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Uplift: A Pilot's Journey
“I’m still a rookie second officer but even I know it’s not supposed to happen like this.” “The captain called “Before Landing Check.” That’s normal. The first officer and I moved the appropriate switches, levers and buttons, and chanted the usual incantations. That’s normal. The trusty old Boeing 727 responded with its arcane dialect of flashing lights and flickering needles. That’s normal. And the all-important landing gear panel is now showing three green lights assuring us that they wheels are locked down. That’s normal. But the landing gear control panel is also glowering at us with a trio of red lights, telling us that the green lights are not to be trusted. That’s not normal.”
Read the rest of this story as you take off with Captain Grant Corriveau in “Uplift – A Pilot’s Journey.” During your flight you will be fascinated by many other true stories shared by Grant as he invites you to experience his life-long journey of discoveries.
Captain Grant will reveal, through his story and rise in the ranks in the aviation industry, culminating in the pilot’s seat in the cockpit, that not everything we need in life is learned in classes and training seminars.
Beginning with his earliest childhood fascinations with aircraft and the men and women who fly them, Grant welcomes you into his logbook consisting of 48 years of flying with a 30 year airline career as icing on the cake. You will be uplifted as you share an insider’s view of his passion and experience working for one of the world’s great airlines.
As Corriveau advances through the ranks to senior captain he transparently shares his challenges, adventures and achievements. You will fly with him as he exposes his failures and doubts – his triumphs and close calls. You will share time when Grant’s dream almost ended and sit next to him in the jump seat as he candidly shares a pilot’s life of continuous training and adaptation to new technology and automation.
“Uplift” is everyone’s journey, told through the eyes and experiences of one pilot’s career – one pilot’s journey. Come along for the ride and you will be uplifted.
Read the rest of this story as you take off with Captain Grant Corriveau in “Uplift – A Pilot’s Journey.” During your flight you will be fascinated by many other true stories shared by Grant as he invites you to experience his life-long journey of discoveries.
Captain Grant will reveal, through his story and rise in the ranks in the aviation industry, culminating in the pilot’s seat in the cockpit, that not everything we need in life is learned in classes and training seminars.
Beginning with his earliest childhood fascinations with aircraft and the men and women who fly them, Grant welcomes you into his logbook consisting of 48 years of flying with a 30 year airline career as icing on the cake. You will be uplifted as you share an insider’s view of his passion and experience working for one of the world’s great airlines.
As Corriveau advances through the ranks to senior captain he transparently shares his challenges, adventures and achievements. You will fly with him as he exposes his failures and doubts – his triumphs and close calls. You will share time when Grant’s dream almost ended and sit next to him in the jump seat as he candidly shares a pilot’s life of continuous training and adaptation to new technology and automation.
“Uplift” is everyone’s journey, told through the eyes and experiences of one pilot’s career – one pilot’s journey. Come along for the ride and you will be uplifted.
- GenresAviationNonfictionMemoir
216 pages, Paperback
Published April 17, 2018
30 people are currently reading
1070 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 29, 2018
Lots of insights for those interested in commercial piloting!
May 22, 2018
If you've ever wondered what life is like in the front of an airplane, this is a great book. Grant Corriveau instills a sense of wonder and joy in the day-to-day grind of commercial jet travel. Most of it the book is devoted to the training, advancement and trials of being a commercial jet pilot. There are no salacious "behind the scenes" stories here, just nice little slices of a pilot's life, which is what I was hoping for. Corriveau's goal here seems to be more putting wonderment at his luck in life to paper, with the hopes of simply sharing his story, My favorite part is when someone asks if he ever gets "bored" during a flight. Corriveau runs through an entire chapter of things that garner his interest during a flight, from the different look of stars at 35,000 feet to the ability to observe strange aspects of the earth below, plus all the things he must observe inside the aircraft itself. At a loss to describe all this to the questioner, Corriveau simply states "You want boring, trust me. You don't want exciting."
While not for everyone, I feel there's enough in here to satisfy those at least mildly curious about air travel. My only complaint is sometimes there are referential jokes that I get but aren't funny, or are otherwise distracting or annoying. But it's a minor quibble, and overall I enjoyed learning about the life of a pilot through this writer's eyes.
Kindle Copy Provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
While not for everyone, I feel there's enough in here to satisfy those at least mildly curious about air travel. My only complaint is sometimes there are referential jokes that I get but aren't funny, or are otherwise distracting or annoying. But it's a minor quibble, and overall I enjoyed learning about the life of a pilot through this writer's eyes.
Kindle Copy Provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 7, 2018
Rounding up from 3.5. Thanks Netgalley for the eARC!
I wanted to read this because I think planes are awesome, despite my pathological fear of flying (which is odd given the fact that my dad was an AA pilot until he retired when I was 21). My dad never told detailed stories about his experience as a pilot, but given that he's about the same age as the author and their flying careers spanned similar times (though different types of planes and different home countries), it was kind of cool to read about it. I also made my dad read the book and he verified that everything Grant Corriveau wrote was in line with his experiences, too. I believe his exact words were "it's nice to know it's the same in Canada."
