Best Airports
This book is appropriate for future air traffic controllers, as well as for pilots who need a better understanding of the air traffic control system. Michael S. Nolan, a former air traffic controller, teaches aviation courses in the Aviation Technology Department at Purdue University and has taught a variety of aviation courses at the University of Illinois, Chanute Air Force Base and Purdue University.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Great overview of Air Traffic Control system."
"This book turned out to be much more informative and beneficial to my instrument training than I ever could have imagined."
"I passed my class- enough said!"
"I haven't gotten too far into the book but I'm enjoying it so far!"
"It is showing me a lot of history behind the world of ATC, and is a great bit of reference to go along with the ATC simulator I have had for a year or more."
"Very useful for Air Traffic Students or someone who wants to learn Air Traffic."
"Bought this to inform myself about some systems used in Air Traffic Control."
I'm going down, I'm going Do--". Author, airline captain and popular blogger (capnaux.com) Eric Auxier brings his former Alaska bush flying to life in his second novel, The Last Bush Pilots . Two young pilots, Daniel "DC" Alva and Allen David Foley, take on the world's most dangerous flying: the Alaska bush. Meet legendary bush pilot Jake "Crash" Whitakker, equally adept at landing planes and ladies--and "crashin' 'em" as well; prankster pilot Ralph Olaphsen, who once set an extinct volcano ablaze on April Fool's Day; and no-nonsense Check Airman Holly Innes, trying to cut a respectable niche in the notoriously macho bush pilot world--while escaping a dangerous past. While this novel is entirely fictional, many larger-than-life characters and "tall tales" are inspired by real people and events I encountered while flying the Alaska bush in the summer of'87. Moreover, the way both pilots handle their emergency landings come from hours plying the Southeast Alaska skies, contemplating exactly just what I would do if faced with those situations. While those real-life cubs found homes in zoos in the Lower Forty-Eight, I wanted to spin a fun yarn exacting poetic justice on said poacher; hence, the Doyle brothers in the book. I also have to confess that real-life credit for character Ralph Olaphsen's genius "volcanic" April First hoax goes to one. Oliver "Porky" Bickar. .
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This tale spins the lives of "as tough as you can get & the cheechacko (greenhorn)" Alaskan bush pilots, aviation, the beauty of the land, the unforgiving weather, and the meeting of friends new and old , all woven together into one great novel. Each chapter brings on new adventures and for anyone that loves life's mystery, history, geography, humor, a little romance, danger, twists and turns that you never expected then you will highly enjoy this novel. This novel left me satisfied, entertained, and surprisingly enough gave me a new found admiration and knowledge of aviation, and the wild beautiful land known as Alaska or more appropriately "The Last Bush Pilots" of The Last Frontier."
"Never been to Alaska and can't imagine living there, but, for what it's worth, this story could change a person's overall outlook on Alaska."
"I loved it so much I emailed the author and within the day he replied with very gracias words and insight to his upcoming writings."
"I grew up in Alaska, and Auxier's narrative took me back to my days living on the southern coast of the state; I can almost smell the pine trees and fish, and feel the light summer rain and mist from low ceilings on my skin."
"This was an interesting read - made me wonder why anyone would be so crazy to be a bush pilot, but also gives such good insight into the reasons why, that by the end of the book, I understood better."
"It becomes obvious in the first chapter that the author knows his stuff, and by the end of the book, you know more than you ever thought you would, or should, about Alaskan weather and how to fly in it."
"So if you are looking for something to make that long flight in a middle seat really short and exciting get this book - you won't regret it."
"Which is a shame as my wife is a librarian... but I saw the book advertised on his web site, which I found because I'm a pilot too (GA, smaller birds, weekends only) and thought... Why not?"
As Joseph A. McCartin writes, the strike was the culmination of two decades of escalating conflict between controllers and the government that stemmed from the high-pressure nature of the job and the controllers' inability to negotiate with their employer over vital issues. Through the stories of controllers like Mike Rock and Jack Maher, who were galvanized into action by that disaster and went on to found PATCO, it describes the efforts of those who sought to make the airways safer and fought to win a secure place in the American middle class. Joseph A. McCartin is Professor of History at Georgetown University and Director of the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Funny how politics makes groups of people do things they would normally avoid as single individuals. I couldn't understand why blue-collar workers would risk losing a job that paid such a high wage, even under stressful and crappy management."
