Island Girl to Airline Pilot

Island Girl to Airline Pilot
Author: Silva Mcleod
Publisher: Exisle Publishing
Total Pages: 330
Release: 2023
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 1991001401

This is the incredible story of Silva Mcleod, the first Tongan woman to become an airline pilot, told with frankness and wit by Silva herself. Silva was a Tongan girl from a small island with little hope of anything beyond getting married and having babies. Her dreams of becoming an airline pilot seemed just that — dreams — until Ken McLeod came into Silva’s life. He was an Australian hired to build a hospital on her island of Vava‘u. She started dating him despite frowns from her family. After a whirlwind romance, they got married in a traditional Tongan ceremony before moving to Australia. Silva faced challenges in Australia as a woman of color. Then came the biggest challenge of all — Ken was diagnosed with cancer. He said to Silva, ‘Do you still want to fly? Life is too short, if you have a dream, go for it.’ There were many barriers to succeeding in such a male-dominated field, but Silva refused to give in. She became the first Tongan female airline pilot and worked for the Royal Flying Doctor Service amongst other small airlines then Virgin International, flying B777s around the world. With every new height Silva reached in her career, Ken’s struggle with cancer continued. Despite the hardships, Silva is sure she would dare to do it all over again. Dare to love a white man and dare to pursue her dream to go from island girl to airline pilot.

Adventure of Becoming an Airline Pilot

Adventure of Becoming an Airline Pilot
Author: George Flavell
Publisher: Infinity Publishing
Total Pages: 212
Release: 2006-04
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 0741431300

Follow an unlikely candidate from high school dropout to a highly successful flying career. Commendation from Lockheed's Clarence "Kelly" Johnson, (SR71) as a High Caliber Flight Instructor, tops the list.

Island Boy Meets Island Girl: Our Life on the Rock

Island Boy Meets Island Girl: Our Life on the Rock
Author: Arnold E. van Beverhoudt, Jr.
Publisher: Lulu.com
Total Pages: 356
Release: 2017-02-24
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 136578102X

Black & White Edition -- In the 1670s, a Dutch settler named Claudius van Beverhoudt arrived on St. Thomas, Danish West Indies. He married a woman named Elizabeth deWindt and made St. Thomas his home. Arnold van Beverhoudt, Jr. is a direct 8th generation descendant of Claudius and Elizabeth. His paternal grandparents, Ernest and Elisa, were living on St. Thomas in 1917 when the Danish West Indies became the U.S. Virgin Islands. They eventually moved to Venezuela, but Arnold's father remained on St. Thomas, where he became an auto repairman and raised his family. This book presents - in words and photos - Arnold's memories of life growing up and eventually meeting his "Island Girl" Helena on the tiny Caribbean island that its residents affectionately call "the Rock." It's a story that's been over 340 years in the making.

Highest Duty

Highest Duty
Author: Chesley B. Sullenberger
Publisher: Harper Collins
Total Pages: 354
Release: 2009-09-25
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 0061959537

The inspirational autobiography of the hero pilot who landed a crippled flight in New York’s Hudson River—now a major motion picture starring Tom Hanks. On January 15, 2009, the world witnessed a remarkable emergency landing when Captain “Sully” Sullenberger skillfully glided US Airways Flight 1549 onto the Hudson River, saving the lives of all 155 passengers and crew. His cool actions not only averted tragedy but made him a hero and an inspiration worldwide. His story is now a major motion picture from director/producer Clint Eastwood and stars Tom Hanks, Laura Linney and Aaron Eckhart. Sully’s story is one of dedication, hope, and preparedness, revealing the important lessons he learned through his life, in his military service, and in his work as an airline pilot. It reminds us all that, even in these days of conflict, tragedy and uncertainty, there are values still worth fighting for—that life’s challenges can be met if we’re ready for them. “His fascinating and deservedly praised memoir reflects on his childhood love for planes and an outstanding 42-year career as a pilot—as well as how he and his family coped with the onslaught of sudden celebrity.” —Publishers Weekly

Confessions and Memoirs of an Airline Pilot

Confessions and Memoirs of an Airline Pilot
Author: Enrique Captain Enrique "Blyhe" Horta
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Total Pages: 302
Release: 2009-05
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 1438928149

Captain Enrique (Henry) Horta was born the third child of the Horta Family in Ventura California. He lived in various places such as, Los Angeles, San Diego, Mexico, Germany, Mauritius, New Zealand, Japan and Jordan. While spending some of his teen years in Mexico he learned about survival and the importance of appreciating and doing the best of what resources he had. When he returned to California he was a skinny kid with dreams and plans to be a Pilot, traveler and adventurer. His wild dreams of becoming an Astronaut and going to the moon where replaced by more realistic dreams such as wanting to become an Airline Pilot. When he turned 18 years old he parted from his parents and had to join the working rat race starting out as a bag-boy at a local Safeway store. His plans to finish College were halted by his traveling bug so he took a break from school, sold his motorcycle, and went back-packing to Europe with only $1,000 Dollars in his pocket, a Euro-Pass train Ticket for a month, and a return airplane ticket home. Unexpected fatherhood in Germany at a young age made him become more responsible and serious about his dreams. When he returned to California he was now a young family man while working as a carpenter in construction and attending evening University and Flight School on weekends. His positive thinking methods, scholarships, grants, and student loans paid off and he graduated with an Airway Science Degree in addition to all his Pilot ratings and Certificates. Thereafter, his life became more of an adventure and he travelled around the world working for various Airlines as a Contract Pilot.

American Women and Flight since 1940

American Women and Flight since 1940
Author: Deborah G. Douglas
Publisher: University Press of Kentucky
Total Pages: 372
Release: 2014-07-11
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0813148294

Women run wind tunnel experiments, direct air traffic, and fabricate airplanes. American women have been involved with flight from the beginning, but until 1940, most people believed women could not fly, that Amelia Earhart was an exception to the rule. World War II changed everything. "It is on the record thatwomen can fly as well as men," stated General Henry H. Arnold, commanding general of the Army Air Forces. The question became "Should women fly?" Deborah G. Douglas tells the story of this ongoing debate and its impact on American history. From Jackie Cochran, whose perseverance led to the formation of the Women's Army Service Pilots (WASP) during World War II to the recent achievements of Jeannie Flynn, the Air Force's first woman fighter pilot and Eileen Collins, NASA's first woman shuttle commander, Douglas introduces a host of determined women who overcame prejudice and became military fliers, airline pilots, and air and space engineers. Not forgotten are stories of flight attendants, air traffic controllers, and mechanics. American Women and Flight since 1940 is a revised and expanded edition of a Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum reference work. Long considered the single best reference work in the field, this new edition contains extensive new illustrations and a comprehensive bibliography.

An Airline Pilot's Final Flight to Sobriety

An Airline Pilot's Final Flight to Sobriety
Author: A.J. Muench
Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
Total Pages: 80
Release: 2024-06-24
Genre: Psychology
ISBN:

"An Airline Pilot's Final Flight to Sobriety," is a narrative memoir and takes place on a metaphorical flight with the landing at the Final Destination, the author's two year sobriety date. The chapters: "Take off," "Climb," "Cruise," "Descent," "Approach," and "Landing" correspond to his life's journey with alcohol, amidst flying in the US Navy, US Customs, and a major US airline for four decades. His "flight plan" uncovers the many reasons why we drink, why we lose altitude in our lives, and how to jettison alcohol to gain altitude and soar in the Jet Stream. Come along on the flight, the Jetway doors are closing in five minutes!