Traveling by general aviation airplanes can be a wonderful and enjoyable experience that provides a convenient means of personal transportation.
But before jumping into a private plane, it’s important to understand whether the intended flight will be safe before takeoff. Many private-airplane passengers have no idea whether their pilot is about to conduct a safe flight or a very risky one.
That’s what led to the new book, “Private-Airplane Passenger Safety: What You Need to Know,” by Master Pilot John O. Graybill.
In the book, Graybill identifies what every passenger needs to know in easy-to-understand, non-technical language, according to the publisher.
The book alerts passengers to pilot actions, behaviors, and attitudes that could lead to a crash, personal injury, or worse.
Passengers will learn how to identify unsafe behaviors of their pilot and to know if the pilot is being as safe as possible.
Graybill’s red-flag and yellow-flag system calls out common pilot actions to help evaluate and recognize the subtle, little-noticed behaviors and attitudes of pilots that, gone unnoticed, could lead to dangerous problems.
A Red Flag signals a blatantly bad practice that significantly increases that chance of having a serious accident or crash.
A Yellow Flag is generally a bad practice that might contribute to an accident or unpleasant or frightening experience.
If a passenger observes a single red flag or three or more yellow flags, they would be wise to not proceed with the flight, Graybill says.
The book is available in hardcover for $24.95.
Before I was a pilot, I was a passenger who almost didn’t make it home to tell about it! Wish I would have written this book. The book will help reluctant passengers, and those who are just eager to be a passenger — a bit of wisdom that I didn’t have then about my pilot.
Three red flags – When your pilot writes a book about killing passengers don’t get in the plane with him.
Why would a fellow pilot suggest that we are too dangerous to ride with? I guess this is this how we promote aviation these days?
This book will be very popular with every ambulance chasing attorney around the world. It will make lots of money and not a single passenger will ever need to read it.
We wonder why aviation is so expensive and viewed as an elitist club? Thanks, expert “FAA Designated Master Pilot” John O. Graybill.
How come I never heard of a FAA Designated Master Pilot? Are the qualifications more stringent that a ATP? Any special privileges associated with that designation like a special exemption to give checkrides? Just curious.
Here is your answer as to “what is a “master Pilot”.
“The Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award is the most prestigious award the FAA issues to pilots certified under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 61. This award is named after the Wright Brothers, the first US pilots, to recognize individuals who have exhibited professionalism, skill, and aviation expertise for at least 50 years while piloting aircraft as “Master Pilots”.To be eligible for the Wright Brothers MPA, nominees must meet the following criteria:
Hold a U.S. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) or Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot certificate.
Have 50 or more years of civil and military flying experience.
Up to 20 years of the required 50 years may be U.S. military experience.
The effective start date for the 50 years is the date of the nominee’s first solo flight or military equivalent.
The 50 years may be computed consecutively or non-consecutively.
Be a U.S. citizen.
Note: Revocation of any airman certificate will disqualify a nominee for this award.”
So, fly for 50 years without a revocation and you are a “master Pilot”.
Three red flags and you jump out!
A little more detail might help determine whether this is a gag gift, or a credible read. How about linking to the table of contents and the first few pages of each chapter?
Hey John — Go to Amazon.com and you’ll be able to read the table of contents and about all of the red and yellow flags. This will give reluctant passengers real confidence in their pilots, and not be so afraid of small private airplane.