Ask the Pilot

In this book, pilot Patrick Smith, who also writes an "Ask the Pilot" column for Salon.com, answers many common (and not-so-common) questions about the business of flying. He uses his expertise to explain how planes fly in the first place, what effect wind has on the flight, the reason for various delays, and other such topics. He also provides a glimpse into the world of pilot training, shares his perspective on flying after 9/11, and recounts some anecdotes from his piloting career. My favourite of these anecdotes was the exploding toilet, which has to be read about to be believed. Overall this was a very accessible, entertaining book that worked best when read in bits and pieces. If you have an interest in flying but are not show more interested in the technical minutiae, and you want to hear what it's like to be in the pilot's seat, this is the book to pick up. show less

A collection of answers to questions about air travel posed in the author's Salon column of the same name. This is a very informative, sometimes dry, collection about airport procedures, weather conditions, and airplane quirks that a regular passenger may have about their trip. It's not sensationalist or an airline fluff-piece, but a very straight forward collection that any layman can understand. He does cover a few major crashes (just in case you suffer from aviophobia), but he points out how extremely rare they are and what the particulars of each crash were (in a nutshell - flying is statistically more safe than pretty much all other modes of transport). I like to travel and since most of my travels involve at least one airplane, I show more found this quite enlightening even if Smith is not the most charismatic of authors. show less

This was a great, readable, meaty compilation of airline safety and security, terrorism, communications and air traffic control, pilot work lives, airports, turbulence (do ocean liners sink in large storms? airplanes don't crash from turbulence), and many, many public misconceptions.

Information is well over 10 years old, but this is irrelevant. Only sales, rankings and other stats are a bit stale. Airframe designs after all, are well over 50 years old. The questions and subjects within each chapter, jump around a bit, but this quirky organization does not affect flow or comprehension.

I know most occupants of the earth have never flown, but for those who do, this is a must-read.

Salon.com's most popular columnist tells why airline travel is still the safest way to get from here to there-and lots of other flight facts.
Even frequent fliers, probably don't have a clue how their plane gets from New York to Los Angeles in 5 hours. And many people probably think flying is more dangerous now than ever-even though it's still the safest means of transportation.
In Ask the Pilot, Patrick Smith-a commercial airline pilot and author of Salon.com's popular column-explains in frank and very funny language what fears are grounded in reality and which ones are airborne urban myths. He stacks up the facts, anecdotes, and advice to every flying question imaginable: * Just how safe it is to fly?
* What is the safest airline?
* Do show more airlines reduce cabin oxygen flow to save fuel and keep passengers docile?
* Can turbulence cause a crash?
* What's windshear - and can it really rip the wings off a plane?
* How does a plane get off the ground?
* Why does the plane sometimes bump, jig, and turn at a high angle during climbout?
* Has anyone ever survived a water landing by donning a vest or using a raft?
* Why are tray tables stowed before landing?
Frequent flier or neurotic aerophobe, this is the one book that will wise people up - and calm fliers down. show less

Patrick Smith addressed many layperson's curiosity about flying and airplanes. I like the level of depth he goes into as he explains turbulences, engine failures, cabin compresssion, and many other fears associated with flying.

The enthusiasm of airplanes as majestic engineering achievement also rubs on me a little and I found myself paying more attention to the kind of plane I am on and their many features. (aside from personal entertainments and lavatory, which was the only 2 things I normally notice)

Interesting book compiling Salon columns from airline pilot Patrick Smith, who answers questions about the airline business. He does his best to keep it simple and non-tech, and it’s probably one of the best books for finding out just why airlines do what they do and the odds of you getting killed in freak accidents, etc. Indispensable for frequent flyers like me who wonders about these things on Hour Seven of a 13-hour flight.

This is a worthy little explanation about commercial flight, including the industry, safety, and crew-life. The Q-and-A-style format is quite readable.