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Secrets from the Cockpit: Pilots Behaving Badly and other Flying Stories
'A witty, sometimes heart-stopping, and always engrossing path from "boy pilot" to elite aviator.' – Jaundiced Eye columnist, William Saunderson-Meyer
Robert Schapiro always wanted to fly. Challenging anti-Semitic bullying, mockery and fierce rivalry, he realised his dream by earning his wings in the South African Air Force and going on to command C-47 Dakotas in the Border War.
He joined South African Airways (SAA) in 1979, soon learning it was a time when SAA crews were dominated by the 'Royal Family' – captains who thought themselves above the rules and who spent time overseas on drinking binges or coaxing air hostesses to be their 'airline wives'.
When sanctions forced SAA to cut back on its routes, he was seconded to Japan's Nippon Cargo Airlines, routinely flying between New York and Tokyo and grappling with often-hilarious cultural misunderstandings as he adapted to a Japanese style of operations.
Schapiro is disarmingly frank about life as an international pilot. He divulges near misses, emergency landings, navigation errors, passenger shenanigans (seat sex, anyone?), how pilots control rowdy travellers and absorbing detail about the technique of flying different aircraft types.
Uplifting and humorous, his memoir offers a rare slice of aviation history.
Robert Schapiro always wanted to fly. Challenging anti-Semitic bullying, mockery and fierce rivalry, he realised his dream by earning his wings in the South African Air Force and going on to command C-47 Dakotas in the Border War.
He joined South African Airways (SAA) in 1979, soon learning it was a time when SAA crews were dominated by the 'Royal Family' – captains who thought themselves above the rules and who spent time overseas on drinking binges or coaxing air hostesses to be their 'airline wives'.
When sanctions forced SAA to cut back on its routes, he was seconded to Japan's Nippon Cargo Airlines, routinely flying between New York and Tokyo and grappling with often-hilarious cultural misunderstandings as he adapted to a Japanese style of operations.
Schapiro is disarmingly frank about life as an international pilot. He divulges near misses, emergency landings, navigation errors, passenger shenanigans (seat sex, anyone?), how pilots control rowdy travellers and absorbing detail about the technique of flying different aircraft types.
Uplifting and humorous, his memoir offers a rare slice of aviation history.
- GenresAviationNonfiction
275 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 18, 2021
37 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 7, 2022
I didn't care much about the opening chapters of the book. It describes how tough it was for the author to have been a pilot in the SAAF as a Jew. I was there too and the names I was called cannot be mentioned here as it would offend a lot of people. Unfortunately the constant reminder in the first few chapters how he was victimised set the tone for me and I never recovered from it. It seems he tried to gain the reader's sympathy at the start to make one less critical of what was to follow, but it had the opposite effect on me. He refers to several Afrikaans words throughout, but the one that I would use to summarise the early chapters is "jammerbal".
He kept going on throughout the book about his Jewish blood. While he has every right to be proud of his ancestry, it just became to much.
Some of the stories were relatable and some were downright funny. However, the author comes across self-righteous, opinionated and I was put off by it.
I am perhaps overly critical and another reader may have a different perspective than I have. If I purely rate the stories, it was an entertaining read.
He kept going on throughout the book about his Jewish blood. While he has every right to be proud of his ancestry, it just became to much.
Some of the stories were relatable and some were downright funny. However, the author comes across self-righteous, opinionated and I was put off by it.
I am perhaps overly critical and another reader may have a different perspective than I have. If I purely rate the stories, it was an entertaining read.
November 9, 2021
Robert Shapiro is a 17-year-old Jewish South African, joining the army with the hope to learn one day to fly. Due to mandatory army duty, all young men must join after school, or after you studied. This being the early 1970’s, the rules were a bit different. Trying to get in to learn to fly was a lot of demanding work and studying, but he did it in the end despite all the discrimination and army attitudes. Finally flying for the army, Robert tells tales of illegal landings to fish, flying supplies for the army while camping in the bush and even flying important journalists who wrote about the Border War.
Robert went to fly for South African Airways after he did his duty for the South African Air Force. Getting his license to fly bigger commercial planes is quite a lot of studying and training. Soon, he was flying all over the world. One thing I did wonder when reading this was whether there were sober pilots in the sky during the 1980’s – seems like a lot of drinking and not a lot of sightseeing was done while flying internationally!
