It’s Safer to Cross the Road

Dreams take flight in It’s Safer to Cross the Road, a memoir filled with tales of perseverance, aviation, and the unforgettable characters encountered along the way to becoming a commercial airline pilot. From his first exhilarating solo flights to organizing rigorous training at Oxford Air Training College, the author recounts the challenges, triumphs, and serendipitous moments that defined his journey to earn his wings.  As he builds his flying hours, he faces everything from a surprise radio failure during a 300-mile solo cross- country flight to narrowly avoiding a collision with a BAC 1-11 jet.

When he finally reaches Oxford, a quirky landlady known only as “Mrs. R” becomes his unlikely guide, predicting flights, exams, and instructors with uncanny accuracy. Through gruelling early-morning study sessions, precise cross-country navigation, and meticulous flight tests, the author navigates the pressures of one of the most demanding pilot training programs in the world.

Filled with humour and grit, It’s Safer to Cross the Road captures the thrill and nerve of flying, set against a backdrop of unforgettable aviation tales and personal determination. For anyone fascinated by the skies or drawn to stories of achieving lifelong ambitions, this memoir is an exhilarating tribute to following one’s passion.