Join the thousands of nervous travelers in listening to “From the Flight Deck”, a podcast for those experiencing the fear of flying. We explore topics from across aviation, hearing from pilots, nervous travelers, psychologists, and other industry professionals. We aim to empower you with knowledge and confidence for your next travel day!
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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.
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.
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!