Close on the heels of the American public’s early enthusiasm over the airplane came aviation stories for the young. From 1910 until the early 1960s, they exalted flight and painted the airplane as the most modern and adventuresome of machines. Most of the books were directed at boys; however, a substantial number sought a girls’ audience. Erisman’s account of several aviation series and other aviation books for girls fills a gap in the history and criticism of American popular culture. It examines the stories of girls who took to the sky, of the sources where authors found their inspiration, and of the evolution of aviation as an enterprise open to all. From the heady days of early aviation through the glory days of commercial air travel, girls’ aviation books trace American women’s participation in the field. They also reflect changes in women’s roles and status in American society as the sex sought greater equality with men. As aviation technology improved, the birdwomen of the pre-World War I era, capable and independent-minded, gave way to individualistic 1930s adventurers patterned on Amelia Earhart, Jacqueline Cochran, and other feminine notables of the air. Their stories lead directly into the coming of commercial air travel. Career stories paint the increasingly glamorous world of the 1940s and 1950s airline stewardess, the unspoken assumptions lying behind that profession, and the inexorable effects of technological and economic change. By recovering these largely forgotten books and the social debates surrounding women’s flying, Erisman makes a substantial contribution to aviation history, women’s history, and the study of juvenile literature. This first comprehensive study of a long-overlooked topic recalls aviation experiences long past and poses provocative questions about Americans’ attitudes toward women and how those attitudes were conveyed to the young.

"A beautiful and inspiring book...fascinatingly told." — Donna Shirley, former head of the U.S. Mars program, NASA The exhilarating story of the first women who boldly conquered the skies in the first female cross-country air race The year is 1929, and on the eve of America's Great Depression, nineteen gutsy and passionate pilots soared above the glass ceiling in the very first female cross-country air race. Armed with grit and determination, they crossed thousands of miles in propeller-driven airplanes to defy the naysayers who would say it cannot — not should not — be done. From the indomitable Pancho Barnes to the infamous Amelia Earhart, Sky Girls chronicles a defining and previously forgotten moment when some of the first women pilots took their rightful place in the open skies. For a country on the brink of defining change, they would become symbols of hope, daring, and the unstoppable American spirit. And for generations to come, their actions would pave the way for others to step into the brave unknown and learn to fly... Written by female pilot and member of the original Mercury 13 Gene Nora Jessen, Sky Girls celebrates the strength and smarts of these trailblazing women, and sits perfectly on the shelf next to The Radium Girls, Hidden Figures, or Code Girls.

This title was first published in 2000. This is volume one of a two-volume set which presents the reader with strategies for the contributions of psychology and human factors to the safe and effective functioning of aviation organizations and systems.Together, the volumes comprise the edited contributions to the Fourth Australian Aviation Psychology Symposium. The chapters within are orientated towards presenting and developing practical solutions for the present and future challenges facing the aviation industry. Each volume covers areas of vital and enduring importance in the complex aviation system. Volume one includes aviation safety, crew resource management, the aircraft cabin, cockpit automation, safety investigation, fatigue and stress, and applied human factors in training.

Captain Power-Waters covers every aspect of commercial aviation and brings the reader to the conclusion that it is a much more perilous means of transportation than generally suspected. Most of the material in this book has never been touched upon in any previous book on air safety. The following are a few of the subjects that are documented in this book: There are no U.S. airports that have adequate firefighting procedures. Mechanically impaired airliners are allowed to fly when, in reality, they should be grounded. The flushing of an airline toilet has imperiled the lives of passengers aboard the plane and people on the ground. The air traffic control system is near collapse caused by the "bumbling" FAA. Airline pilots are not thoroughly trained to recover from all modes of flight. The Boeing 737 is the most popular airliner ever built, but it is potentially the most dangerous. "Captain Power-Waters brings an understanding and appreciation of Air Traffic control from two perspectives: as a pilot operating within the system; and as someone who possesses a vast knowledge of the ATC's work." -William A. Faville, Jr., National Air TrafficControllers Association, President MKC. "If you are interested in the training of an airline captain, if you think your airline is safe, or if you think the FAA is totally interested in your safety, this is the book for you." -Carl T. Butterworth, Senior Captain, American Airlines, Ret. Brig. Gen., ANG. "You obviously have done an extensive job researching this topic, and more importantly, it is clear you have lived the issues. I congratulate you on your effort." -Robert Roach, Jr., General Vice President, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.