Flight For Safety is an aviation thriller where fiction mirrors truth and each flight is a game of Russian roulette. Aircraft are crashing after computer failures, incidents are occurring worldwide, coming close to hull losses, with mismanagement of aircraft navigation systems, and airline training programs are being cancelled. Aerodynamic skills are failing and the new generation pilots never learned them. But when Darby Bradshaw learns what is happening at her airline, she steps into a far-reaching conspiracy where she has become the target.

If you are one of over 700 million passengers who will fly in America this year, you need to read this book. The Next Crash offers a shocking perspective on the aviation industry by a former United Airlines pilot. Weaving insider knowledge with hundreds of employee interviews, Amy L. Fraher uncovers the story airline executives and government regulators would rather not tell. While the FAA claims that this is the "Golden Age of Safety, and other aviation researchers assure us the chance of dying in an airline accident is infinitesimal, The Next Crash reports that 70 percent of commercial pilots believe a major airline accident will happen soon. Who should we believe? As one captain explained, Everybody wants their $99 ticket, but you don t get Captain] Sully for ninety-nine bucks"

Drawing parallels between the 2008 financial industry implosion and the post-9/11 airline industry, The Next Crash explains how aviation industry risk management processes have not kept pace with a rapidly changing environment. To stay safe the system increasingly relies on the experience and professionalism of airline employees who are already stressed, fatigued, and working more while earning less. As one copilot reported, employees are so distracted it s almost a miracle that there wasn t bent metal and dead people at his airline. Although opinions like this are pervasive, for reasons discussed in this book, employees issues do not concern the right people namely airline executives, aviation industry regulators, politicians, watchdog groups, or even the flying public in the right way often enough. In contrast to popular notions that airliner accidents are a thing of the past, Fraher makes clear America is entering a period of unprecedented aviation risk."

"Notes of a Seaplane Instructor" is a distillation of all the tips, techniques and procedures of a veteran flyer and teacher, in an accessible and informative format. Author Burke Mees has an affinity for the "feel of the floats on the water" and how to communicate it in writing, as well as a sensible, professional approach which lends a truly "one-on-one" aspect to reading his book.
All the seaplane maneuvers are covered, starting with preflight, proceeding through taxiing, takeoff, landing, and postflight procedures; also operating in various water conditions, stability of the aircraft on the water, step-taxi and -turn, and much more. Many illustrations, taken from and inspired by the author's own original flight instruction notebook sketches, help to further explain the concepts. In this new second edition, Burke provides even more notes on technique and performance particular to the world of floatplanes, with a special emphasis on safety and the best kind of pilot decision-making processes that keep seaplanes flying. The Second Edition also features an added chapter on multi-engine seaplane flying, and an appendix with notes on "pumping the floats" and "ropes and splicing."
What is it like to fly single-engine float planes? How do pilots develop and then hone their water-flying skills? What techniques apply to both landplanes and seaplanes, and which ones belong in only one realm? The answers to these questions comprise a unique approach to seaplane flying, in a book that reveals what floatplane mastery is really all about. Notes of a Seaplane Instructor offers insights to all pilots, from already-rated seaplane pilots to those looking to experience the benefits and pleasures of seaplane flying for the first time.

This book is about the flying adventures of Matthew Nelson. A private pilot, Matt has flown his own Stinson 108 Voyager, several floatplanes, the Russian An-2, and flew around South Africa in a Cessna-182, and also had a flight in a Tiger Moth. He was also in the Army in the 1960s, and flew in the back of a Navy EA-3B as a crew member.

Formulas for the Air Navigation Computer is written for pilots and air navigators at all levels of experience from the novice to the professional. The book is self-help on how to use the E6-B Air Navigation Computer. An E6-B Air Navigation Computer is a circular slide rule with a wind slide on the reverse side. It is dedicated to performing all calculations related to pre-flight planning and in-flight air navigation. Every pilot has an E6-B Air Navigation Computer, which is supplied with a very brief instructional booklet when the E6-B is purchased. However, the booklet only covers a few basic formulas, and many more formulas are required for passing the pilot navigation exams at various levels and, of course, for all operational flying. Obtaining all these different formulas from various sources is time consuming, as this author has discovered over the years. They are not readily available in one book. This is the reason for writing Formulas for the Air Navigation Computer; it is a unique collection of air navigation computer formulas. The formulas are written as they appear when set up on the E6-B Air Navigation Computer. A full description on how to solve each formula is included, along with a worked example and also the methods for using the wind slide to calculate wind triangle and other navigational problems associated with the wind slide. The book is easy to follow by the novice pilot and a convenient reference source for the more experienced pilot. The book is complete with all the formulas a pilot of any level should need to know. It is laid out in a simple way with over 122 formulas and methods, covering Time, Speed & Distance, Air Speed, Altitude Navigation, VNAV, One-in-Sixty Rule, Wind triangle Calculations, Wind Finding methods, Fuel Calculations, Pressure Pattern Navigation and more.

