Good Flying Reads: Mid-Level Flying, and On Being a Ferry Pilot

Jason Blair pulls back the curtain on mid-level flying, in An Aviator’s Guide to Middle-Altitude Flying, while former ferry pilot Kerry McCauley weaves an engrossing tale in Ferry Pilot: Nine Lives Over the North Atlantic.

Julie Boatman

Friday, February 11, 2022 at 05:40 PM ET

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FLYING Editor-in-Chief Julie Boatman recently read two books, one by Jason Blair and the other by Kerry McCauley.

Key Takeaways:

The article reviews Jason Blair's "An Aviator’s Guide to Middle-Altitude Flying," an informative guide for pilots navigating the often-overlooked 10,000 to 25,000 ft airspace, covering practical aspects like descent planning and emergencies.
It also discusses Kerry McCauley's memoir, "Ferry Pilot," which details his dangerous, humorous, and often cringe-worthy experiences flying light aircraft globally, serving as a cautionary tale.
The author found Blair's book a valuable resource for practical knowledge, while McCauley's memoir was entertaining but unsettling, suggesting it's best read by experienced pilots as a lesson learned rather than a guide.

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Whenever I approach a new endeavor within the world of aviation, I not only scroll through YouTube for relevant content, but I also turn to the printed word.

Last fall, I had the opportunity to fly along on a ferry flight across the Atlantic in a TBM 940—getting a taste of extended flight in the mid-levels (10,000 ft to 25,000 ft msl) as well as learning the process for transiting over long stretches of open water.