Though we routinely take to the air, for many of us flying remains a mystery. Few of us understand the how and why of jetting from New York to London in six hours. How does a plane stay in the air? Can turbulence bring it down? What is windshear? How good are the security checks? Patrick Smith, an airline pilot and author of Salon.com's popular column, "Ask the Pilot," unravels the secrets and tells you all there is to know about the strange and fascinating world of commercial flight. He offers: A nuts and bolts explanation of how planes fly Insights into safety and security Straight talk about turbulence, air traffic control, windshear, and crashes The history, color, and controversy of the world's airlines The awe and oddity of being a pilot The poetry and drama of airplanes, airports, and traveling abroad In a series of frank, often funny explanations and essays, Smith speaks eloquently to our fears and curiosities, incorporating anecdotes, memoir, and a life's passion for flight. He tackles our toughest concerns, debunks conspiracy theories and myths, and in a rarely heard voice dares to return a dash of romance and glamour to air travel.

This comprehensive guide to the pilot-interview process walks applicants through the process and illustrates the best way to present their personal-history paperwork to airlines and increase their chances of landing an interview. Covering how to discuss shortcomings in a professional history and obtaining the supplemental paperwork that must be provided to an interviewer, these strategies enable pilots to avoid common mistakes and present background information confidently and concisely. Questions such as "What exactly is the Pilot Records Improvement Act (PRIA) and how does the Act impact pilots?"" Why are the airlines interested in every area of a pilot's background?" and "What is an addendum and when do pilots need one?" are addressed.

"Rules and Procedures for Aviators, U.S. Department of Transportation, From Titles 14 and 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations"--Cover.

Adverse aircraft-pilot coupling (APC) events include a broad set of undesirable and sometimes hazardous phenomena that originate in anomalous interactions between pilots and aircraft. As civil and military aircraft technologies advance, interactions between pilots and aircraft are becoming more complex. Recent accidents and other incidents have been attributed to adverse APC in military aircraft. In addition, APC has been implicated in some civilian incidents. This book evaluates the current state of knowledge about adverse APC and processes that may be used to eliminate it from military and commercial aircraft. It was written for technical, government, and administrative decisionmakers and their technical and administrative support staffs; key technical managers in the aircraft manufacturing and operational industries; stability and control engineers; aircraft flight control system designers; research specialists in flight control, flying qualities, human factors; and technically knowledgeable lay readers.

"Rules and Procedures for Aviators, U.S. Department of Transportation, From Titles 14 and 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations"--Cover.

Learn everything you need for the FAA private pilot exam, biennial flight reviews, and updating and refreshing your knowledge.