Originally Posted by
scallaghan
Is this text book better then "flying the big jets" authored by stanley jones?
I think you will find that
"Flying the Big Jets" was written by Stanley Stewart (not Jones), an ex-colleague of mine. He wrote it when he was a co-pilot on the Classic 747 fleet with BA. It is certainly an interesting read for those unfamiliar with what happens on the flight deck of a transatlantic airliner and why - and it culminates in a detailed account of an actual flight from LHR - JFK in the mid-1980s. Quite a nostalgic read, for some of us now!
However
Checkboard is correct when he says that
"Handling the Big Jets" is by far the better technical book for the professional pilot. It is actually an older book, being first published in 1967 and, as has been mentioned, it was issued to many of us at the time of our early jet conversions. It was written by D.P.Davies, who was then Chief Test Pilot of the UK Air Registration Board, and I would go so far as to say that it was at that time regarded as the definitive book on the subject.
Because of their age, neither book will of course now properly reflect current operations but, having said that, both books are a very good read in their own way.
JD
P.S. I have just seen that the latest (4th) Edition (2002) of
Flying the Big Jets now includes the B777 and an account of a flight from LHR - BOS in the B777, so it should explain glass cockpits and other aspects of more modern operations. Another good read, I expect, but I haven't read it myself yet ...