Outskirts Press, INC.

Braving the Elements was written by a longtime United Airlines pilot who flew commercial planes for forty years. But this is no ordinary pilot. Scott Kaye was not only one of the fewer than three hundred Boeing 747 captains in the United States, he's also among a handful of pilots throughout the world who are licensed to fly the biggest planes into the most difficult airports.

Braving the Elements has as many layers as the earth's atmosphere. It is:

• An adventurous memoir of a veteran pilot who's seen it all. Recover from a compressor stall and engine fire at 39,000 feet? He’s been there. Get unexpectedly soaked with de-icer while checking a plane before takeoff from O’Hare? Yep. Survive and then thrive after a devastating strike by United pilots? That too.

• An inspiring self-help book that is a metaphor for fulfillment. Scott draws meaningful lessons from flying that can be applied to our personal journeys. These connections deepen and transcend the narrative.

• A lively reflection on how piloting a passenger jet connects to the rest of life’s pursuits. That includes aikido, a martial art that requires discipline and constant training. Scott holds a black belt.

• A close look at the personalities that inhabit the world of commercial aviation. Every profession has people who follow their own set of rules, and Scott introduces you to an arrogant captain who nearly blew the windows out of a Denver airport terminal.

• A behind-the-scenes description of life in the skies and on the tarmac, including analyses of what causes flights to go tragically wrong. A plane crash rarely has one simple cause. Instead, investigators find a series of errors, and Air Florida Flight 90 serves as a tragic example. Scott chronicles the nearly instantaneous reactions a pilot relies upon to break that chain.

• A practical guide for the curious that reveals how the industry works, but in a reader-friendly style integrated with stories. After 9/11, cockpit doors were reinforced to protect the crew and harden the last line of defense against terrorists. But did you know that the captain sitting in that left seat might be armed?

• And finally, a blueprint for those interested in pursuing a career in aviation, including advice on training, overcoming challenges, and the critical role of seniority.

Braving the Elements is the third in a series of three books that blend stories, secrets, and insights and will appeal to everyone who has ever flown on an airplane. In the United States, that's 80 percent of the population. Every one of those passengers has questions about flying, planes, and pilots that have never been answered. Scott answers those questions and others that people never even thought to ask. The answers will intrigue, inform, amuse, and inspire.