Cockpit Confidential: Everything You Need to Know About Air Travel: Questions, Answers, and Reflections Paperback – May 7, 2013

I'm an aviation geek, and a former fearful-flyer. Patrick Smith's first book, and his columns over the years have made him a confidant and friend to all types of travelers. Those of us who have been hungry for more are thrilled by "Cockpit Confidential" which gives us new stories, new insights, and a new look at the most loved/hated industry in the world. Patrick Smith is the author that rescues us from the aviation "experts" put out there by today's news media, preferring facts and level-headed analysis to silly hype. This book is perfect for so many different types of readers. It evokes fond memories of the glory days of aviation, before pajamas and slippers were standard traveling clothes. It reminds us that, despite delays, lost bags, airline bankruptcies, and way too much bashing by the 24-hour news cycle, flying really is an amazing thing. The reader will learn that flying is safe; safer today, in fact, than ever in history. But it's more than that. Smith's unique, liquid writing style will remind the reader that THE JOURNEY is half the fun of getting there! Best of all, Patrick's writing is fun to read. It's a difficult book to put down because it's fun and informative. Guaranteed - you'll look at your next flight differently, and maybe even come to realize there's still a lot of magic in the air.

Like the first officer who wrote this, I lived in Boston on 911 and was preparing to fly to DC on a United flight when things went to hell. It was weird when that same afternoon, the only plane in a normally crowded sky was a solitary F15 "showing the flag" as it were. My apartment overlooked Logan and I also got to see, by chance, the "shoe bombers" flight land as two accompanying jet fighters peeled off as it touched down.Despite some painfully brutal stuff, this guy is funny and since he flies for a living, loves it with a passion that can only begin when a kid, he can talk about stuff the rest of us can only speculate upon. He pretty much covers it all in commercial aviation from the mechanics of flight - in a non-technical, jargon-free way; to the history of airlines, "war stories," weird stuff, crashes and airline livery - about which he's got some strong opinions. He's spot on for a lot of it.My only quibble is a small, dismissive and superficial description of the TWA800 incident that attributes the catastrophe to a short circuit igniting vapors in an overheated fuel tank - one of the theories of the crash, but by no means undisputed. Everything else - and I've read it all, from nut cases to law suits; he dismisses as conspiratorial poppycock. Given the number of aviation professionals who have problems with the fuel tank theory, it was disappointing to have this guy be so cavalier.I'm not into conspiracies, so I'll only list three relatively undisputed disputes between the fuel tank theory and others - first, there are an awful lot of eyewitnesses who reported in detail something going up before there was anything going down. I wasn't there, but if one reads the original transcripts, it's hard to conclude that so many otherwise sane and capable folks are nuts. After being called blind, nuts or incapable of recalling what they saw in the right sequence, most of the witnesses gave up. Second, not a few aviation professionals, including pilots and aerospace engineers, can't understand how an airplane without a front part and big changes in weight, balance and center of gravity could go up so far of its own volition after being blown apart. Boeing couldn't explain it either. that notion is central to explaining away other more uncomfortable anomalies Lastly, it seems to have been a fact, based on the local medical examiner's work and research contracted out by the FBI, that some of the poor souls traveling on TWA800 were penetrated by ball bearing sized objects comprised of metals not part of the airplane, but of metal alloys that do appear in other flying objects not used in commercial aviation.But I'm not into conspiracies, just facts and there are a bunch more that makes being dismissive probably the wrong approach when it comes to TWA800.Apart from that, if you fly a lot, you like airplanes or you just want the inside stories of one of the central industries of the 20th Century into the 21st, this is a very readable source of insight and entertainment.

I finished this book yesterday and loaned it to a colleague today. Prompted to do some internet research following two moderately turbulent flight on regional carriers I came across Patrick Smith's askthepilot.com and also found numerous references to Cockpit Confidential which I ordered that evening. This book not only put my reignited "fear" of flying during turbulence immediately to bed, but provided much more.Cockpit Confidential is extremely well written, and you immediately find yourself quickly turning the pages. Patrick Smith's lifelong love of flying and all things aviation is immediately apparent. It's enjoyable to learn of his early affection for airplanes and then heartwarming to see a young boy's dream realized in his professional career. How many of us are lucky enough to end up in a job that we always dreamed of? Throughout Cockpit Confidential Patrick Smith's infatuation and intimacy with flying is evident. This author knows very well his profession and his subject matter.The questions answered are those that most of us have had cross our minds at one time or another. The answers are clearly presented, thorough and provide the reader with a more-than-sufficient explanation to the question posed. Technical aspects of flight are presented in terms that are easy for the layperson to understand.But what made Cockpit Confidential even more appealing to me were Mr. Smith's essays and reflections. His prose flows smoothly as each chapter and related questions are introduced. Don't overlook reading "Looking Out: Memorable Views from Aloft" where amazing views, both good and bad, are recollected. I am one that still is thrilled by the views at 33,000 feet of our planet and its awesome beauty and diversity. I am in Mr. Smith's company on this one. You sense his true pleasure and appreciation of this wonderful world we are each fortunate to inhabit. Also interesting to me is "We Gaan: The Horror and Absurdity of History's Worst Crash" in chapter 6 as I remember very clearly as a young and impressionable 17 year old the news and press coverage of this horrific air disaster. Throughout the book, Patrick Smith presents all things related to air travel - the good, the bad and the ugly - openly and honestly. The tough things like the accident at Tenerife are not glossed over.The essays in chapters two, four, five and seven are perfectly written - it is clear that Mr. Smith could have easily chosen writing as his full-time profession and been every bit as successful as he has been as a pilot. Additionally, based on this book and the description of his own experiences in countries and airports throughout the world, I have had to edit my own "must see" lists to include many places I had never considered before.A final point I would like to include in this review came as a surprise to me. In this day of excessive automated communication that lacks any "personal" touch whatsoever, can you imagine reaching out to an author of a book, asking a question and actually receiving a personalized response within several hours? That lingering question I had about my own transatlantic flying experiences was answered directly by Patrick Smith almost immediately after I hit the send button. Wow!I highly recommend this book for many reasons. You won't be disappointed. From now on each time I board a plane my mind will be referencing a portion (or portions) of Cockpit Confidential. And I can't imagine a better airline experience than to be on a plane that Patrick Smith is flying or to be seated next to him.

Brilliant read

Per chi come me ama il volo e' un libro molto interessante, ricco di risposte e di curiosità'

In agony aunt format. Gives a peek in the world of aviation and in the process clears some myths.

Lo que todo viajero en aviones modernos necesita saber.LA SEGURIDAD ES PRIMERODespegues, ruidos, aterrizajes y opiniones sobre otros pilotos. Muy serio y profesional.muchas gracias.

Wer sich für die Verkehrsfliegerei interessiert und der englischen Sprache mächtig ist, findet hier ein gut zu lesendes Buch mit vielen Erklärungen, Tipps und Geschichten! Auch zum Nachschlagen von Technikfragen...