Author: Beth Ruggiero York

ISBN:  9781-733996-0-9

Beth Ruggiero York, authorof Flying Alone, was a pilot for Trans World Airlines (TWA). (2019, inside back cover) She spent years rising up through the ranks before getting her shot at flying for one of the major US airlines. Beth wrote this book back in the 1990’s and has since become a Chinese translator and photographer. She now works as a photography instructor in Arizona. She has authored or co-authored two other books- Fun In The Dark; A Guide to Successful Night Photography and Everglades National Park; A Photographic Destination. Ruggiero-York resides in Fountain Hills Arizona with her husband.

Flying Alone tracks the path that Beth took in her quest to become a private pilot, instrument pilot, and eventually a flight instructor. It was a very male dominated sector at the time she was pursuing this dream. She worked hard, played hard, and eventually fulfilled her dream of being a pilot of a major airline.

While working on her private pilot license she worked at the local FBO (fixed base operation) where she fueled airplanes and attended to various and sundry things around that business. She met and interacted with many men and some women who flew and reveled in their passion about flight. She was in love with her flight instructor and thought he could pretty much do anything. She also spent a lot of time trying to become as good as she thought he was.

Beth and her boyfriend and some other flight enthusiasts invested in a Piper Cub that the owner of the FBO, Ron, sold off as a kind of timeshare vehicle for pilots. Everyone took turns flying this classic plane. It was a tail dragger and that type of plane requires a very precise and tender touch to land effectively. Beth learned to do so and love it so much.

Ron was a sometimes abusive and angry man with a drinking and smoking problem. Beth not only endured him, but also came to like and respect him while she worked on her pilot’s license there. He was of course in this business to make money, but also have fun.

As with any hobby turned occupation flying can also be a sometimes dangerous enterprise to pursue. Not all good pilots live to tell. Beth saw good friends make stupid mistakes and lose their lives. She put their mistakes into her educational pursuit tempered with caution and knowledge of your own skill level so that she would not make those same errors while flying.

I found this a heartwarming story about a young girl in love with flying and eager to see herself in a role that was not traditionally filled with women. I applaud her efforts to break the glass ceiling so other women can also see that if they dare to dream big enough they can achieve it!