Darker Shades of Blue: The Rogue Pilot [Hardcover]

Tony T. Kern (Author), Anthony T. Kern (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 31, 1999

This volume takes a controversial look at pilots who attempt to undermine aviation by ignoring the rules. It covers the dangers caused by the rogue aviator and offers a solution to the problem.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Rogue pilots are a silent menace, undermining aviation and threatening lives and property every day. But never--until now--have they been exposed for the danger that they are. Rogues are a unique brand of undisciplined pilots who place their own egos above all else--endangering themselves, other pilots and their passengers, and everyone over whom they fly. They are found in the cockpits of major airliners, military jets, and in general aviation. Worst of all, they sometimes appear among normally disciplined pilots, many of whom are just one poor decision or temptation away from fiery disaster. Learn how to recognize the rogue in action, how to weigh the options and costs of dealing with one, and what your organization's role should be. Kern gives you a unique toolkit for diagnosing and solving the rogue menace, including: a clear definition and description of the rogue aviator: personality, habits, and actions. Case studies of individual and organizational culprits; how to spot and cope with the rogue; personal risk analysis to use in self-diagnosis; how to create safeguards against rogue behavior. Safety, profit margins, personal advancement, and organizational survival all depend on dealing successfully with rogue behavior, and Darker Shades of Blue: The Rogue Pilot is the first--and only--guide that shows you how.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 248 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Professional Publishing; First Edition edition (January 31, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0070349274
• ISBN-13: 978-0070349278
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,118,948 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spot and handle dysfunctional aviators and organizations, August 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Darker Shades of Blue: The Rogue Pilot (Hardcover)

This outstanding book takes the lessons of Flight Discipline and Redefining Airmanship a step further, by offering insights into individual and organizational traits that can corrupt professionalism and compromise safety.

A must-read for all aviation professionals.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not Just for Pilots, June 8, 2006

By 

Marvin Bowers "Dovetail Flyer" (Crossville, TN, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Darker Shades of Blue: The Rogue Pilot (Hardcover)

It is a shame this book is out of print at this time. I am a commercial pilot and a physician. This book was introduced to me as a part of my recuring flight training. Ultimately, the themes made me redefine my medical practice as well. I have shared this book with dozens of people, pilots and non-pilots alike. Tony Kern has touched a fundamental theme by defining rogue behaviour, including rogue behavior by individuals and by organizations. Fellow pilots understand the themes easily. Other people, including fellow physicians, have privately told me that they fundamentally changed their practice procedures as a result of reading this book. One non-pilot told me that I had "saved his life" by suggesting that he read this book. Contemplative people, involved in aviation or not, will do soul searching as a result of reading this book. Rogues will be angry (as could be expected from the basic tenants of rogue behavior). Almost all will recognize rogue tendancies in their own behavior and will confront a decision to make corrective actions or to continue. This is not a book with a lot of confusing technical jargon. I highly recommend that you read this book if you get a chance.
I hope that demand will bring a new printing.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars GREAT BOOK - MUST READ FOR SERIOUS PILOTS, July 21, 2003

By 

Steve Dietrich (Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Monica CA, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Darker Shades of Blue: The Rogue Pilot (Hardcover)

Excellent book and a useful outline for self evaluation. Stories used to illustrate the points are, for the most part, well written and also appear to be well researched. I gave it only 4 stars because it seemed to suffer from a mild case of political correctness. Examples - According to other sources the F-14 loss of control on departure accident which took 5 lives had a tie to the push to get Carla Hultgreen and her fellow F-14 pilots thru training. The doomed pilot of this airplane was rated below standards, but above the female pilots in the same squadron and thus allowed to continue. The discussion of the Ron Brown crash places a lot of blame on the squadron leadership for sending the aircraft on a mission in violation of regs. However, the major breakdown was the failure of Air Force leadership to tell the State and Commerce Dept that if you expect us to fly with this primitive nav equipement don't expect service to all these airports and the President and Congress who in their rush to cut defense spending put these aircraft on the line. Perhaps a discussion of the fact that the female officer in command may have felt some special pressure to complete the mission was warranted. Another minor complaint is that more details would help in understanding the issues surounding some of the crashes . For example if the reported weather is included then stating the applicable minimums, rather than just saying the weather was below minimums would have been helpful. Beyond these few issues this is an excellent read.

If you are a pilot it is an excellent gift to a younger pilot.