Book excerpt: So You Want to Be a Commercial Airline Pilot puts you inside the cockpit of a modern-day airliner for an insider s look at one of the most glamorized, yet deadly professions in the world. What makes an airline captain, and how did they end up flying your plane? What makes air travel dangerous, and what makes it safe? Do you have what it takes to command a jet costing over one hundred million dollars, and, more importantly, can you accept the life-long challenge of keeping the flying public safe? This book explains everything from getting your education to passing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) practical test. With the job market only growing, and the average salary being over six figures, this might be the perfect career for the adrenaline-hunting, risk-taking, and thrill-seeking young adult. Sit down, and strap in this book will take you on the adventurous ride of becoming a commercial airline pilot.