It was 1990 when I found myself and my twin Beechcraft airplane grounded by a spate of late Spring thunderstorms. As anyone who’s spent the steamier months in south Florida will attest, these monsters roll through here in afternoon waves. Sometimes they come in one behind the other embedded in powerful squall lines, other times they’ll form spontaneously right around you in a process called convection. Either way, they love to eat light … [Read more...]
Dom Stasi’s Gripping Debut Thriller THE STRAIT
2021 NYC BIG BOOK AWARD WINNER! Pilot Jake Silver is haunted by a cruel irony—he secretly suspects that he’s the reason Swede Bergstrom, the hero who saved his life, has fallen on hard times. Upon learning that Swede has been killed during the commission of a crime, the guilt-driven Jake too-willingly agrees to follow Swede’s mysterious and beautiful sister, Christina, on a search to clear her brother’s name. Their odyssey takes them from the … [Read more...]
Meet Dom Stasi: Technologist, Pilot, Mentor, Writer
Hi. Allow me to introduce myself. I’ve been an American airman, a technical writer and instructor, a science advocate, and for the past four decades a TV and motion picture technologist working in New York and Hollywood. Recently retired, I’ve decided to reinvent myself yet again, this time as a novelist. Being the older brother of best-selling author/journalist Linda Stasi, I’m hoping there’s a genetic propensity for putting words on paper in a … [Read more...]
PAPER WING’s Les Abend On How He Became A Pilot and Writer
Even though Mom would like me to sing my own praises, it’s not my style. But I’m often asked about the opportunities I’ve been fortunate enough to be afforded. Here’s one of my scripted responses for “How did you get that gig?” Answer: “I am grateful for low standards.” Although my reply might appear glib, it’s genuine. I am surrounded by folks who appear eminently more qualified than me in both the professional pilot vocation and the writing … [Read more...]
PAPER WINGS’ Les Abend Discusses How His Passion For Flying Has Helped His Writing
As much as I’d like to believe that people find my day job fascinating, their interest may extend only as far as a visit to the cockpit. Reading a novel involving my profession may not be high on the entertainment list. I get it. The technical nature of flying airplanes might glaze over some eyes... well, unless you’re talking Top Gun stuff while listening to Kenny Loggins perform “Danger zone.” Sorry, but most times flying airplanes doesn’t … [Read more...]
LOCKOUT’s John Nance: Where Have All The Pilots Gone?
For all my career as an airline pilot (Braniff International, 1975-May 12, 1982, 4:34 PM; and Alaska Airlines, 1985 2005) I’ve heard the breathless rumor that a pilot shortage was just around the corner–and it never was. Until now. Today, for various reasons (some of them complex, and some of them due to the gross misunderstanding of those we jokingly refer to as a Congress), we do in fact have a genuine shortage of professional pilots … [Read more...]
Les Abend: Can An Airline Pilot Really Be Creative?
Let’s be honest. Airline pilot is not a profession that screams creativity. We’re perceived more as left-brain people. And quite frankly, our passengers want a left-brain person at the pointy end of the airplane. Passengers want their airline pilots to all be Chesley Sullenberger’s. I understand. Pilots themselves want their fellow crewmember to be left-brain people. We can certainly do without the emotions of a left-brainer dominating in the … [Read more...]
