Sliceback

AA -

https://www.amazon.com/American-Airl...rican+Airlines


Eagle by Serling for the earlier years. Reed’s book has background history and then the events leading up to the US merger.

deltajuliet

Another recommendation for Hard Landing. It’s like if the airline executives were Game of Thrones characters trying to outwit and out-manipulate each other. Very entertaining, and true. And agreed that a sequel is needed; it was written right before the proliferation of RJ’s and regionals, not to mention the dark decade.

BrewCity

I couldn't finish that "Glory Lost and Found" book. It really only focuses on the 90s and 00s and the writing rambles, meanders, and is overall just not bad (at one point the author uses Jar Jar Binks as a metaphor). Also, the basic theme of that book is "Unions evil, Delta management great."

"Nuts" is a classic book about SWA but it's 20 years old and heaps a lot of praise on Southwest for avoiding airports like LaGuardia. That said, it's still a good read.

"From Worst to First" by Gordon Bethune is also about 20 years old, but it's probably my favorite book about airlines. It's a first-hand account of how Bethune turned Continental around.


While not an airline book, "Air Vagabonds" by Anthony Vallone is probably my favorite aviation book out there. It's about guys who ferried piston aircraft all over the world in the 70s and 80s. Think "Fate is the Hunter" but much funnier.

galaxy flyer

And choke it, is what Rick did. Just went a little overboard.

GF

SpeedyVagabond

“Wind, Sand, and Stars”, “Fate is the Hunter”, “West with the Night.” Oh wait, I’m supposed to hate flying and spend my down time loathing it even more. Carry on.

T28driver

Although none of these are tied to a specific airline, "Fate is the Hunter" is an absolute classic and should be on everyone's list. Same to "Hard Landing." "Skygods" is great as well.

I also recommend:

"Understanding Air France 447"
"Darker Shades of Blue: The Rogue Pilot"

RomeoHotel

Over the years I flew with multiple guys that mentioned how good "Fate is the Hunter" was... I discounted the idea of reading it because I had seen the movie... About five years ago I picked it up and could not put it down....Though he never mentions the airline by name, I have since read that Ernest K. Gann was a pilot for AA... Amazing read...

galaxy flyer

If you go to the AA training center, his name and many of those mentioned in Fate Is The Hunter are up on the wall.

GF

T28driver

AA to start with. Fun fact: the "steamship airline" he left AA to fly for was Matson Airlines. They still operate container ships and car carriers off the west coast.

EMBFlyer

Splash of Colors: The Self-Destruction of Braniff International

You'll thank me later.