In late May 1927 an inexperienced and unassuming 25-year-old Air Mail pilot from rural Minnesota stunned the world by making the first nonstop transatlantic flight. A spectacular feat of individual daring and collective technological accomplishment, Charles Lindbergh's flight from New York to Paris ushered in America's age of commercial aviation. In The Flight of the Century, Thomas Kessner takes a fresh look at one of America's greatest moments, explaining how what was essentially a publicity stunt became a turning point in history. Kessner vividly recreates the flight itself and the euphoric reaction to it on both sides of the Atlantic, and argues that Lindbergh's amazing feat occurred just when the world-still struggling with the disillusionment of WWI-desperately needed a hero to restore a sense of optimism and innocence. Kessner also shows how new forms of mass media made Lindbergh into the most famous international celebrity of his time, casting him in the role of a humble yet dashing American hero of rural origins and traditional values. Much has been made of Lindbergh's personal integrity and his refusal to cash in on his fame. But Kessner reveals that Lindbergh was closely allied with, and managed by, a group of powerful businessmen-Harry Guggenheim, Dwight Morrow, and Henry Breckenridge chief among them-who sought to exploit aviation for mass transport and massive profits. Their efforts paid off as commercial air traffic soared from 6,000 passengers in 1926 to 173,000 passengers in 1929. Kessner's book is the first to fully explore Lindbergh's central role in promoting the airline industry-the rise of which has influenced everything from where we live to how we wage war and do business. The Flight of the Century sheds new light on one of America's fascinatingly enigmatic heroes and most transformative moments.

When Britain's brilliant aircraft designer Geoffrey de Havilland first proposed the Mosquito, the Air Ministry greeted the idea with skepticism. Powered by twin Merlin engines, the bomber would be constructed almost entirely of wood and handle like a fighter. Stripped of heavy defensive weapons and armor, its advantage was its light weight and high speed, which would allow it to escape pursuing enemy aircraft. De Havilland's critics were silenced when the prototype flew in November of 1940. The plane quickly proved itself one of the fastest and most versatile military aircraft in existence, and production of the type commenced immediately. The "Wooden Wonder" (or "Mossie" as it was sometimes referred to) entered widespread service in 1942 and flew as a fast bomber, fighter-bomber, night fighter, path-finder, maritime strike aircraft, and fast photo-reconnaissance aircraft. The plane became particularly famous for set-piece attacks including a raid on Gestapo HQ in Oslo, an attack on a power station in Holland, and Amiens Prison. It also participated in the Normandy Campaign and D-Day. Created by the R.A.F., these notes were standard issue circa 1944. They contain fascinating information about aircraft operation, handling, and emergencies.

After a ten-year leave, Kathryn Jacobs has been invited back to the N.T.S.B to investigate a series of unexplained airline crashes. But her husband, Captain Bill Jacobs, has his concerns. While her twin daughters are off at camp, and Bill is actively campaigning for the Pilot Union Presidency, Kathryn secretly begins her investigation. What she learns will shock the nation. Flight For Control is a thriller that reads like a mystery. But to Kathryn, there is no mystery on the condition of the airline industry-it's broken. Planes are crashing. Pensions are lost. Pilots are financially and emotionally bankrupt due to fatigue, furloughs, and loss of seniority. It's time that someone takes control before it's too late-unless it already is. Your life is in your pilot's hands. Do you know who's flying your plane?

Captivating reading for anyone fascinated by aviation, and an unparalleled primer for those thinking of learning to fly or concerned with aviation and safety. Not only does it cover today's world, but also adds an important historical perspective. Explains basic procedures such as takeoff and landing, noting the V-speeds required for safety at the various stages. Hidden among the more technical entries are many with fascinating if not invaluable information for passengers. Also, for the benefit of younger readers and the curious, some non-aviation entries are included. The technical entries are easy to read as they were initially composed as the glossary and appendix to Air Crashes and Miracle Landings, where the aim was to explain the aviation terms simply but properly.

In a provocative and sometimes controversial style, this guide starts where standard-issue flight training manuals leave off. The Thinking Pilot guides you deeply into topics that weren't taught in flight training-everything from how to really do a preflight, through keeping your passengers happy, scud running, precautionary landings, and how to survive a crash. It includes a detailed introduction to flying floats, skis, aerobatics, and classic airplanes; probes some of aviation's dirty little secrets, explodes myths, and presents the best, most succinct guide to flying tailwheel airplanes ever written. Rick Durden was once described as aviation's Renaissance Man. He is an Airline Transport-rated pilot with experience in some 200 types of airplanes, a practicing aviation attorney who has been involved in hundreds of aircraft accident cases, writer, aviation magazine editor, safety counselor, flight instructor, volunteer pilot in remote areas of the U.S. and Central America, and has been the executive director of a nonprofit conservation organization making use of aircraft and volunteer pilots throughout much of North America.

