Testing The 787

In preparation for launch, Boeing is subjecting the 787 to testing equal to three lifetimes of the aircraft.

According to Boeing's chief 787 mechanic Justin Hale, the plane was subjected to stress 165,000 times that it might encounter once in its lifetime.

Read an article on this by clicking here.

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Posted On The Message Board

I cannot stress enough the freedom I regained through SOAR.

To all of you considering a fear of flying course other than SOAR. Forget about it! I tried! You end up with an empty wallet and still do not board a plane.

. . . the SOAR course is such a small price to pay for what you get in return (and I possess the DVD, MP3, Audio course on CD and Fast Track program...). And no, I'm not affiliated with SOAR or Capt. Tom.

Thanks again, Capt. Tom.

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Get Started With The Program That Works

The SOAR Fast Track program can be on your computer's screen in two minutes.

* Fast Track is inexpensive.
* Fast Track gives you the most help possible in the shortest time.
* A twenty-minute private session and unlimited group counseling sessions are included.
* What you pay for Fast Track is 100% transferable to the complete SOAR Course DVD or CD.

Getting started may be difficult, but you will feel better as soon as you do by clicking here.

We are always here to help. As you go through the program, whenever you have a question or a concern, please call me so we can talk it over.

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Update On Vatican

Despite protests, security confiscates holy water from pilgrims returning from Lourdes on the first flight of the new Vatican airliner service.

Read more by clicking here.

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"Take Me Along"

The "Take Me Along" tracks -- which coach you moment-by-moment through your flight -- are now available in several formats:

* MP4 for the video iPod
* DVD for watching on your television, laptop, or portable DVD player
* CD for your audio iPod or car radio

A set of all three is available by clicking here.

To get just one of the disks

* Click here for the MP4 (video iPod)
* Click here for the DVD (television, laptop, or portable DVD player)
* Click here for the CD (audio iPod)

If you need them right away, you can download "Take Me Along" in MP3 (audio) or MP4 (video)

* Click here to download the MP4 (video iPod)
* Click here for the MP3 (audio iPod)

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$20,000 A Day For Lobbying

According to Forbes, the Air Transport Association, which represents the nation's airlines, spent $2,700,000 in the first six months of 2007 to lobby the federal government. That's almost half a million every month, or about $20,000 a (business) day.

I'm a little skeptical that that money was spent in your best interest or my best interest, because neither you nor I own huge amounts of airline shares.

I doubt that the money was spent with the aim of increasing safety such as asking the government to reduce the number of hours all airline pilots spend on duty, or asking for FAA supervision of maintenance done overseas.

What did they lobby for? According to Forbes, issues which cost the airlines money, such as airport fees, air traffic control fees and data provided to the government on passengers.

Well, maybe that's what they should be spending their lobbying money for. After all, the airlines try to look after themselves. And, you and I as passengers need to do the same. Choose an airline where there is at least one person on your side who has some clout, a captain with a strong union to back him or her up in safety decisions.

To see what airlines have unions, check these web sites:

* The ALPA (Airline Pilots Association) website is at http://www.alpa.org/Default.aspx?tabid=183
* The American Airlines Pilots' Union website is at http://www.alliedpilots.org
* The Southwest Pilots' Union website is at: http://www.swapa.org/


To read the Forbes article click here.

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Info On The MP3 Audio And MP4 Video Course

This compact program is approximately five hours long. It downloads immediately to your computer where you can watch it or listen to it. You can further load it into your video or audio iPod.

* VIDEO - Click here to download the compact version for your video iPod
* AUDIO - Click here to download the compact version for your audio iPod
* "Take Me Along" is included at no extra charge.

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What Is Now Known To Cause Healthy Development Was Once Considered Unhealthy

In the first half of the last century, Behavioral psychology taught parents that loving contact with children damaged them. One of the psychologists who changed that kind of thinking was Harry Harlow.

Until Harlow proved otherwise, behaviorist taught that babies connect with parents only because parents feed them. Harlow, using experiments with monkeys, showed that monkeys had an overwhelming preference for a soft cuddly mother-doll without milk to a hard wire mother-doll with milk.

There is a new book about Harlow, his experiments, and how his research helped turn around our thinking. The book is titled "Love at Good Park: Harry Harlow and the Science of Affection" by Deborah Blum.

She was interviewed by Ira Glass last week on Public Radio. You can hear the interview at this link.

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New York SOAR-FEST October 6th

The New York SOAR-FEST will again be at le Zie, a Venetian Trattoria located in the heart of the Chelsea district of Manhattan.

You don't have to be in the SOAR program. It is an opportunity for anyone interested in flight anxiety problems and solutions to get together for dinner.

Meet other people who feel the same as you do about flying, and to find what great, imaginative, and intelligent people they are (just like you, right?).

Dinner is at 7:00 PM. If you can, meet us at the bar at any time between 5:30 PM and 7:00 PM.

At le Zie, we will have a really private dining room upstairs, separate from the main part of the restaurant.

The price: $62.50 total per person (includes service and taxes), a bit more than last year so as to include wine.

The room accommodates 24 people comfortably at one large table. If this is important to you, please reserve now to avoid missing out, as the space is limited.

The Menu

Appetizer:

choice of:

o Mesclun Salad with Lemon and Extra Virgin Olive Oil or
o Tricolor Salad with Sauteed Shitake and Apple Wood Smoked Bacon, White Wine Vinegar Dressing and Shaved Ricotta.

Entree:
choice of:

o Homemade Tortelli filled with Ricotta and Spinach with Asparagus, Butter and Sage
o Linguini with Clams, Garlic and Olive Oil
o Baked Salmon with Horseradish Crust with Sauteed Spinach
o Chicken Porchetta roasted with Rosemary, Oregano, and Fennel Seeds, served with Mashed Potatoes

Desert
choice of:

o Tiramisu or
o Panna Cotta with Fresh Strawberry

Coffee or Selection of Teas

Red or White Wine

Cancellation: if you need to cancel, please call me (877) 332-7359 at least by Tuesday October 2nd. Cancellations after Tuesday can not be refunded unless we are able to find someone to take your place.

There are several parking garages in the area. Free parking on the side streets is usually available after 6:00 PM. Please read the parking signs carefully.

How To Sign Up For The New York SOAR-FEST

Just go to: click here.

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Where To Stay In New York

If you don't find a hotel you like at a reasonable price, try a "bed and breakfast". For a link to a bed and breakfast referral service click here,

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A New Approach To Aircraft Maintenance Problems

NEPAL'S troubled national carrier suspended a number of international flights in August when its aircraft were grounded due to technical problems.

The airline has sought to remedy recent maintenance troubles with one of its Boeing 757s by sacrificing two goats in front of the plane to appease a Hindu god.

"The goats were offered to appease Akash Bhairab, the Hindu god of sky protection, whose symbol is printed on all of our aircraft," an airline spokesman, Raju Bahadur K.C., explained.

The airline said that after the goat sacrifice, the aircraft flew successfully to Hong Kong.

The national carrier has been dogged by corruption scandals and ineffective management causing tourism officials to demand a major shake-up of the airline, long criticized for its dismal service.

To read the article in full, click here.