Customer Reviews

Airline Pasionado: Before, Braniff, and After

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(3)
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Robert or "Bobby" Booth is the Ernest Hemingway of the aviation industry. I say this because he has (a) lived everywhere, at least in the Americans, (2) experienced just about everything there is to see and do and (3) writes marvelously about it.Starting by growing up in Argentina, Bobby learned all sorts of sports from cattle roping to cricket, soccer and polo. Venturing into the fledging aviation industry he started at the beginning and the bottom and over the years rose to become a Senior VP of several major airlines. Along the way he met just about every president and dictator there was, raised a family, took up dirt bike racing before it was invented, explored the Bahamas in a good sailboat and sold air travel on two continents. He was an idea man, a schmoozer and generally the last guy out of a bar, usually because someone would always be there listening to what he had to say. He apprears modest or at least to know his own limits, he hardly ever has anything nasty to say even about those who screwed him,he admits his faults and I can guarantee you, would provide a hearty welcome to anyone with an interest in aviation. One can't help but think in reading this book, "this guy has sure led a wonderful life". Deservedly so.This book is a great read.

A truly accurate and exciting depiction of the dynamic airline industry. This is a must-read for the airline historian and enthusiast. I can attest that this book answered some of my most intricate questions. Have you ever wondered about Braniff, Air Florida, Northeastern, Aero Peru, and the many other airlines that decorated our landscape throughout the Twentieth Century? If so, this is THE book to read! Once you open it, you'll never want to put it down again. Happy Reading!

Bobby Booth likes to say "The Best Is Yet To Come" (instead of "it can't get any worse") but I truly believe, as far as airline books, "The Best HAS Come".!

Bobby's tale of the airline industry is absolutely wonderful, especially if you lived through the 1970s & 1980s, as I did. It is even more poignant if you worked for, were involved with, or just simply flew on Braniff International, Panagra, Eastern, Pan Am, Aero Peru, Air Florida, Northeastern, Challenge, TAN, TACA, COPA and others. If you lived in Latin America and/or Miami this book also brings back many warm memories.

I first read Airline Pasionado during Christmas 2001. I just finished rereading it and I can honestly say it even better the second time "around the pattern"!

If you, or someone you know, is involved with aviation, airlines, Latin America and/or South Florida Airline Pasionado is a true "must read". With over 21 years in the industry & 13000 flight hours, I speak from experience.

This is a gripping tale that revolves about Bob Booth -- a seemingly amazing, talented, and personable individual.

However, Airline Pasionado is not simply an autobiography. It is also a multi-decade history of the airline business and of economics, politics, and intrigue in the Americas. Human nature, human frailities and the best of the human spirit are unfolded in these pages.

If the readers were not advised that the book was factual, many would consider some of the tales to stretch beyond the scope of believability. These adventures make for compelling reading. It is apparent that writing this book must have been a joy for the author.

I couldn't put Airline Pasionado down. It was one of the most informative and entertaining books I have ever read regarding the seductive aviation business.

Airline Pasionado is a "must read" for anyone interested in the airline industry. The book tracks the career of the author, Bobby Booth, from his youth in South America through all of his various adventures in the Airline business. The author is well respected in the industry and certainly has extensive airline executive credentials in his background that make his "behind the scenes" views afforded by this book even more interesting and readable. You will learn a great deal about the airline business and live with the author from the early days of a regulated environment through the deregulation of the US airline industry to the modern entrepreneurial and competitive atmosphere of today. The dialogue is delightfully spiced with good humor and the author's insights to not only the workings of the industry, but even more important, the people of the industry.

Randolph Babbitt, President Emeritus Air Line Pilots Association

Bobby Booth's book will forever be special for me, as I know many of the people mentioned, and traveled to nearly every place in it - though more significantly I remember Bobby from days in Lima-Peru, where I was based from 1968-1973. After the company for which I worked, Braniff was the second most important in my life, and Bobby personified Braniff for us in Peru. We were impressed by how well-connected he seemed to be with prominent people in Lima, which was excellent for Braniff, and he was held in high regard by many mutual friends.

From our Lima Office our company operated throughout South America, so we flew regularly on Braniff up and down the continent. Given the choice, we always went on Braniff. It was a sad day when we heard of the airline's demise.

