Dream of flying

By Osvaldo de Oliveira Mendes

After all, aviation is no t only a sense of unease while facing de unknown, it also rewards us with a sense of adventure.

This book aims to incentivize and encourage, so that all passengers can develop a taste for flying, and, above all, so that they feel relaxed while boarding an aircraft and leave all doubts, panic or fears behind.

The sky is friendly and safe. Fly in peace…

Flying in a bright blue sky is an exhilarating experience to say the least and can bring a real sense of comfort, especially when you appreciate the inmmensity of the skyline. This panoramic and cinematic vision often provides glimpses of the most stunning things on Earth.

This book aims to share, with the general public and avid readers alike, a simple picture of the prominent role of aviation as a means of transportation, often the most viable means, amongst many other options.

Because flying saves time; and if we choose not to fly, we will simply postpone the possibility of fulfilling a long-cherished dream.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Editorial Bubok Publishing
• Release date: Jan 20, 2022
• ISBN: 9788468564692

Book preview

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DREAM OF FLYING

Friendly skies...

Why you should not be afraid

Oswaldo de Oliveira Mendes

© Oswaldo de Oliveira Mendes

© Dream of Flying

December 2021

ISBN: 978-84-685-5028-2

ISBN PDF: 978-84-685-5029-9

ISBN ePub: 978-84-685-5033-6

Edited by Bubok Publishing S.L.

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Tel: [phone]

C/Vizcaya, 6

28045 Madrid

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing by the Author, or as expressly permitted by law, by license or under terms agreed with the appropriate reprographics rights organization. You must not circulate this work in any other form and you must impose this same condition on any acquirer.

Índice

BIOGRAPHY

DEDICATORY

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

FOREWORD

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

CHAPTER I Aviation: Background data

CHAPTER II Aviation development

CHAPTER III The rise of commercial aviation

CHAPTER IV Fear of airplane

CHAPTER V Why you should not be afraid of flying

CHAPTER VI When the plane takes off, I panic

CHAPTER VII Take-off and landing... secrets unveiled

CHAPTER VIII What actually happens to the clouds?

CHAPTER IX Pressurisation and depressurisation discomfort

CHAPTER X The effect of static electricity on aircraft

CHAPTER XI Wind, the aircraft’s best friend

CHAPTER XII Sitting in the front rows of an airplane is better: truth or myth?

CHAPTER XIII Accessibility

CHAPTER XIV The safety and security of air links

CHAPTER XV Security mechanisms, risks posed by terrorism and other global threats

CHAPTER XVI What really happens during turbulence? Advice on how to cope with it

CHAPTER XVII Are some routes more turbulent than others? Are the most turbulent routes cheaper for airlines: truth or myth?

CHAPTER XVIII Jet lag

CHAPTER XIX I would love to travel the world, but I am afraid of flying. What is the solution?

CHAPTER XX Recommendations for losing the fear of flying

GLOSSARY AND ABBREVIATIONS

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL SOURCES

BIOGRAPHY

Oswaldo de Oliveira Mendes has worked as a Boeing 777 captain and airline pilot since 1981, in addition to being an aviation flight operations manager and consultant. He was born on October 20, 1957, in Luanda, Angola, and is married with four children.

He began his career as a pilot in 1975, at the former Aeroclube de Angola, in Luanda, having worked in commercial aviation with Angolan airline, TAAG - Linhas Aéreas de Angola.

Oswaldo flew the Fokker-27, Boeing 737-200, Boeing 707, Boeing 727, Boeing 747 and Boeing 777 fleets as a senior captain, and was the first Angolan pilot to be qualified by the Boeing Company in Seattle, in the summer of 2006.

He got his PPL by piloting the mythical Auster D-5/160 aircraft and flew several models of single and twin-engine light aircraft.

Oswaldo has also worked as a monitor and instructor. From 1976 to 1979, he trained (solo flight) and qualified many pilots now part of the aviation elite.

In 1978, he obtained a commercial airplane license at TAAG, having attended the Fokker-27 qualification course.

Oswaldo joined the Air Force in 1979, in the Transport Squadron, piloting an Antonov-26 aircraft.

After returning to TAAG, Oswaldo flew as a first officer (FO) and as captain, having qualified as a Fokker F-27 captain in 1982. He has flown in different scenarios on domestic, regional and international routes.

In the charter segment, he has flown to countless destinations around the world. From Kathmandu in Nepal to Nadi (Viti Levu Group) on the Fiji Islands, in the South Pacific.

Oswaldo completed the Boeing 747-300 qualification course with honours at the prestigious South African Airways Academy. Back then, South Africa was still under the former ruling regime, as the Rainbow Nation used to be, and being a commercial pilot represented in those days an exclusive and select post in terms of the reigning culture and overall background.

He has attended several qualification, leadership and training courses (Management, Leadership Team Manager, Flight Instructor, Techniques and education, etc.) in the United Kingdom, Portugal and USA.

Throughout his professional life, Oswaldo has written several articles and brought up several important aviation issues for discussion: its operability, routes and commercial operation. He has also dealt with divisive issues in the field of human resources management, writing about fatigue, flight schedules, pairing, rest periods, limits on working hours, etc., always striving for rigour and impartiality, as well as character.

Oswaldo has always been a staunch and passionate advocate of merit and competence, and has never neglected discipline and satisfactory compliance with regulations. Strictly speaking, he has always seen aviation as a profession and not as a mere job. In other words, it has always been important for him to be and serve with dedication and professionalism,