This is probably not a book for everybody, as I'm not sure there are too many people who would be interested, but for family members of people in the aviation industry or aspiring airline pilots, it's a worthwhile read. I'll also add that I really liked his conversational style and the ways the essay-like chapters were organized.
I wanted to read this because I think planes are awesome, despite my pathological fear of flying (which is odd given the fact that my dad was an AA pilot until he retired when I was 21). My dad never told detailed stories about his experience as a pilot, but given that he's about the same age as the author and their flying careers spanned similar times (though different types of planes and different home countries), it was kind of cool to read about it. I also made my dad read the book and he verified that everything Grant Corriveau wrote was in line with his experiences, too. I believe his exact words were "it's nice to know it's the same in Canada."
This is probably not a book for everybody, as I'm not sure there are too many people who would be interested, but for family members of people in the aviation industry or aspiring airline pilots, it's a worthwhile read. I'll also add that I really liked his conversational style and the ways the essay-like chapters were organized.
August 27, 2018
It was a great read. It's light-hearted and tells the story of an ambitious man who goes on to become a Pilot, fulfilling his life dream. The book takes us to the ups and downs of the profession and its a close-up details of what's it mean to be a Pilot. Corriveau loved his profession and thus you can feel that love in the whole book. Full review on my blog - Nalini Writes.
July 10, 2018
I liked the idea of no specific airline like Ernest Gann and Thomas Block. The stories were great and to the point. I read it in about 10 sittings, 8 days. The character descriptions were very good I felt I knew some of them.
August 8, 2018
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
This is gives a wonderful insight into the life of a commercial pilot.
The short stories of a pilots life are light and amusing.
Well worth a read.
This is gives a wonderful insight into the life of a commercial pilot.
The short stories of a pilots life are light and amusing.
Well worth a read.
October 8, 2018
Very interesting and easy to read, Grant Corriveau makes you feel like you are right next to him in the cockpit. I've always thought pilots were a little weird, but after reading Uplift: A Pilot's Journey, I would be happy to have Captain Corriveau at the helm.
July 22, 2022
a great read
One feels like being in the cockpit with the author. Also an interesting peek into Airline Operations. Highly recommend this book.
One feels like being in the cockpit with the author. Also an interesting peek into Airline Operations. Highly recommend this book.
July 22, 2023
Very interesting and entertaining
Truly tells the challenges and down falls of a aH byirline pilot, its a good read for anyone thinking of a career as a airline pilot.
Truly tells the challenges and down falls of a aH byirline pilot, its a good read for anyone thinking of a career as a airline pilot.
January 11, 2025
|This is a wonderful summary of what to expect when going from small GA planes to the airline cockpit--however, it is a long shot path. Worked for this pilot, but not for many.
November 6, 2021
Enjoyed this book very much and made lots of highlights. Did the same job for 35 years and it brought back lots of memories.
August 8, 2018
About the Author -
Grant Corriveau was a commercial plane Pilot. Uplift A Pilot's Journey is his first book. He is working on another book called Airline Pilot: A Day In The Life.
Know more about Corriveau.
Review of Uplift: A Pilot's Journey -
O Captain! my Captain!
Uplift is an inspiring read. It inspires you to shoot for your dreams however high they may be, however hard the situations may be. It inspires you to have precision at your job every single day. A Pilot can never make a mistake and stay alive. There is too much at stake. A Captain makes so many decisions every single day and yet there is no decision fatigue. You may have hundreds of hurdles, the hours clocked can be difficult, the weather can be monstrous, there are thousands of things that can go wrong. You have to work with the team and come up with a solution in the definite time that you have. There is no Google as your savior( like it is for many other jobs). Plus you also have the responsibility of the passenger's life and you have limited fuel.
My feelings about the book -
Captain Corriveau was not only a great pilot but is also a great writer. All chapters are crisp and to the point. There are professional words from the aviation industry used in this book but they are in bold and explained in the glossary, at the end of the book and also in the chapters wherever used. Thus this book was effortless to understand. The book emboldens and leaves an impact.
The plot of the book -
This book is an autobiography/memoir of Captain Grant Corriveau. He penned his life's experience as a Pilot and flying almost every day of his life. Uplift is an easy read. Anyone from any background can read this book and relish the experiences shared. It does not need any prior knowledge in the field. Beginning from the time when Corriveau wanted to become a professional Pilot and ending at his retirement day, this book covers almost every designation he worked at. All challenges and expectations are crystal defined.
What I didn't like -
This was a great book, the moment I started to read this book, it was unputdownable. Every Chapter is another adventure in the life of a Pilot. I am giving it 4 stars because I felt everything good about the job was well covered but something that annoyed Corriveau was not mentioned in details except for late night flights.
