped me understand your industry, management, line personnel, procedures and most of all- your passion for what is still considered by most of us an honorable and glamorous career choice!
Anonymous at 8:26 (not surprising!):
What!!!! Are we reading the same blog???
Congratulations for this 5 years! Greetings from Mexico.
Here's hoping you fly over Washington once in while...I'll wave when you fly over Yakima!
Wake me up when we are there Dave, Thanks
Would like to add my congatulations to those of your other fans. You've got a gift for letting people experience life on the line.
I certainly do enjoy your posts because they keep me in the loop. Even though I parked my last airplane 16 years ago its a pleasure to go on the line with you.
I've tried my hand at writing about some of my experiences, but they aren't nearly as good as your posts. You have a wealth of material in this blog that could be a great help should you ever decide to write a book. And you should - write a book someday.
Keep the blue side up!
Dave,
You can't understand how much use blogs like this one are to aspiring airline pilots like me. I started reading this not long before my first trial lesson and it has inspired me to do more flying!
Happy 5th Birthday FL390!
Sherb (from England)
I'm a late entrant on your blog, but liked it immediately. So keep on flying and keep on blogging!
Regards from a private pilot from Holland.
Hi Dave! I think I'm the last new reader of your blog but I can say your blog is amazing!
Thanks for your stories about FiFi!
A fan from Italy!
Bye
5 years and 500 posts of amazing and captivating writing.
Thanks for enriching our lives Dave.
Dave matthews wrote:
"Watch the sky, the jetplanes
So far out of my reach
Is there someone up there lookin’ down on me? "
Dave, a few months ago i discovered your blog, and have been reading all your posts with growing enthusiasm, your feed takes up first spot on my rss reader.
Keep up the good work!!!
You'r a real inspiration and role model for us lowly pilots working our way through our ratings with the hope of landing the left seat on an RJ some day. Hope its been as fun a time for you writing your posts as it is for those of us reading them. Thanks.
Happy Blog'day, looking forward to the next 5 years!
Thanks so much for your incredible stories about life on the line, Captain Dave. I'm a very fearful flyer but you have helped me overcome my fears quite a bit. My very best wishes to you and the wife of your youth. :)
--Sue
Congratulations, Dave, on five years of outstanding blogging. I, as many others have, found your blog recently, and have gone back and read every single one of your posts; many more than once.
My only question is, "When are you going to start Twittering?" :-)
THANKS!!!
Dave,
I have an irrational fear of you reaching retirement and, consequently, stopping writing. Maybe when you do retire, you can continue to write about your adventures on your riding lawnmower?
Thanks for a great blog!
Congrats Dave. Thanks for the insights into what goes on on the far side of the cockpit door.
And enjoyed every one! Well, at least the ones I've read. Maybe 200 or so.
Dave as a new reader, you have me fascinated! Your stories make it seem like we're right there with you in the cockpit.
I hope one day to be lucky enough to be on your flight!
Thanks for all the work you put into these stories. You've earned that rare blogger status - you keep us wanting more.
Dave, 2 quick questions for you or anyone else that might know.
Why is the plane called Fi-Fi? And where is the Sandspit?
Fi-Fi because it's built in France...?
Thanks Dave. Please don't let the detractors)from your last post discourage you. Write on!
Tim G in MN
i still remember the day i found your blog and decided i had to go back and read every single post. keep up the great writing!!!
C from MN
Thanks for the past 5 years of enjoyment. Just one thing, how do you get such superb photos? Heres to the next 5 years
Instead of too much TV and distraction in layover hotel rooms...such a creative outcome.
Keep on bloggin'
What a great blog. Thanks for taking the time and energy to write it.
-russ
f.l.a.p.
Cassandra, Sandspit I believe is a waypoint near Anchorage, AK.
And Dave, yessirree that iphone of your was BORN to Twitter!
Dave
Anniversarial Felicitations on your 5 years...
I think I first joined you happy band of "passengers" a few months in (or thereabouts) and still check every day for new postings and am always glad to see a new one to read. I have always loved all aspects of flight, and your blog and the insights into what goes on up at the pointy end makes it all the more interesting.
Here's to yet many more 5 year anniversaries
Steve - From Leeds (UK)
Dave,
After a hard day's slog in the office, it's always a pleasure to come home, spark up the pc and read one of your tales of the wild blue yonder! Here's to five more years. All the best from a frustrated Scottish CPL!
I was led to your blog by Aviatrix, and though I wasn't there from the beginning, once I got there, I went back and read all your posts. Yours is one of four blogs I have on my RSS feed, and I look forward to each new post. Thank you for your efforts.
To a pilot in training, your words are inspirational and help me get through it all. Keep up the great work Captain Dave!
Kevin
Dave, your's is the only blog I read because it makes sense, it is enjoyable and educative at the same time. Please keep 'm coming! Greetings from the Netherlands.
@ anonymous 08.26 am: you obviously can't read...
Thanks for a great, humorous and educational blog Dave :)
I have been reading your posts for some time, Captain. I make it a point of bringing them to the attention of my friends on a Microsoft Flight Sim newsgroup.
