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Having A Preflight Drink to Calm Your Nerves?

Is the thought of your upcoming flight tying your stomach in knots? Do your palms sweat at the mere idea of boarding a plane? Then of course it makes sense to have a preflight beverage! There has never been another option to help ease the fear of flying… until now. 

Welcome to Dial A Pilot, we’ve helped thousands of people just like you overcome their fear of flying. We understand how overwhelming it can be, and we’re committed to making your journey smoother and more comfortable. You won’t believe how simple our solution is: one-on-one calls with real airline pilots. Amazing right? We also couldn’t believe it’s never been done before!

Imagine This

You pick up the phone and have a personal conversation with a real, experienced, US based airline pilot – right now. Someone who has spent years in the cockpit, knows every sound and sensation of a flight, and can answer any question you might have. Someone who genuinely cares about helping you find peace of mind.  Our pilots have helped thousands of people calm their preflight jitters, we are standing by to assist you!

Here's How We Can Help

Schedule a Personal Call

For just $65, you can have a one-on-one conversation with one of our professional pilots. Simply text us now at 415-633-6120, and if we have availability, we'll connect you right away. No scripts, no canned responses. Just honest, compassionate dialogue tailored to your concerns.

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The From the Flight Deck Podcast

Your social media algorithm is inundated with fear mongering stories in aviation. Welcome to the From the Flight Deck podcast, the only podcast from airline pilots, for nervous fliers.

Podcast
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If the timing didn’t work out before your flight today, we are sorry we missed you. Good news, however! We would love to work with you before your next flight. 

Our Pilots are Ready for You

Prefer to Start Slowly?

If a one-on-one call isn’t the perfect option for you right now, that’s okay, we have still got you covered. Download a few episodes of our podcast to listen to during your flight. You’ll hear from professional pilots responsible for your safety, psychologists, and Dial A Pilot clients alike. 

Listen to Our Podcast Here

Why Choose Dial A Pilot?

Because we’re not just experts—we’re people who care. We’ve dedicated ourselves to helping others feel safe and confident in the skies. This isn’t just our job; it’s our passion.

Christina Rakitzis

AMAZING!!!!
Kyle was not only so patient with my questions but went into great depths to explain all of my concerns and questions. I feel much more confident and looking forward to my flight tomorrow as Kyle has helped with my anxieties and worries. This is by far the absolute BEST service that is out there for nervous flyers. To be able to talk to an ACTUAL pilot with knowledge, training etc., is by far so much better than reading a news article or a reddit post, about why not to be scared about flying. That human interaction is there and that makes everything so much easier to understand. I would recommend this to everyone who is afraid, nervous, anxious, worried about flying.

Donna

Simply. Amazing.
As I told Kyle at the conclusion of our call: this service is genius and should have existed for decades if technology allowed. It could have, and is, making a huge difference in people’s lives. Kyle answered every one of my questions in great detail and was super friendly in doing so. When answering my questions, he explained the technicality of it all, but did so in terms for a flyer to understand. He even stayed on extra time passed my appointment to make sure my questions were answered. I HIGHLY recommend this amazing service. Thank you for changing people’s lives 🙏🏻

Derek G

Great Experience
I cannot say enough good things about Dial A Pilot! Their free resources, podcast (check it out!), Instagram page and most importantly, speaking 1 on 1 with an experienced pilot is absolutely tremendous. Even while speaking with pilot Dan I could feel my anticipation anxiety for my upcoming flight start to melt away. He answered all of my questions and his casual demeanor really helped me realize that there’s nothing to be anxious about, and I can truly sit back and look forward to my vacation. All of the great nuggets of info Dan shared with me is going to be so helpful before and during my flight! Thank you Dan and Dial A Pilot

Morgan Burdett

Amazing Services
Before my call with Capt. Brett, I was a very anxious flier and would avoid flying at all costs. Immediately after my call with Brett, I boarded a flight to Cancun and was able to not only feel less anxious, but actually enjoy my flight. I truly couldn’t believe it and am so thankful for using this service. I can’t wait to fly everywhere again!

Take Control of Your Journey

Don’t let fear hold you back from experiencing the world and creating unforgettable memories. Let us help you turn anxiety into excitement

Ready to Soar Without Fear?

Text us now at 415-633-6120 to schedule your personal call.
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Captain Don Cuzzort

Captain Don Cuzzort is a retired Southwest Airlines Captain with an impressive 45-year career in aviation. Born and raised in Alabama, he’s a true country boy who found himself flying airplanes all over the world. With over 27,000 hours of flight time under his belt, Don’s passion for flying is infectious. His journey started with Pan Am, where he flew all over the Western Hemisphere. Wide-eyed and awe-struck by the wonders of the globe, Don soaked up new experiences with every takeoff and landing.

Don is a storyteller, and when he explained flying, I felt like I was right there with him in the cockpit. He walked me through every step of the takeoff, from the moment the airplane pushes back from the gate to liftoff from the runway. He described every noise, feeling, and movement so vividly that I felt like I was sitting next to him on a flight. For nervous flyers, Captain Don’s gift is his ability to make the experience feel natural and even enjoyable. He can imitate all the hums, clicks, and roars of an aircraft, turning what can be a nerve-wracking experience into a lighthearted, educational journey.

But Don’s not just about making people laugh—he’s got the knowledge and experience to back it up. He’ll be the first to tell you that airplanes are marvels of engineering, meticulously built and rigorously tested. And he’s seen it all—well, almost all. In 45 years of flying, he’s never encountered severe turbulence, reassuring for those of us who fear those mid-flight bumps. Captain Don reassured me that turbulence is simply the air behaving like water, rolling over bumps and turning like a river flowing over rocks. It might be a bit uncomfortable, but it’s not dangerous—just buckle up, and you’ll be fine.

