This is an account by a long-time pilot who, after spending seven years learning and honing his skills in general aviation, fi rst fl ew as an airline copilot at age 23. On August 1st, 1999, he survived a jet crash that drastically changed how he thought about commercial aviation. THE BLACK BOX focuses on aviation safety and how Captain MacDonald believes the industry repeatedly falls short of being as safe as it could be and should be. A lot of excellent pilots -- and many innocent passengers -- are no longer alive because of one bad day in a very unforgiving profession. Living pilots don't talk because they fear reprisal, dead pilots can't talk. This book speaks for them. If they could speak, this is what they might tell you about aviation safety that you have the right to know.