The legendary Hercules flying boat was designed and built by the Hughes Aircraft Company. Intended to defeat the German U-boat threat, the plane was intended to be a super transport that could ferry 750 troops from the USA to Europe, and serve as an aerial ambulance on the return flight. Owing to wartime restrictions on the use of aluminum, the prototype Hercules was built using laminated birch wood. Although company CEO Howard Hughes hated it, the name "Spruce Goose" was coined for the plane and it stuck. The HK-1 (later designated H-4) would be the largest flying boat ever built, and one of history's largest and most expensive planes. Many questioned the practicality of the aircraft, and after the war ended the project was roundly criticized as a boondoggle. Howard Hughes decided to prove the plane could fly. On November 2, 1947 he and a crew of 21 conducted a series of taxi tests with the plane. On the last test, the plane became airborne for a brief time and flew just under two miles at an altitude of roughly 70 feet. It would never fly again, but Hughes had silenced his critics. This Hughes Flying Boat Manual was originally prepared for the U.S. Government's War Department by the Hughes Tool Co., and made available through the Freedom of Information Act. It provides an overview of this massive plane's design and operation for the pilot and flight crew, and puts you right in the cockpit of one of history's great planes. Please note: because this document originated from an archival copy, legibility can vary and some images may be substandard.

Developed and deployed in a short time dueto the pressure of the Vietnam War, Bell 's AH-1 Cobra performed well; but Army planners believed a better attack helicopterwould be needed in the next war. In 1976, Hughes Helicopter 's YAH-64A prototype bested the Cobra in firepower, performanceand range, and won the competition to replace it. It would be 1982 before production commenced, but eventually over1100 would be produced including the advanced AH-64D Apache Longbow. Dubbed the Apache, the AH-64 is a four-blade, twin-engine, tandem-cockpit designwith tailwheel landing gear. The AH-64 features double and triple-rendundant systems that ensure maximum survivabilityin combat, and an awesome array of weapons that can include Hellfire missiles and a 30mm M230 Chain Gun that can be slaved to the pilot 's head movements via ahelmet mounted display (IHADSS). The Apache first saw combat during the invasion of Panama in 1989, and conducted the first attack of Operation Desert Storm in 1991, flying into Iraq to destroy enemy radar systems. AH-64s are credited with destroying over 500 tanks during that conflict. They continued their service in Bosnia and Kosovo, in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. The AH-64 is nowalso deployed by the United Kingdom, Israel, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Japan and other air forces worldwide. Created by the Army for the AH-64A version of the Apache, this unclassified pilot 's flight manual runs over 600 pages, and contains chapters about aircraft systems and procedures. It is reprinted here in its entirety.

This is the current official army U.S. Army Field Manual, unchanged since this edition completed 7th May 2007. Field manual (FM) 3-04.203 presents information to plan and conduct common aviation tasks for fixed- and rotary-wing flight. However, it has become more inclusive and its scope broadened to reduce the number of manuals used by Army crewmembers for reference. One of the underlying premises of Army aviation is if crewmembers understand 'why' they will be better prepared to 'do' when confronted with the unexpected. FM 3-04.203 endeavors to ensure that crewmembers understand the basic physics of flight, and the dynamics associated with fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. A comprehensive understanding of these principles will better prepare a crew member for flight, transition training, and tactical flight operations.

This unique, fully interactive work book will arm you with all the necessary skills to succeed at your all important job interview. This work book from Flightdeck Consulting covers every aspect of the modern airline pilot interview. From a phone interview through to both behavioral and technical questions, this book will guide and prepare you for your all important airline interview. The structure and delivery of your answers is essential to portray a confident and competent team member in your interview. This work booklet will guide you on how to structure your answers and deliver them in a clear, concise and professional manner. Sample answers are given as a guide. Sasha Robinson, The author of "The Complete Airline Pilot Interview Work Book" is an experienced international airline pilot having flown thousands of hours around the globe in the Airbus A330 & A340. Sasha also hold a Bachelor Of Science Degree majoring in Aviation from The Newcastle University. She has also assisted the aircrew recruitment department of a major international airline and is the principal interview consultant at Flightdeck Consulting. Her combined knowledge and experience of airline pilot recruitment has enabled her to produce this essential book for all aspiring airline pilots.

