A Chick in the Cockpit: My Life Up in the Air

by Erika Armstrong

Overview

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard your flight. As you step onto my aircraft, take a quick glance into the cockpit. Yep, that’s me sitting in the captains’ seat, and that’s my first officer laughing about how he accidentally locked himself out of his hotel room. Naked. Again.

We’re both a little ripe from flying for the last five days, but we’re still smiling because we have spent years and thousands of hours training and living an uncommon lifestyle to be up here for you.

For the next few hours, you have to turn your life over to us. It’s hard to trust others, and there are moments when you don’t have a choice about being in control. During those moments, you’ll just have to tighten your seatbelt and trust that others will get you through the storm.

Our route today will take you through a segment of my life up in the air, and you will see things you could never imagine. Since I have been locked in the cockpit with men for several thousands of hours over the years, I have been given a perspective few get to experience. To help you see a different perspective, too, I am giving you a checklist to use as we move along our route. It will take you from gate to gate, and when we’re done, we will have both learned a little more about what it takes to fly.

Now…just sit back and relax. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.”

Erika Armstrong has worked every aspect of aviation in her twenty-five years in the industry, including an international corporate airline captain. She is an award-winning staff writer for Colorado Serenity Magazine and is a professional pilot columnist for Disciples of Flight, NYC Aviation, Contrails, Flying, LinkedIn, and Business Insider and is the owner of Leading Edge Aviation Consulting.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781933016146
Publisher:	Behler Publications, LLC
Publication date:	11/10/2015
Pages:	274
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 5.50(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

With twenty-five years in the aviation industry, Erika Armstrong has worked in every aspect of aviation, and is the first modern woman airline captain of a commercial Boeing 727 to write a book about her experiences.
She is an award winning staff writer for Colorado Serenity magazine and is also a contributing writer for Mountain Connection, General Aviation magazine and former editor/writer for Air Line Pilot Association. Most uniquely, Erika was an international corporate, airline, Red Cross and 24-hour air ambulance pilot/captain. Even though she isn’t currently flying the heavy iron, she is entrenched in aviation. Erika owns Leading Edge Aviation Consulting and is currently a flight coordinator for International Jet Aviation Services.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Chapter 1 – Pre-Flight Briefing
Chapter 2 - Checklists
Chapter 3 – Before Start Checklist
Chapter 4 – Cleared to Start
Chapter 5 – Before Taxi Checklist
Chapter 6 – Cleared Into Position and Hold
Chapter 7 – Final Items
Chapter 8 – Cleared for Takeoff
Chapter 9 – Put on Your Seatbelts Folks, It’s Gonna Be a Bumpy Ride
Chapter 10 – Cruise Checklist
Chapter 11 – Engine Fire, Failure or Separation Checklist
Chapter 12 – Rapid Decompression Checklist
Chapter 13 – Declare an Emergency
Chapter 14 – Approach to Landing Checklist
Chapter 15 – Abnormal Landing Checklist
Chapter 16 – After Landing Checklist
Chapter 17 – Post-flight Inspection and Reflection
Chapter 18 – Closing the Flight Plan
Chapter 19 – Layover at the Airport Hotel
Chapter 20 – Striving for the Perfect Flight
Chapter 21 – Contrails

Epilogue
Book Club Warrior Contest

Editorial Reviews

“In the rarified atmosphere of flying, Armstrong’s memoir of life as a female pilot gives us a fascinating glimpse into a world where men still rule. But it’s her write-from-the-gut style of story-telling and the unexpected turbulence she meets, not just in her career but in her personal life, is what will captivate you. Riveting, informative, and break-your-heart funny.”
~ Lee Woodruff – NY Times bestselling author of In an Instant; Perfectly Imperfect – A Life in Progress; Those We Love Most; contributing reporter for CBS This Morning


“Captain Armstrong brings to her work originality and humor which is rare in aviation literature. Her success flying the ‘heavy iron’ for the airlines is a must read for any woman considering a career in aviation or facing the challenges of balancing work and home.”
~ Darcy Vernier, 3 Distinguished Flying Crosses, ATP, CFI, CFII, BA


“Captain Armstrong’s powerful message of keeping sight of ourselves and our own hopes and dreams is a winner."
~ Dorothy C. Westby, Captain, Boeing 727, retired, Artist, BFA, MFA


Refreshingly smart and funny. Capt. Armstrong isn't afraid to show her humanity and her humiliating moments, and demonstrates deep courage and conviction. Figuring out how to 'have it all' is an ongoing question in most women's lives."
~ Kristen Moeller, MS, Author of Waiting for Jack

Reading her work reminds you, just in case you forget, that life is about fun, even though we have to live through some despair. Through tragedy we sometimes find meaning.”
~ David Lazaroff, Author of Live It Up!

From the Publisher