"This book takes the reader behind the scenes to witness the administration's chicanery and union's overconfidence which led to the disastrous outcome ... for PATCO, many of its members, and the U.S. labor movement as a whole."
"This inside view of the overall situation and history surrounding it since the late 50s and well past the 1981 showdown completely changed my perspective on the whole thing."
"You were either on the side of backing the union people, PATCO or you were on the side of the newly elected President Ronald Reagan. But this book not only gives incredibly accurate accounts of the talks between PATCO, The White House and the FAA, but also insites to the positive and negative sides of the contract talks. But then as PATCO changes presidents and grows and grows, so do the frustrations, the abuse and lack of respect from the White House from Presidents Kennedy, Johnson (dealing with the Vietman War), Nixon, Ford and Carter (the biggest back stabber of all). This book is a must read for fans of unions, the airline industry and of Presidents. Once you read it decide for yourself whether PATCO was right or wrong, was President Reagan right or wrong, or could a better solution come out of this."
"As a fired air traffic controller and PATCO striker who originally lived this story, I found myself reliving the emotionally and sometimes painful journey of memories and loss of the people who are no longer with us."
Best Fairbanks Alaska Travel Books
I'm going down, I'm going Do--". Author, airline captain and popular blogger (capnaux.com) Eric Auxier brings his former Alaska bush flying to life in his second novel, The Last Bush Pilots . Two young pilots, Daniel "DC" Alva and Allen David Foley, take on the world's most dangerous flying: the Alaska bush. Meet legendary bush pilot Jake "Crash" Whitakker, equally adept at landing planes and ladies--and "crashin' 'em" as well; prankster pilot Ralph Olaphsen, who once set an extinct volcano ablaze on April Fool's Day; and no-nonsense Check Airman Holly Innes, trying to cut a respectable niche in the notoriously macho bush pilot world--while escaping a dangerous past. While this novel is entirely fictional, many larger-than-life characters and "tall tales" are inspired by real people and events I encountered while flying the Alaska bush in the summer of'87. Moreover, the way both pilots handle their emergency landings come from hours plying the Southeast Alaska skies, contemplating exactly just what I would do if faced with those situations. While those real-life cubs found homes in zoos in the Lower Forty-Eight, I wanted to spin a fun yarn exacting poetic justice on said poacher; hence, the Doyle brothers in the book. I also have to confess that real-life credit for character Ralph Olaphsen's genius "volcanic" April First hoax goes to one. Oliver "Porky" Bickar. .
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This tale spins the lives of "as tough as you can get & the cheechacko (greenhorn)" Alaskan bush pilots, aviation, the beauty of the land, the unforgiving weather, and the meeting of friends new and old , all woven together into one great novel. Each chapter brings on new adventures and for anyone that loves life's mystery, history, geography, humor, a little romance, danger, twists and turns that you never expected then you will highly enjoy this novel. This novel left me satisfied, entertained, and surprisingly enough gave me a new found admiration and knowledge of aviation, and the wild beautiful land known as Alaska or more appropriately "The Last Bush Pilots" of The Last Frontier."
"Never been to Alaska and can't imagine living there, but, for what it's worth, this story could change a person's overall outlook on Alaska."
"I grew up in Alaska, and Auxier's narrative took me back to my days living on the southern coast of the state; I can almost smell the pine trees and fish, and feel the light summer rain and mist from low ceilings on my skin."
"This was an interesting read - made me wonder why anyone would be so crazy to be a bush pilot, but also gives such good insight into the reasons why, that by the end of the book, I understood better."
"It becomes obvious in the first chapter that the author knows his stuff, and by the end of the book, you know more than you ever thought you would, or should, about Alaskan weather and how to fly in it."
"So if you are looking for something to make that long flight in a middle seat really short and exciting get this book - you won't regret it."
"It's a really good book and you will find yourself emotionally vested in the characters."
"The Last Bush Pilots."
Best Helicopters
Recently updated, this comprehensive handbook explains the aerodynamics of helicopter flight, as well helicopter maneuvers, unlike many aviation training manuals which are strictly how-to guides. W. J. Wagtendonk is a retired flight instructor and a former pilot in the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"To be honest, read it slow because the concepts are difficult for some to understand."
