Welcome!

Hello everyone!

What started out as an e-mail to family and friends is now turning into a blog! A special welcome to those at Eugene's Mahlon Sweet Field! I had the pleasure of volunteering as an Airport Navigator during the program's inaugural year, and wish to thank Cathryn Stephens, EUG's Marketing Director, for encouraging me with this project. It is my hope that this blog will help make your next air travel experience, if not idyllic, at least bearable. I have found that information can go a long way towards allaying passengers fears of flying in today's environment of heightened security.

About once a month, look here for the latest news concerning the airlines and commercial aviation in the U.S. and around the world. First, though, let me introduce myself. I am a lifelong aviation "nut" and the son of a retired Air Force fighter pilot. I enjoy flying, and hope to learn to fly one day when my wife and I are both done with grad school and settled into our future careers. I am working on my PhD in foreign literatures and linguistics at Ben Gurion University in Israel while my wife completes a post-doctorate in mathematics. I completed my MA in German Language and Literature from the University of Oregon, and my BA in German Language and Literature from Kalamazoo College (Michigan). My wife received her PhD in mathematics from the U of O. I am originally from Michigan. (Well, as orginally as one can be when one grows up in an Air Force family).

I hope you find this blog useful and enlightening. It is my belief that people should once again be able to be happy to fly, and that these tips help make your next trip more pleasant.

Happy Flying!

Josh