Life with a View: Memoir of an Air Traffic Controller
BookMiddle SchoolHigh SchoolAir Traffic Controller

Life with a View: Memoir of an Air Traffic Controller

Smith, Robin A.

Why we picked it

Written by a former air traffic controller, this candid memoir gives older students an insider view of life behind the radar screen, including the precise language, pressure, and culture of the job.

Our review

What does it really feel like to stand at a radar screen with dozens of lives in your hands? This candid memoir by a former controller pulls back the curtain on tower life: the specialized language shared only between pilots and controllers, the dark humor that keeps stress at bay, and the weight of a job where precision is everything. It's an honest, insider look at one of aviation's most demanding careers.

About this book

From the product listing

Ever wonder what it takes to become an air traffic controller? Or how controllers make the whole complex system work? Life With a View is a memoir written by a former controller who uncovers all the secrets. Follow the author and get a look through the tower windows and behind the radar room doors. Robin Smith offers his unique translation of the second language learned and perfected by air traffic controllers and pilots--and no one else. He expounds on the humor controllers use to check emotions and conflicts and prevent the wheels from coming off.The author gives his readers an insiders look into a very small community comprised of dedicated professionals who chose a career field that is challenging in many ways. The complexity of this job is compounded exponentially when a controller is scheduled to work weekends, mid-watches, and holidays--sometimes all in the same week.

Resource details

Resource type
Book
Age ranges
Middle School, High School
Good for kids who are
Conventional, Realistic
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