Flying from Shangri-La: What it was really like in the “Worst Place to be a Pilot”

by Matt Dearden

The true story of a computer geek turned daring bush pilot, flying the most dangerous routes on earth.

"One of the most addictive books I have read in a very long time." - Christopher Cartwright, bestselling author of the Sam Reilly Series

"If you have any interest in travel, bush flying and adventure, you will love this straight-talking, page-turning, nail-biting tour of Indonesia. " - FLYER

"In parts terrifying, in parts hilarious, in parts emotional - this is a proper page turner that will have you dreaming of adventure. " - Royal Aeronautical Society

“If you've ever wondered what it's like to fly in a place that UK Channel 4 once called "the worst place in the world to be a pilot," Matt takes you there—with all the awe, chaos, and courage it demands.“ - @CaptainChris

"A highly readable, unique insight." - Pilot Magazine

"Lots of genuinely gripping stories in here, all enjoyably and eloquently told, yet modestly too." - Aeroplane Magazine

“Adrenaline fuelled aviation adventure at its most visceral. A great read for anyone interested in expeditionary flying” - Scott Bateman MBE, bestselling author of "Hercules"

"Matt Dearden’s journey from computer programmer to bush pilot in Papua is the kind of story that grabs you by the collar and refuses to let go." - Indonesia Expat
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Stuck in a boring office job, Matt wasn’t happy. Suffering with debilitating anxiety issues, he could feel his life wasting away. Something had to change. One flying lesson was all it took to set him on a journey to escape the mundane and embark on an adventure to a land unknown…

Matt’s life went from answering emails to flying the most dangerous routes in one of the world’s last Papua. Plane crashes, tropical diseases, tribal villages and jagged, jungle covered mountains were the new normal.

If you enjoyed the hit Channel 4 TV series, Worst Place to be a Pilot, then you need to read Flying from Shangri-La . Packed with hand drawn maps and QR codes linking the reader to additional photos and videos, it’s a memoir like no other. It's revealing, funny, tragic and proof that real adventure still exists.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to leave your normal life behind and risk everything to fulfil a dream?
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300 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 2024

Reviews

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve had the privilege of flying the PC6 with Matt in Papua and can testify to this book’s authenticity and a great read. It’s the only book I’ve ever read that made me laugh and cry.

[Iain · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic read! Really informative, humorous, sad 😢, and genuinely difficult to put down. It’s the second quickest I’ve ever read a book, the quickest was 1984 over the Christmas of 1983…. just in case! The photos bring his experiences to life even more than his writing, and the odd couple of “colourful” words are justifiable as I would definitely been screaming them too 😱 Obviously a great pilot, and may I say author too. Well done Matt. Wonder if there’ll be a sequel with his flying in the Alps? If so put me down for a copy. 😎

[Cathy Wayman-Johansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished this and it was awesome. What adventure and spirit is still out there in the world. It was scary, exciting and informative. I laughed and I cried, and I cried laughing! All aspring pilots should read this. Anyone with a boring fed up life should read this. I now actually want to visit Indonesia, and I never would have considered it before. A great read. Thank you for sharing your story.

[Hazel Dekker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such a lovely read from start to finish. Despite not really being a non-fiction reader myself, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Matt's journey to become a pilot, from it's literal highs, to it's nail-biting and, at times tear-jerking, lows.

[Michael Dearden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant! A real life adventure that says it like it was, no holds barred. Proof reading this book we were horrified at some of the situations Matt found himself in but what ever the situation, the PC6 saved the day.
Loved it!

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read and a fascinating recount of an extraordinary place to work. Writing style is it's weak point, but makes up for it with buckets of enthusiasm and passion for flying and exploration of a very different corner of the world. Recommended for anyone considering a career in aviation.

[Dmitry Druzhinin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was hoping for a more book-like retelling of such an experience. But a lot of it read more like a logbook with lots of geographical names and random details, which somehow fail to evoke a picture in the mind. A great first-hand account of flying for Susi Air though.

[rolando carmona · Rating 5 out of 5]

entertaining first hand from the cockpit

Could do without the usual first-world patronizing attitude towards poor uneducated villagers ; other than that, great fun reading that makes you feel that you are riding right seat with the author

[Will Vaughan · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book

Matt really gets you into the adventure of bush flying in a foreign and wild place. One of the better bush flying books I’ve read.