As the sanctions against South Africa increased due to Apartheid, the routes SAA can fly have become restricted too. When the opportunity came up to fly freight for a Japanese company, a bunch of South Africans joined. Here the stories of the different routes, cultures and rules are fascinating to read. Robert tells it in a very colourful way how the difference in culture might seem very strange to us, we seemed very strange to the Japanese. Working with the strict no-nonsense rules of Japan is in stark contrast to what Robert was used to in South Africa. Some of the rules are particularly important while some are just ridiculous.
Finally retiring due to continued sinus problems, Robert helped with training of new pilots. His stories and experience kept the young pilots entertained, I’m sure! Thankfully, he wrote it down so we can enjoy it through this book. Truthfully a very fascinating book to read.
Robert went to fly for South African Airways after he did his duty for the South African Air Force. Getting his license to fly bigger commercial planes is quite a lot of studying and training. Soon, he was flying all over the world. One thing I did wonder when reading this was whether there were sober pilots in the sky during the 1980’s – seems like a lot of drinking and not a lot of sightseeing was done while flying internationally!
As the sanctions against South Africa increased due to Apartheid, the routes SAA can fly have become restricted too. When the opportunity came up to fly freight for a Japanese company, a bunch of South Africans joined. Here the stories of the different routes, cultures and rules are fascinating to read. Robert tells it in a very colourful way how the difference in culture might seem very strange to us, we seemed very strange to the Japanese. Working with the strict no-nonsense rules of Japan is in stark contrast to what Robert was used to in South Africa. Some of the rules are particularly important while some are just ridiculous.
Finally retiring due to continued sinus problems, Robert helped with training of new pilots. His stories and experience kept the young pilots entertained, I’m sure! Thankfully, he wrote it down so we can enjoy it through this book. Truthfully a very fascinating book to read.
June 23, 2021
I really enjoyed this Father's day gift book!
March 4, 2022
Really interesting and revealing read. Considered the glamour boys and girls of the air the airline pilots while highly trained are shown to be fairly human. They suffer all the emotions common to the general population.
The book is a great description of a guy who was obviously driven but seemed to keep his sense of humour, particularly with the stiff and regimented
This book was entertaining to the end and if aviation is an interest this just adds to the experience
The book is a great description of a guy who was obviously driven but seemed to keep his sense of humour, particularly with the stiff and regimented
This book was entertaining to the end and if aviation is an interest this just adds to the experience
May 19, 2022
Enjoyed the book and how it related to flying commercially and as a "freight hauler" from the late 1970s to early 2000s by a pilot who flew in this era. I found it very interesting how pilots outside the USA are/were trained during a period of societal change (especially in the RSA). The second half of the book is especially captivating as the author relates his many cockpit experiences flying for Japan's Nippon Cargo Airlines.
October 1, 2022
Entertaining book
I really enjoyed this book. Laughed out loud many times and I loved all the aviation stories. I just know he was a great guy! Near the end of book I googled him and my heart sank while finding out he died in 2014. Bless his family and friends. Also loved all the photos....Rebecca Bradshaw
I really enjoyed this book. Laughed out loud many times and I loved all the aviation stories. I just know he was a great guy! Near the end of book I googled him and my heart sank while finding out he died in 2014. Bless his family and friends. Also loved all the photos....Rebecca Bradshaw
November 8, 2021
What a great story.
I must give this 5 stars. This story,, or rather these stories had to be told and deserve to be read. I wish I could meet the author, but I read the book to the end.
I must give this 5 stars. This story,, or rather these stories had to be told and deserve to be read. I wish I could meet the author, but I read the book to the end.
April 11, 2022
Interesting stories, but what a moaning minnie! If it is not the Afrikaners mocking him, it is his own Jewish people mocking him. It really turned me against the book, otherwise it could have been a much better book!
August 12, 2022
As a Pilot this is an amazing book to read! Nice to feel related to several CRM deficiencies in modern day cockpits, as well as the issues of being a young commander. Great trajectory and the utmost respect to the author!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews