Above the Clouds Lies the Human World

This novel portrays the work and lives of civil aviation pilots. The idea behind it is to build a bridge of understanding between the professional world “above the clouds” and the texture of everyday life, using the warmth of literature to reveal the realities and values of the civil aviation industry. The professional barriers in civil aviation stem from its unique history and safety requirements. From the precise operation of “instrument landing systems” to the informed decisions involved in “dispatch release,” from strict adherence to “standard operating procedures” to the rigorous rules of “airworthiness certification,” this expertise keeps operations safe while leaving the public to imagine what civil aviation workers' jobs are really like. Through the narrative tension of fiction and the documentary depth of reportage, we follow three individuals: a flight trainee, a captain, and a female pilot. Their stories let us savor the full range of life experienced by civil aviation pilots, with all its joys and sorrows. This work could also become a trilogy about life above the clouds and the everyday world below. Please support and encourage it.