Pilot Novels & Stories

I ask. “Possible,” Betty replies, “but unconfirmed.” Rick exhales through his nose. “Well, the pilot’s definitely not alive.” My spine stiffens. “How can you know that?” “Because to land that way…” He glances at me, then back to the instruments. “With a low flight level like they had, and the way modern jets are built, an experienced pilot, a nose-first dive is virtually impossible.” “Well, you saw the wreck. It happened.” He looks at me. “I know and I think the pilot landed like that on purpose.”

Starving for it. Dante pockets his phone with a sigh, as if the weight of empires rests on his shoulders. "We have a schedule to keep." His voice is all business, but his fingers twitch at his sides, like he’s fighting the urge to reach for me. To pin me. "The pilot’s been paid to ignore everything but the altitude."

She would persevere. The helicopter shuddered and dipped, but the pilot's expertise continued to keep it steady. “I'm a certified and multi awarded pilot, you see!” He called out with a proud grin as he wrestled with the storm. “THREE AIR MEDALS, FAA MASTER PILOT AWARD, PURPLE HEARTS, FAA COMMERCIAL PILOT; ROTOCRAFT- HELICOPTER!” His voice was clear above the raging storm. “You're in capable hands, Ma'am!”

He put his hand on my lower back again, that firm pressure that was becoming familiar, and guided me quickly toward the plane stairs. The pilot was standing at the bottom. He was older, maybe fifty, with gray hair and a calm expression. "Mr. Konstantin, Miss Valentino," he said. "Everything's ready. We're cleared for immediate takeoff." "Good," Zade said. "Let's get moving." I climbed the stairs into the plane. My legs felt like jelly. Each step took effort. "Please take a seat and buckle up," the pilot said from behind me. "We'll be taking off as soon as the door is secured."

He adjusted his glasses and said, “Commercial planes don’t have self-destruct programs. Only military jets or drones do. I could tell this man was lying from the very beginning. You’re a nice girl. Don’t fall for his nonsense.” Anna slapped her forehead. “Oh, right. How could I forget that? May I ask who you are?” The man smiled arrogantly and responded, “I’m a university professor of aerospace engineering. This guy is a complete fraud. Everybody, don’t believe a word he says.” Knowing I was right, I argued, “I’ve flown planes before. My family even owns a private jet. I know that if a captain understands the programming, he can implant a virus and trigger the self-destruct program.”

As Gordon continued his briefing, we observed nods of understanding while others furrowed their brows in concentration. One of the trainees, Priya, raised her hand. "Yes, Priya, what's your question?" Gordon encouraged. "I'm curious about the autopilot system," Priya began. "How does it work, and when do pilots typically engage it?" Gordon smiled, pleased with the question. "That's an excellent question, Priya. The autopilot system is designed to assist pilots by automatically controlling various aspects of the aircraft's flight, such as altitude, heading, and speed

They stacked it all efficiently, duffels to one side, cases to the other, ready for loading into the pickup. The pilot remained in the cabin, checking the controls, head bent low and face shielded by a baseball cap. For a nanosecond, he thought there was something familiar about the person, but then he gave himself a mental shake. He'd never met any of these people before. None of their names were familiar.

I reply. He strutted to the cockpit and climbed into the seat. I roll my eyes as at him. I would be worried since Tanner is a notorious goofball, but he is also the best pilot I have ever seen. I trust Tanner to get me to where I need to go. Thankfully since it is a private plane, it is a straight shot with no layovers. I get comfortable and pull out a book. I love to read. “Princess we are landing.” A voice says.