The Deck

Test Captain Chris audio

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Pre-Flight Checklist clips

  1. Stage 1 · Before you book

    checklist__before-you-book.mp3

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    G'day, it's Captain Chris.

    You're at the very beginning, and that's the easiest place to make this flight kinder to yourself.

    A nonstop flight if you can.

    A time of day when you're normally at your best.

    A seat over the wing, where the aeroplane moves least.

    None of these are treatments — they're just small comforts, and small comforts add up.

    Take your time here.

    Nothing about this stage is urgent.

  2. Stage 2 · Once you've booked

    checklist__once-youve-booked.mp3

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    It's booked.

    That's the hardest tick of all for a lot of people, so well done.

    Now we quietly get the paperwork out of the way — booking reference, documents, anything you need in place.

    Do it now while it's calm, and the day itself has nothing left to surprise you with.

    Every item you tick off here is one fewer thing on your mind at the airport.

  3. Stage 3 · The week before

    checklist__the-week-before.mp3

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    One week out.

    This is where preparation turns into confidence.

    Pack early rather than late, know your liquids rules, look at what the airport day actually involves.

    And spend a little time with the calm tools in this app — the breathing, the audio, the turbulence pages.

    Practising when you're relaxed is what makes them work when you're not.

    You've got plenty of time.

    Use it gently.

  4. Stage 4 · The night before

    checklist__the-night-before.mp3

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    The night before.

    Here's a captain's honest advice: tonight is for resting, not researching.

    Bag by the door, documents where you can see them, alarm set with room to spare.

    Don't go reading about aeroplanes tonight — the aeroplane will be exactly as safe tomorrow whether you read about it or not.

    Put the phone down, listen to something calming, and let tomorrow be tomorrow's job.

  5. Stage 5 · The morning of your flight

    checklist__the-morning.mp3

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    Good morning.

    Today's the day, and today is simply a series of small, ordinary steps — leave the house, get to the airport, check in, walk to a gate.

    That's it.

    Eat something, drink some water, go easy on the coffee.

    Your body will feel busy this morning; that's adrenaline doing its job, not a warning.

    Take it one tick at a time and I'll be with you all the way.

  6. Stage 6 · Getting to the airport

    checklist__getting-to-the-airport.mp3

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    You're on the move.

    Give yourself more time than you think you need — rushing is the single biggest cause of travel stress, and it's the one thing entirely within your control.

    If you're early, you'll have quiet time.

    If you're early and bored, that's a wonderful problem to have.

    Settle in for the journey.

    The hard part of today is already behind you.

  7. Stage 7 · At the airport

    checklist__at-the-airport.mp3

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    Welcome to the airport.

    It's loud and busy and everyone looks like they know exactly where they're going — I promise most of them don't.

    Security first: it's a routine, it's quick, and it's the same for everyone.

    Once you're through, the day softens.

    Find your gate, then find a seat, a drink and a bit of quiet.

    From here, all you have to do is wait.

  8. Stage 8 · Boarding

    checklist__boarding.mp3

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    Boarding.

    From this moment you are in the care of a crew who do this every single day, on an aircraft that has been checked, and checked again, before you ever saw it.

    Find your seat, stow your bag, get your belt on.

    Look at the crew — calm, chatting, ordinary.

    That's the most reliable instrument on the aeroplane, and it's telling you exactly what you need to know.

  9. Stage 9 · Takeoff mode

    checklist__takeoff.mp3

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    Takeoff.

    Everything you're about to hear is planned.

    The engines get loud because we want them loud.

    There's a bump as the wheels leave, then a whirring as they come up.

    There's a change in engine note as we settle into the climb — that's normal, that's us easing back to the power we planned for.

    Nothing is going wrong.

    Breathe out slowly, press your feet into the floor, and let the aeroplane do what it was built to do.

  10. Stage 10 · During the flight

    checklist__during-the-flight.mp3

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    You're flying — the bit you were worried about is behind you.

    Now it's a long, dull office day for us up front, and that's exactly what you want.

    Move your legs now and then, drink water, keep your belt loosely fastened when you're seated.

    If it gets bumpy, it's air, not danger — the aeroplane is built for far more than it will ever meet.

    Pop your headphones on.

    I'll be here.

  11. Stage 11 · Landing

    checklist__landing.mp3

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    Descent and landing.

    Expect changes: engines quietening, the aircraft nose easing down, flaps rumbling out, gear coming down with a thud, and a firm touchdown followed by a lot of noise as we slow down.

    All of it is planned, all of it is us flying the aeroplane.

    And then you're on the ground — which means you did it.

    Whatever this flight felt like, you did it.

    That counts.