From Publishers Weekly
As an airline pilot and Salon.com’s air travel columnist, Smith has both aviation expertise and the ability to write with sassy intelligence, which turns out to be a winning combination for this book on the weird and fascinating world of commercial flying. While Smith has no special love for tiny seats or half-ounce bags of snack mix, he is nonetheless awed by the concept of flight: "Okay, flying sucks, but if you can’t value the idea of zipping to Hong Kong in twelve hours in a million-pound machine, there’s a problem." Having revised and organized his columns, Smith sets this book up in a loose Q&A format, and answers questions on the physics of flying, the wonder of autopilot, the treatment of pets below deck, air-ground communications and the degree to which passengers should worry about terrorism. Smith clearly possesses a wide breadth of knowledge about engines, takeoffs, weather patterns and other important aspects of flight; best of all he’s realistic without being alarmist. For example, when addressing the sudden change in the direction and/or velocity of the wind, known as "windshear," and whether or not it can "rip the wings off" a plane, he writes, "It’s like asking if a wave can break a ship in half. Theoretically, yes. Practically speaking, no."Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


Alex Beam, Boston Globe
Patrick Smith is extraordinarily knowledgeable and communicates beautifully in English, not in pilot-ese. The ideal seatmate, writer and explainer.


James Kaplan, author of Pearl's Progress
Patrick Smith is one of the best writers around, period. Ask the Pilot is deliciously stylish and informative.


The New York Times Book Review, October 17, 2004
Anyone remotely afraid of flying should read this book, as should anyone who appreciates good writing and great information.


Book Description
More than ever, air travel is a focus of curiosity, intrigue and anxiety. This year, some half a billion passengers will ride aboard the ten largest US airlines alone. Fair to say each one has a question, a doubt, and a lingering fear in the back of his or her mind. We take to the air routinely, yet few of us understand the how and why of jetting from New York to London in six hours. Patrick Smith, an airline pilot and author of Salon.com's popular air travel column, unravels the secrets and tells you all there is to know about the strange and fascinating world of commercial flight. * Insights into safety, security, and the nuts and bolts of how planes fly * Straight talk on turbulence, air traffic control, windshear and accidents * The history, color and controversy of the world's airlines * The awe and oddity of being a pilot * The poetry and drama of airplanes, airports, and travelling abroad Patrick speaks eloquently to our fears and curiosities, incorporating anecdotes, memoir, and a life's passion for flight. He tackles your toughest concerns, debunks conspiracies and urban myths, and in a rarely heard voice dares to return a dash of romance and glamour to air travel.


Download Description
"More than ever, air travel is a focus of curiosity, intrigue and anxiety. This year, some half a billion passengers will ride aboard the ten largest US airlines alone. Fair to say each one has a question, a doubt, and a lingering fear in the back of his or her mind. We take to the air routinely, yet few of us understand the how and why of jetting from New York to London in six hours. Patrick Smith, an airline pilot and author of Salon.com's popular air travel column, unravels the secrets and tells you all there is to know about the strange and fascinating world of commercial flight. * Insights into safety, security, and the nuts and bolts of how planes fly * Straight talk on turbulence, air traffic control, windshear and accidents * The history, color and controversy of the world's airlines * The awe and oddity of being a pilot * The poetry and drama of airplanes, airports, and travelling abroad Patrick speaks eloquently to our fears and curiosities, incorporating anecdotes, memoir, and a life's passion for flight. He tackles your toughest concerns, debunks conspiracies and urban myths, and in a rarely heard voice dares to return a dash of romance and glamour to air travel."


About the Author
Patrick Smith, 37 is an airline pilot and freelance contributor. Patrick made his first solo flight at 16 and has flown both cargo and passenger jets. He has traveled to more than 50 countries and always asks for a window seat. He lives in Somerville, Massachusetts.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

More than ever, air travel is a focus of curiosity, intrigue and anxiety. This year, some half a billion passengers will ride aboard the ten largest US airlines alone. Fair to say each one has a question, a doubt, and a lingering fear in the back of his or her mind. We take to the air routinely, yet few of us understand the how and why of jetting from New York to London in six hours.

Patrick Smith, an airline pilot and author of Salon.com's popular air travel column, unravels the secrets and tells you all there is to know about the strange and fascinating world of commercial flight.*  Insights into safety, security, and the nuts and bolts of how planes fly*  Straight talk on turbulence, air traffic control, windshear and accidents*  The history, color and controversy of the world's airlines*  The awe and oddity of being a pilot*  The poetry and drama of airplanes, airports, and travelling abroadPatrick speaks eloquently to our fears and curiosities, incorporating anecdotes, memoir, and a life's passion for flight.  He tackles your toughest concerns, debunks conspiracies and urban myths, and in a rarely heard voice dares to return a dash of romance and glamour to air travel.

FROM THE CRITICS

Alex Beam - Boston Globe

Patrick Smith is extraordinarily knowledgeable about modern aviation, and communicates beautifully in English, not in pilot-ese. Smith is the ideal seatmate, a companion, writer and explainer who will set your mind at ease.

The New York Times Book Review

Anyone remotely afraid of flying should read this book, as should anyone who appreciates good writing and the value of great information.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING