Ask the Pilot

I'm a tough grader when it comes to non-fiction books, probably because I've suffered so many disappointments: books that begin with a dynamite first chapter filled with revelations and insights...that are then repeated for another few dozen chapters. Ask the Pilot manages to avoid these pitfalls, possibly because it's not trying to impart any earthshaking philosophy (other than demonstrating that flying is safe), possibly because there's so much material to cover that it's only moderately repetitious, partly because flying is inherently fascinating, and primarily because of Smith's breezy and entertaining style. Reading this book is like hanging out with a witty storyteller, except I missed the fact that I couldn't pull on his sleeves a few times to ask pointed questions. Too, I'd love to have heard more about the economics of the industry, but I accept that this is not particularly his area of interest and can't quibble about that. Although the book jumps around a bit chronologically and topically (understandable given its origins) it's one that I could hardly bear to put down once I started it. The toilet story alone is a classic. As one who has never quite felt comfortable buzzing about the skies in a metal tube traveling hundreds of miles an hour, I have sometimes thought about trying to start an airline (White Knuckles) that caters to my fellow fearful passengers (flight attendants who hold your hand and explain the meaning of every scary sound and bump). Until White Knuckles gets off the ground, Ask the Pilot is the next best thing.

The essay "Not All Mistakes Are Fatal. Some Are Worse" alone is worth the price of the book. His witty writing aside, Patrick Smith gives very straightforward explanations of technical matters that will make sense to those of us who aren't engineers or physics graduates. This book offers you a better understanding of planes and the people who transport them, and what all those regulations, codes, and other stuff in the world of flying really boil down to. Granted, it comes with a heavy dose of Mr. Smith's own opinion -- which, if you're looking for an insider's view of the industry, is entirely appropriate and generally pretty common-sense. If you've ever been curious about whether it's really safer to fly in a large plane than a small one, where airport codes come from, or why the flight crew, when you mention it at deplaning, didn't seem to notice the turbulence that nearly made you lose your coffee in an unfortunate fashion -- check out this book for the answers to these and other questions about flying you may have (if you're a jaded air traveler like most of us are these days) long forgotten you ever had.

None of the previous reviews of this book appear to be by fellow airline pilots - this one is. I suppose that airline pilots really don't need to read books like this to know the answers to the questions that Mr. Smith answers. I happened to stumble across this book at a local bricks and mortar bookstore on the way to a comfy chair loaded with coffee and some other titles. Seeing Ask a Pilot on the shelves, I grabbed it for a quick skim. What was meant as a quick skim turned into a relatively thorough read. I am an airline pilot with almost 20 years of working for the airlines. Although I might quibble about some points here and there, the book was very accurate. Never once did I find myself uttering the cattle by- product expletive. I did find myself silently chuckling and nodding my head several times. The book is written as a question and answer format, with the answer to each question being essentially a small essay. The questions vary from airline safety, pilot pay, interaction between flight attendants and pilots, and technical aspects. If you are looking for a shocking expose on the airlines - look elseware. On the other hand, this is no airline puff-piece. Mr. Smith is a good writer. The book is witty, accurate, and engaging. There are so many misconceptions about so many aspects of the airline industry, it is refreshing to see a book that deals with them with accuracy and style.

This is a perfect book to read on the road. It is breezy, witty, intelligent and covers just about any question I've ever come up with regarding airlines and the business of air travel. Anyone who has ever flown should find this book compelling.

You simply will not find a better book about flying written with the layperson in mind. And not necessarily for the reasons you might expect. Ask the Pilot is not only informative, but also surprisingly erudite, stylish, and quirky. In my opinion, Patrick Smith sounds a lot more like a writer who pilots than a pilot who writes. The book isn't quite as wide-ranging as the column on which it's based, but it's a great read. The author makes even the most seeminly mundane aspects of flight remarkably interesting and entertaining. Highly recommended!