A poetic and nuanced exploration of the human experience of flight that reminds us of the full imaginative weight of our most ordinary journeys—and reawakens our capacity to be amazed. The twenty-first century has relegated airplane flight—a once remarkable feat of human ingenuity—to the realm of the mundane. Mark Vanhoenacker, a 747 pilot who left academia and a career in the business world to pursue his childhood dream of flight, asks us to reimagine what we—both as pilots and as passengers—are actually doing when we enter the world between departure and discovery. In a seamless fusion of history, politics, geography, meteorology, ecology, family, and physics, Vanhoenacker vaults across geographical and cultural boundaries; above mountains, oceans, and deserts; through snow, wind, and rain, renewing a simultaneously humbling and almost superhuman activity that affords us unparalleled perspectives on the planet we inhabit and the communities we form.

Don't think you can become a pilot? I think you can - learning to fly is easier than you think! Have you always dreamed of becoming a pilot? Are you wondering if now is a good time to become a pilot? Do you want to get started with flight training, but need help choosing a school? All your questions will be answered in this book! This book may be the most important book you will ever read if you want to become a professional pilot... But first a warning, this is not a book about "learning to fly" in a literal sense. You won't learn how aerodynamics work or how to control an aircraft in flight - that's something you will learn once you start your flight training. Instead, this book contains information that flight schools won't teach you. The information you NEED to know before you should commit to flight training! The knowledge you gain from this book is essential for you to have a successful and enjoyable career as a commercial or airline pilot! The main focus of the book is on FAA and EASA flight training in the U.S., but most of the principles apply regardless of your nationality. Whether you want to earn your private pilot certificate, become a corporate pilot, or become a captain in a major airline - this book is for you. And one note to the ladies - it is now the golden age for female pilots! Did you know you could become a commercial pilot, or even a flight instructor, at the age of 18 with less than 12 months of training? Right now is an excellent time to become a pilot because there is a global pilot shortage that is expected to last for the next two decades or longer. Boeing estimates that there will be a worldwide demand for 790,000 pilots between 2018 and 2037. That's a lot of pilots! How do I know the pilot shortage is not just a myth? Currently, most airlines in China are hiring airline captains from foreign countries because there are not enough Chinese pilots. And what's the pay like? Boeing 737 or Airbus 320 captains can earn an annual salary up to $380,000! That's over 30k per month! ...and, wait for it--it's all tax-free (in China)! Yes, it will be a long road to become an airline captain earning a good salary. But guess what? Reading this book will help you decide if you want to pursue the career. Who is this Author? With Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Vesa knows a thing or two about aviation. With several years as a flight instructor, assistant chief flight instructor, and ultimately as the Chief Flight Instructor of a major flight academy, he is an expert in pilot training. Having trained hundreds of pilots who currently work for many airlines (including many Chinese airlines), he has the first-hand knowledge of the demand for new pilots. Because of his experience as a corporate airline captain, he understands the benefits and downsides of pilot life and can help you decide whether it's a good career path for you! Here are some of the questions this book will answer: Is a pilot career a good choise for me? How much does flight training cost? What are the medical requirements for pilots? How can I finance flight training without any savings or income? What are the benefits and downsides of a pilot career? What kind of certificates and ratings do I need to start working as a professional pilot? How to choose the best flight school (and flight instructor) based on my individual needs? Flight training is fast-paced, fun, and exciting. Why not get started now?

Decision making pervades every aspect of life: people make hundreds of decisions every day. The vast majority of these are trivial and without a right or wrong answer. In some respects there is also nothing extraordinary about pilot decision making. It is only the setting that is different - the underlying cognitive processes are just the same. However, it is the context and the consequences of a poor decision which serve to differentiate aeronautical decision making. Decisions on the flight deck are often made with incomplete information and while under time pressure. The implications for inadequate performance is much more serious than in many other professions. Poor decisions are implicated in over half of all aviation accidents. This volume contains key papers published over the last 25 years providing an overview of the major paradigms by which aeronautical decision making has been investigated. Furthermore, decision making does not occur in isolation. It is a joint function of the flight tasks; knowledge; equipment on the flight deck and other stressors. In this volume of collected papers, works from leading authors in the field consider all these aspects of aeronautical decision making.

In response to the growing airline practice of hiring individuals with highly developed management, communication, and team player skills in addition to technical knowledge, this workbook covers the application, resume, and interview strategies that make for a more well-rounded job applicant.

Our profession promises us untold money and quality of life. Yet, I'm shocked at how many pilots I meet who are unhappy, overworked, and poor. This book aims to change that. Pilot Math Treasure Bath helps pilots look at Why they're doing what they do, what they can expect to earn over a professional pilot career, and how to save and invest to make sure they have everlasting wealth to show for themselves after all is said and done. If you are or love a pilot, this book is for you!

Nearly everyone experiences fatigue, but some professions--such as aviation, medicine and the military--demand alert, precise, rapid, and well-informed decision making and communication with little margin for error. The potential for fatigue to negatively affect human performance is well established. Concern about this potential in the aviation context extends back decades, with both airlines and pilots agreeing that fatigue is a safety concern. A more recent consideration is whether and how pilot commuting, conducted in a pilot's off-duty time, may affect fatigue during flight duty. In summer 2010 the U.S. Congress directed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to update the federal regulations that govern pilot flight and duty time, taking into account recent research related to sleep and fatigue. As part of their directive, Congress also instructed FAA to have the National Academy of Sciences conduct a study on the effects of commuting on pilot fatigue. The Effects of Commuting on Pilot Fatigue reviews research and other information related to the prevalence and characteristics of commuting; to the science of sleep, fatigue, and circadian rhythms; to airline and regulatory oversight policies; and to pilot and airline practices. The Effects of Commuting on Pilot Fatigue discusses the policy, economic, and regulatory issues that affect pilot commuting, and outlines potential next steps, including recommendations for regulatory or administrative actions, or further research by the FAA.