Bobby's relationship with Fernando Belaunde, President of Peru, was of particular interest. In 1970 Belaunde was unceremoniously deposed in a coup by General Velasco, dragged out in the early morning hours to Jorge Chavez Airport by Velasco's people, and exiled on a flight to Buenos Aires. To help him out of his predicament, Bobby arranged for Belaunde's flight out of B.A. on to the U.S. This story proves that "You must be very nice to everybody on your way up, because you never know who you will meet on your way down" - as a few years later, Belaunde returned to Peru as President for a second time, and was significantly helpful to Bobby in his airline business dealings.

We are all driven by something inside to pursue certain courses in life, though not many people can say they loved their work as much as Bobby. His passion was the business of airlines, rather than actually flying planes, which made him able to attain high positions in the industry. His particular strong point was skill in dealing with people and finding the right connections to get things done. Especially in Latin America, that is critical to success, but - just as many "in the field" have found working "overseas" in other big industries - "Head Office" people didn't sufficiently appreciate that quality in Bobby - to their cost and detriment. Nor did they always realize that the best profits came from concentrating on the "difficult" markets, relying on people like Bobby who knew how to be successful in them.

Bobby's description of the rise and fall of various airlines is very interesting. To the outward observer and average frequent traveler, it never seemed clear why corporate fortunes in the airline business were so volatile. Apart from Braniff, there were other incredible failures - such as with Pan Am, Eastern, Air Florida, Laker, Aeroperu and others. It is especially interesting to read of Bobby's personal experiences with all these companies, and to note that the Latin American market, Bobby's area of special expertise, was not a contributor to these failures - becoming eventually acknowledged by airline managements as one of the best in the world in terms of profit.

Bobby mentions that some of the top airline people had massive egos. Though Donald Trump said "Show me a man without an ego and I will show you a failure", perhaps he was not so right about the airlines. Some airline chiefs seemed to have such huge egos that they couldn't get out of their own way !

It is impressive how Bobby recalls such detail and so many interesting anecdotes, a lot due to his making good use of waiting time, at airports and in-flight, meticulously recording his observations on a yellow-pad.

Airlines affect the life of nearly everybody, so this book should be widely read and have a large audience. As pure historic record of the airline industry it will be of value for generations to come.

Bobby Booth writes with the same passion he has invested in a career which has spanned the greatest innovations and the greatest growth of the airline industry.

It is all there...warts and all...successes and failures.

His very personal story not only gives the broad brush of the development of commercial aviation from the 1950s into the 21st Century, but also the very intimate details of the planning and deal-making that made it happen.

And, particularly in the case of Latin America, you won't find this kind of story anywhere else.

This book is an inspiration for people that want to follow what they feel passion for.

One of its highlights is the fact that we are not only introduced to the successful episodes, but also the author describes clearly some of his ideas that never saw the light.

This "transparency" makes it even more attractive, and some of the terms he uses are really interesting -"Corporate Jungle" is a good example.

I recommend this lecture, not only to Airline passionate but also to anyone who believes in pursuing their "passion", with the ups and downs this means.

BOBBY BOOTH WAS AND IS A TRUE VISIONARY . THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ FOR ANYONE WHO HAS AN INTEREST IN AIRLINE HISTORY. AS USUAL BOBBY TELLS IT LIKE IT IS ...AND WAS.

HAD BOBBY WON SOME OF THE WARS THE INDUSTRY WOULD BE FAR BETTER OFF TODAY. A PEOPLE PERSON BOBBY ALWAYS FOUND A WAY TO GET THE MOST OUT HIS STAFF.

It is apparent that Bob Booth is one of those rare and wonderful individuals who has changed the world in numerous positive and unique ways. He has been paid back by truly loving what he does.

The author writes in a manner that brings his experiences to life. This is a biography, and also a special insight into Latin American aviation. Every couple of years, I pick up this book and re-read it. Each time, more is revealed. The first readings provided a unique and diverse view of important airline history. Future readings brought to life many of the characters who molded aviation. Most recent readings teach lessons of a man who brought immeasurable value and joy to many and helped create an industry in a very human, fun and driven manner.

Booth's colloquial style is engrossing and brings the reader into this great adventure. There seems to be little doubt that the tales are accurate representations as reported by someone who lived it. I expect that most readers would consider their mission in life to have been wildly fruitful if they experienced only 10% of what the author relates.

This is one of the most grabbing biographies and histories I've ever read.