Dangerous Lessons and Guardian Angels: An airline pilot's story

by P.J. Spivack

DANGEROUS LESSONS AND GUARDIAN ANGELS is an action packed true adventure book that spans thirty-five years of
airline flying. Stories about transporting guns to Biafra, flying cargo up and down the Berlin corridor during the cold war, and flying sensitive missions, deep into Russia.Fasten your seatbelt and get ready for exciting,sometimes funny,and ocassionally death defying true aviation stories.

Many of the stories in this book will put you on the edge-of-your seat; for example when the (author) airline captain is forced to make a death defying landing of a four engine jetliner..... IN TOTAL FOG. During that landing, the runway never seen until the airplane is brought to a complete stop.

This exciting book also chronicles treasure diving with frightening visits by man-eating sharks, exploring the anchorages off dreamy Caribbean beaches, and fly-fishing for huge trophy trout high in the Andes of Argentina. These true adventures are told in a series of fascinating short stories.

Besides featuring dramatic and sometimes humerous tales of adventure, this information packed book also has a chapter on how to become an airline pilot and land that airline job. Finally, there is an inspirational message to be persistent, focused and never give up, even when faced with overwhelming odds.

The author's credentials include 21,000 hours of airline flying in four engine and wide bodied jets across the U.S., South America, North Atlantic, Europe, Asia, China and Russia. Remember..... when you've had many DANGEROUS LESSONS, be sure you have at least one GUARDIAN ANGEL.

Genres: Aviation

317 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 23, 2012

About the author

The author began his working career as senior field engineer for IT&T in Greenland on Project Dew-Drop, a formally top secret, tropospheric scatter communication site. After working in Greenland, the author became chief engineer of twelve radio broadcast stations in France for the U.S.Department of Defense. Captain Spivack's aviation career began with flying guns on the Lockheed Super Constellation for the Independent Nigerians in Africa, ferrying DC-4’s across the North Atlantic, then piloting C-46 cargo planes up and down the Berlin Air Corridor during the cold war. Captain Spivack has flown for Capitol International Airways as DC-8 and DC10 captain, flying passengers worldwide on both scheduled and charter flights. Captain Spivack has also flown for, Aerolineas Latinas, Southern Air Transport, Transtar airlines, Leisure air, Korean Airlines, Great American Airlines, and Ryan International Airlines. PJ Spivack is licensed as an airline Captain in Douglas DC-8, DC-9, DC-10 and Boeing 747-300 aircraft. He has been an FAA designated check airman for two airlines, on the Douglas DC-10 widebody aircraft. Additionally, the author holds a USCG Ships Masters license. The author has been a member of MENSA and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, IEEE.

Reviews

[Cliff Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

P.J. Spivack takes us back to a time, not actually that long ago, when commercial flying was very much 'by the seat of the pants' and often considerably dangerous.
Experience is something normally only useful after the event and even when our training tells us what to do, when under pressure and consumed with fear, do we even have the presence of mind to deal with the particular emergency at hand?
There is plenty of action and also lots of laughs in this true account adventure story which spans 35 years of airline flying. The author transported guns to Biafra, was threatened by MIG-19s flying over Berlin in the Cold War, landed in Colombia on low fuel and absolute zero visibility, and even managed time in his 21,000 hours to have various adventures with multiple stewardesses from many countries which reads more like a 'confessions of an airline captain' rather than anything directly to do with flying.
If you are interested in the DC-4, the DC-8, 9, and DC-10, termed the original wide-bodied Jumbo Jet, then this book is for you. It is absolutely incredible how flying was so much more dangerous in those days of the 70s, 80s, and even 90s! As is often said in the world of aviation, 'the regulations are written in blood' and it is well demonstrated here what a debt the very safe modern world of commercial aviation owes to this era!

When the author could not fly due to medical reasons he chartered his yacht in the Caribbean and went diving and fly fishing. After retirement he bought a Cessna 185 float-plane and used that to take him to very remote fishing locations. What ever he is doing his adventurous spirit and his funny sense of humour shines through.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

What makes this book interesting is that PJ Spivack didn't fly for the major airlines, but for several charter airlines. He had many fascinating stories as he lived around the world flying desperate aircraft, including a short stint with the CIA.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick but fun look into a long and varied career in aviation, mostly between unscheduled airlines and cargo/"logistics" work. Especially fascinating if you're a fan of the DC-8, DC-9 and DC-10, which the author flew for the majority of his career.

[Wayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read concerning the flying career of an airline pilot. Filled with numerous accounts of the highs and lows in his career. Although tainted somewhat by American bravado and a slight anti-Airbus bias, the accounts are interesting and informative.

[Shaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun engrossing read. I'm not a pilot and have no idea about planes before but pj does a great job giving you what you need to know to follow along.

Adventure!