Captain Don explained the intense training and safety protocols of being a pilot. Every pilot endures years of rigorous study, practice, and countless simulations before ever sitting in the captain’s seat. “Pilots are the most monitored, overseen group of workers in the country,” Don says, noting that every switch, lever, and decision is recorded and scrutinized. He walked me through the lengthy checklists and meticulous procedures pilots follow to ensure a safe journey from takeoff to touchdown. To Don, knowledge is the key to overcoming fear, and he believes that the more you understand about flying, the more you’ll trust the process.

Whether you’re intrigued by the science of aviation or anxious about your next flight, Captain Don can put your mind at ease. He’s patient, funny, and thorough. You’ll find yourself laughing and learning when you chat with him. In a world where flying can feel intimidating, Captain Don is the friendly, knowledgeable pilot who makes it seem less daunting. He’s spent decades in the cockpit and is eager to share his wisdom, one takeoff at a time, so book your call with Captain Don and Dial A Pilot today.

Book with Captain Don

Captain Brett Cookston

There are numerous reasons why some people fear flying, but after speaking with Captain Brett, a pilot with 40 years of experience—30 of those in the cockpit of a commercial airline—I feel like I’ve finally cracked the code to understand what’s going on when we’re thousands of feet up. Captain Brett’s story is pretty incredible. He’s not just a pilot; he’s practically lived in the air. He spent years as a competitive skydiver, jumping out of airplanes in the military, teaching skydiving, and even owning a flight school and skydiving center. He initially got his pilot’s license to fly the airplanes specifically for skydivers. So, when it comes to being in the sky, he’s done it all.

What’s really amazing about speaking with Captain Brett is how he breaks down the science of flying in a way that’s easy to understand. It helps take the emotion out of those bumpy flights. He says that about 90% of the calls he gets through Dial A Pilot are from people who fear turbulence. He made it abundantly clear that turbulence will never hurt the airplane. Seriously. It can’t. To a pilot, turbulence is like a boat riding over waves—annoying but not dangerous. As long as your seatbelt is fastened, you’re safe.

In his 40 years of flying, Captain Brett has only experienced severe turbulence once, lasting just 12 seconds. When severe turbulence occurs, all efforts are made to route subsequent flights around that area until smooth air returns. That’s just one of the many ways aviation keeps things safe, and Captain Brett emphasizes that everything they do in the air starts and ends with safety.

When it comes to takeoffs, I’ve always felt every little jolt and change in direction, like my body is on high alert. But Captain Brett explained G-Force to me, breaking down every sound and feeling, so it all started to make sense. Knowing the physics behind those noises and movements made it feel less scary and more like a part of the process.

Captain Brett’s philosophy? Aviation is dynamic—there are so many people involved every step of the way, working to make each flight as safe as humanly possible. Something he said really stuck with me: when he’s in the cockpit, his stress just melts away. Maybe it’s time we all took a page from his book and let ourselves relax, knowing that this whole process is designed with one thing in mind: safety.

If you want to understand the physics behind aviation to conquer your fear of flying, make your appointment with Dial A Pilot’s Captain Brett.

Book with Captain Brett

Captain Dan Tolkmit

Meet Captain Dan Tolkmit, your go-to expert in the Dial A Pilot program. Known for his personable approach and unmatched passion for helping others conquer their fear of flying, Dan prefers connecting through face-to-face video sessions on Google Meet. While he’s happy to accommodate phone calls, you’ll definitely want to take advantage of the visuals he shares during a video chat.

From the moment we connected, Captain Dan dove right in, asking about my biggest fears about flying. When I mentioned my anxiety around takeoffs and turbulence, he delivered a reassuring perspective: planes want to be in the air, and for pilots, takeoffs and landings are the best part of any flight. His words immediately made me feel more at ease.

Dan’s experience with fearful flyers is extensive. He has a curriculum specifically designed to address concerns like turbulence, and this is where the video chat really shines. He provided a clear visual of how planes move during turbulence, helping me see it from a pilot’s perspective. It made all the difference in calming my nerves. Plus, he followed up our session with a TikTok video explaining turbulence—a little extra touch that goes a long way. Curious about his background, I asked Dan how he got into aviation. His story is unique. Initially set on a medical career at UC Irvine, he realized after tackling organic chemistry that it wasn’t for him. A career assessment test pointed him toward a different path that promised both a solid income and plenty of time off: becoming an airline pilot. With the military not hiring then, Dan opted for civilian training at a flight school in Orange County. The minute he took his first flight, he knew he’d found his passion.

Captain Dan’s career is impressive. He’s clocked over 28,000 flying hours and completed 13,000 flights over 42 years, with time flying overseas and for a jet charter company in Long Beach before landing his dream job with Delta Air Lines. Traveling the world as a Delta pilot, Dan loved the freedom of a job that didn’t come home with him. Though retired now, he fondly recalls his incredible career and the thrill of being in the cockpit. If you’re a visual learner like me and want to overcome your fear of flying, Captain Dan is the person to work with. He combines deep expertise with a warm, approachable style, and he’s committed to helping you feel at ease—during and after your session. With Captain Dan, you’ll get more than just a conversation—you’ll gain a true understanding of flying and tools to keep your anxiety at bay.

Don’t let anxiety keep you grounded—schedule your session with Captain Dan today!

Book with Captain Dan