So, You Want to be a Pilot, Eh?
From Chapters.ca:
A MUST READ!
January 17, 2008 - 10:26 pm
Incredible book, definitely a must read for any wanna-be pilot. I read this thing cover to cover without setting it down once. Very inspiring and well written. Thanks James!!
AMAZING.MUST READ!
To all prospective readers,
and James Ball:
I
enjoyed reading this book so much that when I picked it up, I skipped
meals, and didn’t put it down until it was read cover to cover. The
information provided is well researched and Ball has done an excellent
job delivering it in a concise non bias manner.
I would
recommend this book to all aspiring pilots and/or people already in the
industry who want to be more knowledgeable of the ins and outs of
Canadian aviation and training in the todays world. It’s very important
that you know what you’re getting your self into, and this book
portrays all aspects and information appropriately for you to make an
informed decision. Being a pilot is cool, but it’s not for everyone,
this book will assist you in that choice if it’s for you.
I will
reference this book for years to come. Thank you, Mr. Ball and the
people involved with the book, for providing me with knowledge I would
have otherwise had a difficult time acquiring. You are truly an
inspiration and great contributor to Canadian Aviation.
Good luck to Mr. Ball, and all Canadian pilots, on your future
endeavors. I look forward to seeing you in the sky.
Regards,
MN
December 12, 2007 - 2:19 pm
From Amazon.ca:
Learn the details, | By | Bigwin 17 "Eric" (Toronto, Ontario) - See all my reviews |
Jamie Ball does an excellent job in going through the process of one day flying those large aircraft. He explains both the pros and cons of becoming a pilot, but also how to best go about doing it.
So, You Want to Be a Pilot, Eh? is an excellent book. I found that it started a bit dry however quickly picked up once some of the necessary ground work had been laid. Another really cool part in the book is a section at the end of each chapter called "hanger talk." This part includes quotes and very short stories relating to the chapter from already successful airline pilots.
If you're looking to find out just how to fly one of those big birds in the sky or simply looking for a good read, this book is for you.
I
wish I had this book when I got started., | By | Edward Charles (Toronto, ON
Canada) - See
all my reviews
|
I went through a very similar career progression as James with the exception that I now work for Air Canada and can honestly sat that I wish I had had this book to read 10 years ago.
This book is full of very useful and realistic information on becoming a pilot, in regards to medicals, radio licences, initial exams etc. As well as what you can expect for the first few years of your career in regards to where you might have to go and what your options are.
This book should be required reading for all new pilots. It's almost as important as reading "From the Ground Up".
All
you need to know about flying commercially in Canada!, | By | Marco Formenti (Montreal, QC
CDN) - See
all my reviews
|
What I liked the most about the book is that James Ball tells from A to Z what to do and what it takes to become a successful pilot giving both pros and honest cons about every subject and possible path into flying commercially in Canada. Hes giving a clear view of today's aviation business offering precious tips on how to avoid the many obstacles and pitfalls that can delay progress and sometimes, unfortunately, ruin careers.
I found the chapter division really useful, the book can be read all the way through or used as a reference for specific problems or questions. This guide will be an invaluable companion through my career for the next few years to come!
Fly safe!
From Cockpit Conversation:
Friday, December 14, 2007
So, You Want To Be A Pilot, Eh?
Reader James Ball sent me his recently-published guide to Canadian aviation careers, So, You Want to be a Pilot, Eh? to see if I would review it for you guys. After reading it I'm happy not only to review it but to recommend it. Judging from my own experience and the e-mail I receive, there is certainly a need for such a book, and I can't think of a comparable career guide for prospective Canadian pilots. The closest might be Landing the Big Job, but back when I bought that one, So, You Want to be a Pilot, Eh? would have been a much better choice, had it existed.
James starts where the student pilot should start, with the question "do you really want to be a pilot?" He honestly explains the parts of the career that are tough, holding out no false hope to the waverer, while maintaining a sense of humour. "It's difficult to keep track of all the different licences and ratings that are available to pilots. It can be even more difficult to pay for them all." He gives an excellent jargon-free and Canada-wide overview of the industry, from dollar-a-jumper paradropping jobs up to major airline captains drawing six figure salaries. As he discusses different hiring policies and corporate histories he refers obliquely to companies as, for example, "one operator based in Norman Wells, NWT." Those made me laugh as James and everyone else who has been around the circuit a few times can recognize the operator just by the base.
I liked the good Canada-specific advice he gives regarding joining the military to learn to fly, working the ramp and working the dock. Those are areas in which Canada is quite different from the US, and their airline job-hunting or career guides don't apply. James also gives many useful website URLs. These will unfortunately change in less time than it take to read the book, but James is providing updates and errata on his blog. Perhaps he will group all the recommended URLs on one page there, to spare readers from having to type them in.
James gives good guidance, much of it straight from the Transport Canada website, without trying to take the place of more comprehensive guides on topics like passing written examinations and flight tests.
The resume guide is very worthwhile, as aviation resumes are different than those in other industries. It is vital that your hours be clearly visible and reference contact information be actually given. James says this, but I'm going to underline it here so that anyone hunting around the net for pilot resume advice finds it and buys the book.
There were a few things I didn't like, such as James' advice to student pilots out on a solo, "After you've completed the checklist, take some time to explore your local area." Flight instructors recommending this book should censor that part. Also one of the books he recommends is of such poor quality that my local aviation store has dropped it (but they do carry So, You Want to be a Pilot, Eh?).
There are items I wanted to add, such as the possibility of other more stable and lucrative careers in aviation, but that would make it a different book. There's nothing missing within the scope of the book and I was frequently surprised to see excellent but not widely-known tips. And there was even one that I had never heard of, "abstain from sexual activity for a few days" before an aviation medical. Is this folklore or based on some kind of fact? Unless it gets you pregnant, I don't know of any physical changes as the result of sex that persist long enough to drive to the doctor's office. Perhaps this is a male thing, and one of my readers will enlighten me.
I caught a few editing glitches, the military requirement for Basic Officer Training and Foreign Language Training mentioned twice in consecutive paragraphs in the same section, but there is no fluff here. James has a concise style and still fills over two hundred pages with useful information.
This would be a great purchase for the family of a prospective pilot. Amend the cover with a sticker to make the title read "So, Your Kid Wants to be a Pilot, Eh?" and give it to your mom. I would recommend this book not only for Canadians thinking about a flying career, but to student pilots, pilots looking for their first job, and instructors looking to move on. Also if you're a foreign commercial pilot interested in working in Canada, this book contains what you should know about the Canadian industry and process. It's also written simply enough for ESL students, and laid out so you can refer to one part or another, but it's readable and interesting enough to go right through, as I did.
The list price is
$24.95 and there's a Buy It Now link on James'
website but it seems that the
publisher and distributor have changed their links, so go straight to Chapters to buy it online. It's even on sale at
$16.46 which equates to about eight minutes of dual instruction time,
converted to student pilot dollars.
