Professional Pilot by John Lowery

Professional Pilot by John Lowery

Professional Pilot is about decision making: that is, the element that sets the captain apart from the rest of the crew. It is filled with the kind of insightful tips, stories, facts and mythbusting that will change how you operate as PIC. Far from your typical textbook on aerodynamics and systems, Professional Pilot takes you right up front to learn from a master turbine pilot who's been there.

John Lowery combines 50 years of experience as a corporate pilot and pilot examiner with fluid discussions that probe the details all career aviators must understand. Along the way you will find a new level of understanding about day-to-day, real-world flying you thought you long understood, and gain a full indoctrination into the topics that matter when flying heavy, high, and fast.

This third edition includes up-to-date cockpit and airport procedures and recent upgrades in communications and navigation equipment. FITS (FA/Industry Training Standards) are now included, and information has been added to prepare pilots for today's state-of-the-art TA (technically-advanced aircraft) and VLJs (very-light jets).

Within this collection of impressive know-how, you'll uncover the vital story behind such topics as:

• Takeoff V-speeds, runway length requirements, and the real physics of takeoff performance
• Handling runway contamination
• Cruising speed and fuel control in turbine aircraft
• Dynamics of high altitude flight
• Managing icing conditions
• Surviving emergencies such as rapid decompression and in-flight fires

Author John Lowery has been a flight instructor since 1961. He first soloed a Piper J-3 Cub on June 4, 1944 at age 16. Then, after graduating from Auburn University in 1951, he spent 23 years in the U.S.A.F. flying a variety of high performance aircraft. During a brief break in service in late 1955 he flew DC-3s for Western Airlines as a First Officer. He returned to the Air Force and subsequently lived and flew all over the world. Following his retirement from the Air Force in January 1975, he spent the next 24 years as a practicing flight instructor and FAA-Designated Pilot Proficiency Examiner in the Sabreliner corporate jet. In addition he was for some time a Pilot Examiner in the King Air turbo-prop series and various light airplanes.

Mr. Lowery holds an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate with numerous type ratings, a Commercial with single and multi-engine sea ratings and an instrument/multi-engine flight instructors' certificate. In the process he accumulated more than 13,500 flying hours. Concurrently he earned a Masters Degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, and taught for ERAU as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Aeronautical Science at the University's night campus at McClellan A.F.B California, teaching both graduate and undergraduate courses in Corporate Aviation Management and Aircraft Accident Investigation. He remains active today as an aviation writer and consultant in selected aircraft accidents. Books by the author include Anatomy of a Spin published by Airguide Publications, and Professional Pilot, published originally by Iowa State University Press, now in its third edition published and distributed by ASA.

William B. Scott, retired, was formerly the Western Bureau Chief for Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine; author of Space Wars, Counterspace and The Permit.