Books
 

Can anyone recommend any interesting books to read on the topic of aviation....not necessarly atc related, but any good and informative reads?

Depends what you want to get out of your reading, really.
Highly technical - Human Factors in ATC, by V David Hopkin
Selection prep - ATC, Today and Tomorrow , by Anne Paylor, and that little ATC book that's on the reading list for NATS selection (was it by David Gray or someone like that?).
General industry stuff - Flight International, weekly magazine.
Otherwise, most public libraries have a good selection of aviation books.

Once you're in ATC, if that's your intention, you can do what everyone else does and just skim through Flight in the restroom when the tabloids are all taken...

Now that you ask...
 

Well, there's always my ATC novel, Radar Contact Lost.

"From the Publisher
Radar Contact Lost is the compelling story of an Air Traffic Controller who "runs one into the rocks." Written by controller/pilot/Air Traffic Control Education Association Founder, Richard E. Smith, this fast-paced story set in the exotic Caribbean will grab your interest from the very first paragraph. If you're into Air Traffic Control or aviation - or are just looking for a quick, exciting read - this novel is for you!"
:D(Note: UK Page)

Keerist guys, you want to bore her to death???:8

Propellerhead by Antony Woodward (published by flamingo ISBN 0 00 712312 4), a story about ultralight flying by a mere mortal with no great amount of the 'right stuff' (at least until the end). Lets you realise that flying is not just something ATC let people do.

Final Approach by Spencer Dunmore (out of print I expect, ISBN 0 330 25206 2) Very human historical story, fictional memoirs of an old codger wandering about a housing estate that has the airfield he flew from since the dawn of flight under it.

Airframe by Micheal Crichton (published by Arrow, ISBN 0 09955631 6) Rather rivetting story of an airliner that may or may not have Comet-style shortcomings. Might be technically all cr@p for all I know, but is as much about the mindless machinations of the ignorant press as aircraft. Good preparation for the sad fact that 99.5% of mainstream media information about aircraft is complete bollox. Strong female main character may be appealling to the Miss from Manchester.

I would strongly recommend "Stardust" a memoir of Judith Chisholm, with whom I worked at Heathrow, written by her mother Audrey Lowe.

For more information check the web site www.judithchisholm.com

West with the Night - by Beryl Markham

A real life adventure of one woman's life and desire to fly. Set mostly in pre-war Kenya. It is often claimed that Beryl was the first person to fly the North Atlantic solo westbound (in 1936), however, a bit of digging around reveals that honour actually goes to Scottish aviator Jim Mollinson (husband of Amy Johnson). Beryl was certainly the first woman to fly solo westbound across the Atlantic.

Whatever, it is a fantastic book. Enjoy.


Short Beryl Markham biog

Jim Mollinson's 1932 Atlantic Crossing - 18-19 August

Beryl Markham's 1936 crossing - Sept 4-5

i would recommend 'airport' by bill hailey who sadly passed away last year.

set in the late 60's it includes all aspects of an airport in a very cleverly written novel - also made into a 70's film starring burt lancaster and dean martin which i've never seen...

oh and 'airframe' by michael crichton as above.

h10

Although not pure aviation and based around the author's experiences of Vietnam, Chickenhawk, by Robert Mason, is an excellent read with death-defying accounts of flying Hueys - from learning to fly and struggling with keeping the helicopter flying in a straight line, to clearing landing zones to make them suitable for Hueys by using the rotors of the first Huey to enlarge the access to the landing site. A truly riveting read with a sobering ending.



Amazon Uk Link.

:ok:Chickenhawk

One I have just read I found it very interesting

"EMERGENCY Crisis on the flight deck"

isbn 1 84037 393 8

all about gen aircraft emergencys.

Nick.

I suggest "A gift of wings" by Richard Bach. A third of the way through is a list of recommended books. A bit old now but which are all worth finding. Also try Stephen Coonts- "Flight of the intruder" & "The Cannibal Queen".
Now who did I lend "Fate is the Hunter" to?