Please note: this is volume two of a two volume set. You must purchase both books to have a complete manual. The U.S. Navy's front line, land-based maritime patrol aircraft, the Lockheed P-3 Orion is a highly capable anti-submarine warfare platform. Conceived as a replacement for the P-2 Neptune and P-5 Marlin, the P-3 first flew in 1961. It was loosely based on the design of the L-188 Electra passenger aircraft. Equipped with four Allison T56 turbo-prop engines, the P-3 has the speed of a fast propeller-powered fighter and a range of nearly 2,400 nautical miles. It can remain on station at 1500 feet for three hours with a range of 1,300 nm. The aircraft typically carries three pilots and a crew of eight. Armament capacity is up to 20,000 pounds and can include the AGM-84 Harpoon, AGM-84E SLAM, AGM-84H/K and AGM-65F Maverick. The P-3 has provided reliable service to the U.S. and its allies. In addition to Cold War submarine tracking, its missions have included enforcing the blockade of Cuba during the 1962 crisis, coastal patrols in the Vietnam War, and targeting of Iraqi naval elements during the Gulf War. Over the decades the P-3 has received several major up-dates, and more than forty variants have been developed. It is expected to remain in service for the U.S. Navy until at least 2013 when the P-8 Poseidon begins deployment. This pilot's manual was originally created by Lockheed and the U.S. Navy. It has been declassified and is here made available in book form.

Jean Batten was born in Rotorua, New Zealand and developped a love for aviation from an early age. Her father did not approve of her love of flying and she and her mother moved to London in order to pursue her dream of becoming a pilot. Jean received her license at the London Aeroplane Club at Stag Lane and began planning for a flight from England to Australia to surpass the Amy Johnson's record. After two failed attempts, she succeeded in 1934, flying a Gipsy Moth and became a great hero in Australia, New Zealand and England. In 1935 she broke James Mollison's records for England to Brazil and Dakar to Natal and became the first woman to fly solo across the South Atlantic. She also shared a Harmon Trophy with Amelia Earhart in 1935. In 1937 she set another record for an Australia to England flight both ways. During World War II Jean Batten gave up flying and eventually became a recluse, living with her mother in Majorca, Spain and appearing in public only for a few events. She died in obscurity in Majorca in 1982. The international terminal at Auckland Airport is named in her honor.

One of the most widely-used multi-role Allied aircraft of WWII, Consolidated's PBY Catalina was a flying boat to be reckoned with. They were used as anti- submarine warfare platforms in the Atlantic, and gained notoriety in the Pacific as rescue and reconnaissance platforms, and as bombers. With their distinctive fuselages painted the shade of midnight, the "Black Cats" undertook daring raids of Japanese shipping and shore installations. Originally printed by the U.S. Navy during World War 2, this flight handbook taught pilots everything they needed to know before entering the cockpit. Classified "Restricted," the manual was recently declassified and is here reprinted in book form. This affordable facsimile has been slightly reformatted. Care has been taken to preserve the integrity of the text.

North American Aviation's X-15 rocket plane flew at Mach 6.72 and at altitudes above 67 miles -- at the threshold of space. The men who piloted this amazing plane became the USAF's first astronauts. Powered by an XLR-99 engine capable of producing 70,000 pounds of thrust at peak altitude, the X-15 pushed the flight envelope for manned aircraft past the post office. Notably, both Apollo astronaut Neil Armstrong and Space Shuttle commander Joe Engle piloted the X-15. Originally published by North American for the USAF and later NASA, this Flight Operating Handbook represents a 1963 update of the original version first printed in 1961. Just recently declassified, it provides a revealing look into one of history's great planes. Also included in this edition is a rare X-15 rescue manual made for the plane's ground crew. Please note: due to the archival nature of some portions of the original documents, image and text quality may vary. Care has been taken to preserve the integrity of the text.

Designed by Douglas Aircraft Co.s brilliant engineer Ed Heinemann, the turbojet powered, delta-wing A-4 Skyhawk played a key role in conflicts from Vietnam to the Falklands and Yom Kippur Wars. The Skyhawk was intended to replace the venerable Skyraider as a carrier-based, ground attack aircraft, yet Heinemanns design looked nothing like its predecessor. Its small, lightweight airframe was so compact that its wings did not even have to be folded for carrier stowage, and it surpassed the Navys design specification for weight by nearly 100%. No wonder the nimble jet was dubbed Heinemanns Hot Rod. The A-4 entered service in 1956, and first saw combat during the early days of the Vietnam War where it flew as a light attack aircraft. Its service in S.E. Asia was prolific, as it flew literally thousands of strike and escort missions and even scored an air-to-air victory over a North Vietnamese MiG. A Marine A-4 is believed to be the last American aircraft to drop bombs on Vietnam. During the conflict 362 Skyhawks were lost. The Navy retired the Skyhawk in 1975, although it continued flying as a trainer and adversary aircraft as late as 2003. Nearly 3,000 Skyhawks were built before production ceased in 1979, including a two- seat trainer model TA-4. The Skyhawk was widely exported and saw combat with the air forces of Kuwait, Israel and Argentina. This pilots manual was originally classified restricted but has now been declassified and is here reprinted in book form