James Balch
22K posts

James Balch
@BalchJamesBalch
Traveler, runner, adventurer. Note these opinions of own and do not reflect of any other party.
Columbus, OH Bergabung Mayıs 2013
4.7K Mengikuti692 Pengikut

Plane Jockey Rudy has stepped down as co-host of Airline Videos Live. It’s hard to put into words what the last 5 years have meant—so many moments, memories, and milestones that wouldn’t have been the same without him.
We’re incredibly grateful for everything Rudy brought to the channel and this community, and we wish him all the best as he continues to devote his time to teaching and other endeavors.

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OK, I’m intoxicated. No need to worry about your pilot being drunk…that’s a sacred thing & crews will call it out ASAP, before you board & could notice. It’s rigid. I would call someone else out in a heartbeat & wouldn’t think of flying drunk. I now have many hours before I’d have to technically stop drinking to meet the FAA requirements , but I’m done now. So I have thoughts.
I think it takes a long time for me to absorb things. I miss her. Taking her was like throwing salt on an insult added by injury. Staying with her was a good thing. I don’t think I could live with myself if I’d left when it was clear she was going to be dead, even if it was going to take a few years.
Still not sure how I feel about Dad dying last year. Complicated, but that’s another subject that intertwines.
Laying beside her was kind of like committing yourself to laying in a mausoleum. There was a chemical smell that permeated everything while she could barely muster the energy to turn over in bed. It was not her fault at all…I laid beside her regardless & was happy to do so. I hope she didn’t feel embarrassed – she was the height of fashion at our peak, and she was smoking hot. In retrospect, I’d put my hand on her belly & joke about how she could fry an egg,..that kind of ended up being where the cancer was.
There was not much conversation in the end, but I tried to be beside her. She fought for her dignity & self-reliance *way* past what the doctors & nurses recommended. She succeeded.
She died at home, surrounded by family & friends. I won’t rehash it, but I hope I can do the same someday. I just hope it’s sudden & painless. She didn’t have that good fortune.
I’m drunk. I’ll be well past sober when it’s time to fly again. But for now my life is entirely for my kids, which is good, but I’d like something for me, too. I’m cynical as they come, but she was good & was supposed to be for me. She was my prize for emerging from the depths, but she passed & there is now nothing for me. If that is to be, I accept it & will give everything for my kids.
Anyway, I’m drunk & you should not give any of this weight. I’m going to sleep in a Hawaii hotel room way before the FAA or airline booze limits become a factor. I’ll wake up, compartmentalize it all & operate at an elite level. That is what I do.
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@airlinevideos @YouTube Sorry I missed it but happy anniversary!
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THE PARTY HAS STARTED HERE AT THE H! Here’s to five amazing years of AVL! Tune in and join the fun 🎉🥳🍾✈️
#aviation #party #airport #celebration
🔴LIVE: Celebrating 5 Years of Airline Videos Live at the H Hotel! April ... youtube.com/live/Vk8Bt3Ral… via @YouTube

YouTube
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Whoops missed this one
The 76 is a fantastic airplane. I expected a bit more "lumbering" behavior from it, but nope
The main difference has been a very low climb angle at max load with a tight margin between stall caution "eyebrows" and the flight directors. Somewhere around 7-9 degrees FD & 10 degree stall caution, yet still climbing at 2500fpm. Awesome power in those engines
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#SCFeatured: Rory’s Roots.
“I've always been a dreamer, big, big dreams, big ideas. I've never lost that. I've never let the world take that from me. I think the world can turn you into a pretty cynical person, if you let it.” — Rory McIlroy
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I’m hearing unsubstantiated rumors that parallel visuals are no longer allowed at SFO. I suspected runway construction, but that’s not it…rumor says permanently over.
Also hearing they will permanently reduce the arrival capacity.
Can anyone verify?
Francisco Cunha@OnDisasters
No, you´re not seeing double - SFO Parallel approach
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NEW FEATURE: Kevin Harlan has navigated working for three major sports employers for decades. It's been a remarkable run – he averages 150,000 miles of travel per year – and I wanted to see how he and his employers pulled it off.
My profile of Harlan for @SBJ:
sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2026/…
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What a moment for the Hamlins. Family above all else. #NASCAR
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@airlinevideos @airlinelive Was beautiful last night! So much fun! Any trips planned soon flying like JFK again?
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The second they showed Rinaldi I knew it was going to be well done. He doesn’t miss
Tom Bowles@NASCARBowles
The @dennyhamlin segment on the loss of his father was impeccable. No one better at telling that type of story than Tom Rinaldi. #nascar #daytona500 Like Harvick said: “This driver has an incredible capacity to block things out.” Amazing he’s here competing today after 2025.
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Well I wasn’t expecting that? Over two thousand messages from fantastic people all around the world, everyone has been amazing. But the most amazing people have been the ICU & Recovery nurses and Doctors. I cannot thank everyone enough including my immediate family, friends, Members and Subscribers. I should be back at base camp in the next three to five days and slowly but surely I’ll be getting back in the seat.
Thanks everyone 🙏🏻❤️
Just gonna do the right thing: listen to the advise of the specialists, take my time and ease myself back-in.
Pictured is Gypsy who’s been by my side for most of my recovery and I must mention Nandu and the entire team who were on shift for my initial care.

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