"This is a good book for anyone wanting to become familiar with the in depth "nuts and bolts" of helicopter flight."
"I fly radio controlled helicopters and wanted to understand the principles of flight plus some flight characteristics that baffled me."
"Excellent info but cheaply made, the pages started coming out on the first use."
"Anyone looking at taking helicopter flight lessons or just wanting to further your knowledge, this is a great book."
"I used this prior to Army Aviation School, and it provides a good solid foundation prior to getting down to the school."
"The book dives deep into the physics and science of rotorcraft flight."
"You can get this at the Library, but the presenter did a nice job of getting it to Kindle format- very good technical book."
Best Aviation History
On a winter day in 1903 on the remote Outer Banks of North Carolina two unknown brothers from Ohio changed history The age of flight had begun with the first heavier than air powered machine carrying a pilot Far more than a couple of Dayton bicycle mechanics who happened to hit on success Wilbur and Orville Wright were men of exceptional ability unyielding determination and far ranging intellectual interest and curiosity Two time Pulitzer Prize winner David McCullough tells the dramatic story of how these courageous brothers taught the world how to fly and how their devoted sister Katharine played a far more important role than has been generally understood Book jacket The 1 New York Times bestseller from David McCullough two time winner of the Pulitzer Prize the dramatic story behind the story about the courageous brothers who taught the world how to fly Wilbur and Orville Wright On a winter day in 1903 in the Outer Banks of North Carolina two brothers bicycle mechanics from Dayton Ohio changed history But it would take the world some time to believe that the age of flight had begun with the first powered machine carrying a pilot Orville and Wilbur Wright were men of exceptional courage and determination and of far ranging intellectual interests and ceaseless curiosity When they worked together no problem seemed to be insurmountable Wilbur was unquestionably a genius Orville had such mechanical ingenuity as few had ever seen That they had no more than a public high school education and little money never stopped them in their mission to take to the air Nothing did not even the self evident reality that every time they took off they risked being killed In this enjoyable fast paced tale The Economist master historian David McCullough shows as never before how two Ohio boys from a remarkable family taught the world to fly The Washington Post and captures the marvel of what the Wrights accomplished The Wall Stree.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"David McCullough is one of the preeminent American historians of our times, the deft biographer of John Adams and Harry Truman, and in this book he brings his wonderful historical exposition and storytelling skills to the lives of the Wright brothers. If I have some minor reservations they are only in the lack of technical detail which could have informed descriptions of some of the Wrights' experiments and the slightly hagiographical tint that McCullough is known to bring to his subjects. Firstly McCullough who is quite certainly one of the best storytellers among all historians does a great job of giving us the details of the Wrights' upbringing and family. The Wrights' sister Katharine also played an integral part in their lives; they were very close to her and McCullough's account is filled with copious examples of the affectionate, sometimes scolding, always encouraging letters that the siblings wrote to each other. Lastly, McCullough does a fine job describing how the Wrights rose to world fame after their flight. McCullough's account of the Wright brothers, as warm and fast-paced as it is, was most interesting to me for the lessons it holds for the future. But perhaps what the Wright brothers' story exemplifies the most is the importance of simple traits like devotion to family, hard work, intense intellectual curiosity and most importantly, the frontier, can-do attitude that has defined the American dream since its inception."