I, for one, have found your blogs to be well-composed, interesting, educational and addictive. I can hardly wait for the next one to appear.
Keep on flying, sir, and taking us along for the ride.
Dave, count me as yet another one that found you thanks to Aviatrix.
I have since read all your posts and always look forward to the next one. When I see Fi-Fi and her siblings turning for the marker, I wonder if it's you up there.
Greetings from MMMX.
Congrats Dave!
Wonderful Blog. I look forward to your KEEPING it "on the line".
Nearly everybody's grammar---including my own---sucks.
One questions re: the FAA. Do you think that Promotion & Oversight is a bit of a "mixed" mandate?
-Ryan Costello
Costello,
Are you burying the hatchet? Thats a nice gesture. For a minute there we thought you were a Klingon!
Great blog. Found it randomly a year ago following a link to a story about airlines.
Thanks Dave for your perspective.
"laughing w/ you" - That is funny! Especially the "trek" reference! The loyal followers of Dave, can & do applaud him...but @ times we should also provide him some critical analysis (Besides that comment above from a loony FO which is just unfounded criticism). 3407 is a really complex chain of events---almost too complex & the media, in general, just sucks when reporting upon these sorts of events. I am from NYC & the NY Post (a very-very-very reputable source!) ran a story that the pilot of the flight was per the CVR hitting on the young female first officer "moments before the crash". What moronic Editor allowed that to go to print!! Those pilots were no less human then any of us, they had families-children-spouses & they are subjected to that trash without the possibility of defending themselves...just "plane" sad. No "hatchet" ever existed---except (AND I AM BEING SARCASTIC HERE) the one I wanted to grab after reading your comment re: sand!!! I wish you blue skies and favorable tail winds.-RC
I don't think Dave should start twittering; one can't put as much depth in a 200 character post as one can in a full blog post, even the average comment here has more depth than a tweet.
Anyway I hope that Dave will have the time for several more years of blogposting, I am enjoying his life on the line...
Captain Dave- Thank you so much for being such a bright spot in my life! I live under the sw approach for TLS and have many many siblings of Fi-Fi going over all day- so thoughts go to you often in your (much envied)front office! Fly safe. Leslie S-P France
Thanks and greetings from few permanent readers in Lohja, Finland. So nice to keep thoughts over clouds sometimes.
MathFox,
The idea behind the twittering suggestion was not "instead of" but "in addition to" the blog. WHen it comes to flighlevel390, "Too Much is Never Enough".
:-)
I just discovered your blog and I love it. I read all post and as an Aviation enthusiast it gives us an interesting peak behind the cockpit door.
Thanks and keep up the good work.
... and much appreciated! You have a knack of writing about your specialist trade without talking down to the readers, which makes reading both informative and enjoyable.
You might think that you owe yourself a new camera! The venerable Nikon E8700 is getting on!
Dave: You DA MAN! Keep it up!
I found your blog several years ago after a terrifing incident on a B747 into Bangkok and swore Id never fly again, but believe it or not reading your blog has slowly built my confidence in flying again. Thank you Dave, also I love the technical stuff you put into your blogs it helps understand whats happening at the pointy end.
Ian from Sydney Australia
As we say in my neck of the woods:
"gute Arbeit, weiter so"
air traffic controller and blog fan-Germany
Yours is the only blog I read faithfully. I wish I were as dedicated you my blog as you are to yours. Keep writing, I'll keep reading.
I am humbled that someone of your stature would take the time to detail their work in such a passionate way! A pleasure to read your words! Keep safe.
Dazzler Oz
Love your blog Dave. I look forward so much to reading your each installment. Keep up with the writing. Regards from a retired ATCO.
Captain Dave.Its nuts I am addicted to your blog.I check for new blogs daily,keep it up, thank you so much.
Capt Dave,
Always a pleasure to read your posts. Congratulations on the milestone, looking forward to the next 5 years. Superb work, I envy the FOs that fly with you. Please post more frequently.
- Pilot & all things aviation fanatic @ DTW.
Your Blog is truly inspiring Dave, so much so it has caused me to create my own! I check daily for new posts, thank you. Regards from New Zealand!
ek433
I love reading your blog, keep up the good work. I'm a controller from PAFA, and FL390 is bookmarked in my iPhone, I like hearing how things go on the other side of the radio. Cheers!
Jon Eisenmayer
Hooray for five years!
Hello Dave, have you seen this mediareport?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wM4cyUwd9ck&NR=1
Thanks for your blog, Titus
I just discovered your blog, it's wonderful! Thank you for such a sensitive insight in the life of a pilot.
Hi Dave!
My congrats for your blog, I love your stories, keep on writing :).
Have you ever thought to made a book with all your posts? There are many solutions for self-publishing like http://www.lulu.com/ and so on.
Bye,
Davide Bretti
Italy
As a layman (albeit with 27 years on my AAdvantage account) I don't understand every sentence. BUT, I always know more after reading the post than I did before.
Now its back to planning my trip to Florida.
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