Anyone interested in general aviation, its history, and the funny and sometimes-scary adventures of a professional pilot will enjoy Mark Burgess' stories. With wry humor, he takes us on his journey from an airplane-happy small-town youth, to certified 17-year-old pilot, to instructor and inspector of other pilots. He has flown donated organs, fire patrol, and the rich and famous, and today is a successful entrepreneur with a rapidly growing company employing nine pilots.

This book concerns the subject of illegal charters. The risks associated with illegal charters are high, and the consequences are dire and different for all the parties involved. Pilots can lose their hard-earned licenses, aircraft owners might not get paid by the insurance companies, businesses might be prosecuted and fined, customers do not get what they paid for. The worst consequence of an illegal charter is that someone gets hurt or killed. The tragic part in reading about a flight accident is the understanding that an illegal charter could have been avoided. The present book aims to fulfil the industry’s call for greater awareness, education, and transparency. It will systematically and thoroughly investigate the application of law in a practical context of illegal charters. It engages in a comprehensive comparative study across various jurisdictions, such as the USA, Europe, Russia, Asia and the Middle East. This text considers whether the elements evidencing state practice in regulation of illegal charters are peculiar to the region and legal system. It examines how illegal charters can be prevented and undertakes the analysis of risks and consequences of illegal charters. This is an important book that is likely to have a significant impact on existing scholarship regarding international and national aviation law and be of interest of all parties involved in aviation. This includes industry professionals, legal practitioners, academics, policy-makers, and government officials.

“A remarkable new book.... Wise and energetic advocates such as Kahlenberg and Potter can take the charter movement in new and useful directions.” —The Washington Post Moving beyond the debate over whether or not charter schools should exist, A Smarter Charter wrestles with the question of what kind of charter schools we should encourage. The authors begin by tracing the evolution of charter schools from teacher union leader Albert Shanker’s original vision of giving teachers room to innovate while educating a diverse population of students, to today’s charter schools where the majority of teachers are not unionized and student segregation levels are even higher than in traditional public schools. In the second half of the book, the authors examine two key reforms currently seen in a small but growing number of charter schools—teacher voice and socioeconomic integration—that have the potential to improve performance and reshape the stereotypical image of what it means to be a charter school. Important reading for policymakers, educators, researchers, and all citizens interested in the future of America’s public schools, A Smarter Charter features: Profiles of charter schools that are bucking the prevailing trends, including their performance data and the challenges they face. Best practices from successful charter schools, such as methods for attracting a diverse student body and examples of innovative teacher contracts. Reform strategies that can improve student outcomes in a variety of public schools, not just charters. “Kahlenberg and Potter have delivered a thought-provoking, serious contribution. Agree or not with their views on the purpose and performance of charter schools, they have important things to say on where charters have been, where they need to go, and how they can get there. Friends and foes of charter schooling, alike, would do well to read this book.” —Frederick M. Hess, resident scholar and director of Education Policy Studies, American Enterprise Institute “Read this book and draw inspiration and ideas from charter schools and educators bucking the trend and reclaiming that original, collaborative, and powerful promise and spirit. I hope parents, educators in all sectors, concerned citizens, policymakers, philanthropists—and charter sector leaders—will take its compelling message to heart and act on it.” —Dennis Van Roekel, former president, National Education Association “A tour-de-force, laying out in singular fashion what has gone wrong with the charter school movement, and what must be done to get it back on track.... A Smarter Charter is a must-read for those concerned with the future of charter schools and public education.” —Randi Weingarten, president, American Federation of Teachers

American Airlines' first woman pilot tells of her varied experiences in the line of work.

Find the Best-Paying and Most-Fulfilling Jobs in Professional Piloting A valuable employment tool, the Professional Pilot Career Guide provides a complete sourcebook of professional flying opportunities. This updated guide contains detailed coverage of pilot ratings and practical test standards-plus goal-achieving tips on job hunting, networking, regional airlines, the majors, and more. Written by career pilot and aviation-industry expert Robert P. Mark, this vital reference offers a real-world look at what it's like to fly for the airlines, corporations, or charter companies, together with guidance on pay, benefits, types of aircraft, and future prospects. Packed with illustrations, Professional Pilot Career Guide features: Full coverage of aviation training-where to get it and how to finance it The latest airline, corporate, and charter employment opportunities 200 common interview questions-and the 10 most frequent interview mistakes Current information on the best-paying flying jobs Valuable advice on PC-based job search techniques Indepth pilot interviews Essential internet resources Inside This Cutting-Edge Employment Resource for Today's Pilots • Your Career Starts Here • Flight Training • Ratings • Where Are the Jobs? • The Regional Airlines • The Majors • Business Aviation • The Pilot and the PC