"McCullough has written a serious and riveting review of the lives of Wilbur and Orville. FAMILY. McCullough makes it clear that the Wilbur and Orville were a product of their family environment. McCullough writes — “He was an unyielding abstainer, which was rare on the frontier, a man of rectitude and purpose— all of which could have served as a description of Milton himself and Wilbur and Orville as well.”. His strict values molded and focused the views of the three younger Wrights (Katherine, Wilbur, and Orville). I am sure that Orville and myself will do nothing that will disgrace the training we received from you and Mother.”. McCullough writes — “Years later, a friend told Orville that he and his brother would always stand as an example of how far Americans with no special advantages could advance in the world. the greatest thing in our favor was growing up in a family where there was always much encouragement to intellectual curiosity.’ ”. BUSINESS. McCullough records Wilbur’s thoughts on being in business in a letter to his brother Lorin in 1894: “In business it is the aggressive man, who continually has his eye on his own interest, who succeeds. … We ought not to have been businessmen.”. In 1911, Wilbur wrote: “When we think what we might have accomplished if we had been able to devote this time [fighting patent infringement suits] to experiments, we feel very sad, but it is always easier to deal with things than with men, and no one can direct his life entirely as he would choose.”. The Wrights never built, or even tried to build, an industrial empire as Ford or Edison or their Dayton neighbors John and Frank Patterson (National Cash Register) had done. Wilbur and Orville were superb engineers, though neither went beyond high school. For example, the wind tunnel had been invented thirty years before, but Wilbur and Orville developed it into a precise quantitative instrument. For example, McCullough writes — “In early 1889, while still in high school, Orville started his own print shop in the carriage shed behind the house, and apparently with no objections from the Bishop. To reinforce that point requires some expansion of that event or similar other defining events in the lives of Wilbur and Orville. One source of knowledge about the Wrights’ approach to aeronautics is the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton."
Best Commercial Aviation
How planes fly, and a revealing look at the men and women who fly them. Straight talk on turbulence, pilot training, and safety. The real story on congestion, delays, and the dysfunction of the modern airport. The myths and misconceptions of cabin air and cockpit automation. Terrorism in perspective, and a provocative look at security. Airfares, seating woes, and the pitfalls of airline customer service. The colors and cultures of the airlines we love to hate. “A brilliant writer, Patrick Smith provides a laugh-a-page tour of a misunderstood industry -- a journey into the world of aviation, stripped of the mumbo-jumbo and filled with humor and insight.”. -- Christine Negroni, aviation correspondent and author of Flying Lessons. "Patrick Smith doesn’t just know everything about air travel, he possesses a rare knack for explaining it in lucid and witty prose." “Patrick Smith is one of the best writers around, period, which certainly makes him by far the best writer ever to have earned a commercial pilot's license. “Patrick Smith manages to demystify the experience and remind us of the magic of aviation. “Patrick Smith doesn’t just know everything about air travel, he possesses a rare knack for explaining it in lucid and witty prose.”. -- Barbara Peterson,
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Are you someone who doesn't get excited looking at the lights of planes as they line up in the night sky outside a busy airport, coming in for a landing, one after the other? Smith has been been a pilot and in love with all forms of air travel since, as a child living in Boston, he'd sit on the Revere beach and watch in awe as planes landed at nearby Logan Airport. He grew up to make a living as first a pilot for a commuter carrier - flying up and down the Atlantic seaboard and all around New England - and then he "graduated" to flying cargo jets for a freight airline. We're also fascinated by the arcane of the airline industry - old tickets from the 1940's and clips from newsreels of passengers boarding a plane in the 1950's outfitted in suits and ties and hats. Looking at the September 11th terrorist attacks in particular, he talks about how the TSA and other government groups reacted by imposing the wrong "rules" in the hopes of making airplane travel "safer". Smith recounts the many terror attacks and hijackings of airplanes and airports in the 1970's and 1980's that we've seem to have forgotten. Good lord, it's half the battle of flying today just getting through TSA security."
"You'll learn the author's personal grades for major carriers' aesthetics, his take on UFOs, a straightforward assessment of flight safety, and "the horror and absurdity of history's worst plane crash" that few have heard of."
"Expect more of these…. On a flight from London to New York, I noticed that our 747 was flying almost parallel with, and very close to, a Lufthansa plane. The tracks are 60 miles apart, however, so you were likely on the same track as the Lufthansa jet, a thousand feet higher or lower, and slightly offset horizontally. A plane one or two miles away horizontally and only a thousand feet lower or higher will basically appear parallel to you. The tracks go west-to-east in the evening, when the vast majority of planes depart North America for Europe, and east-to-west in the mornings and afternoons, when most flights are headed the other way. Track “A” on Tuesday might consist of a totally different string of latitude/longitude fixes than Wednesday’s track “A.”. Separate from ATC communications, there’s an open radio frequency (VHF 123.45) used on the track system that allows crews to talk to each other. The landing gear produces quite a bit of drag and occasionally we’ll lower it sooner, as a way of increasing the rate of descent or helping us slow down, when necessary. Then, as we began our descent, he indicated that the landing gear would be lowered earlier than usual in order to use up excess fuel. It sounds as though your shortcut left the plane with so much fuel that it would have been above its maximum landing weight for the runway (perhaps, because of wind or weather-related reasons, the only available runway was a short one?). The increase in drag produced by the landing gear would result in considerably more fuel burn, helping get the plane within limits. We were above landing weight, however, and the dispatchers recommended that instead of landing heavy, which would entail a time-consuming inspection, that we should descend to a lower altitude and deploy the gear for the last half-hour or so of flight. You’ve got green lights, red lights, white lights; steady lights and flashing lights. Mind you there are variations, but here’s a generic rundown: Navigation lights (wingtips and tail): Colored lights that show a plane’s orientation: red on the left, green on the right, white in the back. Anti-collision lights (on the wingtips and sometimes the upper or lower fuselage as well): Very bright, white flashing lights that basically mean “look out, here we are!” Used night and day. Turned on just prior to the takeoff roll; turned off again just after landing. Rotating beacon (upper or lower fuselage): A red flashing light used any time aircraft is moving. Means, “stay clear!”. Landing lights (most commonly wing-mounted and/or mounted on the nose gear strut): Very bright, white, forward facing beams. Taxi lights (normally on nose gear strut): White, forward facing beams. Runway turnoff lights (if installed, wing-mounted): Bright white lights aimed slightly askew, to aid in high-speed turns when exiting the runway."
Best Aviation Repair & Maintenance
A newly-updated, state-of-the-art guide to MIG and TIG arc welding technology. Richard Finch , a certified welder and former consultant to NASA, has written several books on welding, including Welder’s Handbook: A Guide to Plasma Cutting, Oxyacetylene, ARC, MIG and TIG Welding and Performance Welding Handbook.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"As a beginner welder, this book was a life saver!"
"good read lots of good info."
"very good publication I'm a bit of a beginner so for me it was very informative."
"This book is very useful for the beginner."
"I like the charts with the many settings one has to remember when cutting, welding, braising, etc...great for a beginner."
"As a beginner I was very impressed by this book."
Best Piloting & Flight Instruction
The visual clues by which an experienced pilot unconsciously judges: how you can quickly learn to use them. A foolproof method of making a landing approach across pole lines and trees. The role of ailerons, rudder, and elevator in making a turn. A strong advocacy of the tricycle gear written at a time when almost all civil airplanes were taildraggers. His analyses of aviation's safety problems have deeply influenced pilots and aeronautical engineers and have contributed to the benign characteristics of today's airplane. Stick and Rudder is the first exact analysis of the art of flying ever attempted. Today several excellent manuals offer the pilot accurate and valuable technical information. But Stick and Rudder remains the leading think-book on the art of flying. The visual clues by which an experienced pilot unconsciously judges: how you can quickly learn to use them. A foolproof method of making a landing approach across pole lines and trees. A strong advocacy of the tricycle gear written at a time when almost all civil airplanes were taildraggers. His analyses of aviation's safety problems have deeply influenced pilots and aeronautical engineers and have contributed to the benign characteristics of today's airplane. STICK AND RUDDER is the first exact analysis of the art of flying ever attempted. It has been continously in print for thirty-three years, and has enjoyed steadily increasing sales. Flight instructors have found that the book does indeed explain important phases of the art of flying, in a way the learner can use. When STICK AND RUDDER first came out, some of its contents were considered highly controversial. Today several excellent manuals offer the pilot accurate and valuable technical information.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Well written book with a sense of humor."
"The BEST book ever written on how to fly an airplane."
"This book is old and this book is great!"
"Although it was first published in 1944 it remains the a definitive presentation devoted to the airplane pilot's manipulation of the controls of a machine to enhance the accuracy and response of the machine."
"HANDS DOWN THE SINGLE BEST BOOK EVER WRITTEN ON THE ART AND SCEINCE OF FLYING."
"STICK AND RUDDER is the first exact analysis of the art of flying ever attempted."
"This is the best book you will ever find on understanding basics of flying."
"I first read this book when I was learning to fly in the late 60's."