Predictability -
Life of a Pilot is unpredictable. Every moment is living by the rules, flying day in and day out. Every work day is different and has its own challenges.
Verdict -
This was a facile read about the difficult job of being a Pilot. It is one of the Must Reads Books. If you are an aspiring pilot then you have to read this book.
Grant Corriveau was a commercial plane Pilot. Uplift A Pilot's Journey is his first book. He is working on another book called Airline Pilot: A Day In The Life.
Know more about Corriveau.
Review of Uplift: A Pilot's Journey -
O Captain! my Captain!
Uplift is an inspiring read. It inspires you to shoot for your dreams however high they may be, however hard the situations may be. It inspires you to have precision at your job every single day. A Pilot can never make a mistake and stay alive. There is too much at stake. A Captain makes so many decisions every single day and yet there is no decision fatigue. You may have hundreds of hurdles, the hours clocked can be difficult, the weather can be monstrous, there are thousands of things that can go wrong. You have to work with the team and come up with a solution in the definite time that you have. There is no Google as your savior( like it is for many other jobs). Plus you also have the responsibility of the passenger's life and you have limited fuel.
My feelings about the book -
Captain Corriveau was not only a great pilot but is also a great writer. All chapters are crisp and to the point. There are professional words from the aviation industry used in this book but they are in bold and explained in the glossary, at the end of the book and also in the chapters wherever used. Thus this book was effortless to understand. The book emboldens and leaves an impact.
The plot of the book -
This book is an autobiography/memoir of Captain Grant Corriveau. He penned his life's experience as a Pilot and flying almost every day of his life. Uplift is an easy read. Anyone from any background can read this book and relish the experiences shared. It does not need any prior knowledge in the field. Beginning from the time when Corriveau wanted to become a professional Pilot and ending at his retirement day, this book covers almost every designation he worked at. All challenges and expectations are crystal defined.
What I didn't like -
This was a great book, the moment I started to read this book, it was unputdownable. Every Chapter is another adventure in the life of a Pilot. I am giving it 4 stars because I felt everything good about the job was well covered but something that annoyed Corriveau was not mentioned in details except for late night flights.
Predictability -
Life of a Pilot is unpredictable. Every moment is living by the rules, flying day in and day out. Every work day is different and has its own challenges.
Verdict -
This was a facile read about the difficult job of being a Pilot. It is one of the Must Reads Books. If you are an aspiring pilot then you have to read this book.
April 11, 2019
If you've ever wondered what life is like in the front of an airplane, this is a great book. Grant Corriveau instills a sense of wonder and joy in the day-to-day grind of commercial jet travel. Most of it the book is devoted to the training, advancement and trials of being a commercial jet pilot. There are no salacious "behind the scenes" stories here, just nice little slices of a pilot's life, which is what I was hoping for. Corriveau's goal here seems to be more putting wonderment at his luck in life to paper, with the hopes of simply sharing his story, My favorite part is when someone asks if he ever gets "bored" during a flight. Corriveau runs through an entire chapter of things that garner his interest during a flight, from the different look of stars at 35,000 feet to the ability to observe strange aspects of the earth below, plus all the things he must observe inside the aircraft itself. At a loss to describe all this to the questioner, Corriveau simply states "You want boring, trust me. You don't want exciting."
While not for everyone, I feel there's enough in here to satisfy those at least mildly curious about air travel. My only complaint is sometimes there are referential jokes that I get but aren't funny, or are otherwise distracting or annoying. But it's a minor quibble, and overall I enjoyed learning about the life of a pilot through this writer's eyes.
Kindle Copy Provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
While not for everyone, I feel there's enough in here to satisfy those at least mildly curious about air travel. My only complaint is sometimes there are referential jokes that I get but aren't funny, or are otherwise distracting or annoying. But it's a minor quibble, and overall I enjoyed learning about the life of a pilot through this writer's eyes.
Kindle Copy Provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 14, 2018
I quite enjoyed reading this entertaining memoir from retired Air Canada Captain, Grant Corriveau. I met Grant about thirteen years, when he volunteered for an organization I worked for. I was captivated then by the stories he would tell of life in aviation. I was captivated reading more of his stories in print.
This is an easy read, and one isn’t required to know aviation terms or even have to be a technical kind of person to enjoy this book. I learned quite a bit about the airline industry that I hadn’t known before, and found myself sucked into the cockpit with rapt attention more than once.
The chapters can be read in order (which tells the bigger story from start to finish) or one can jump around and read separate accounts, without missing pertinent details.
This is a great introduction to learning the ins and outs of the industry, and to encourage people to follow their dreams, no matter what age they are.
I received an ecopy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This is an easy read, and one isn’t required to know aviation terms or even have to be a technical kind of person to enjoy this book. I learned quite a bit about the airline industry that I hadn’t known before, and found myself sucked into the cockpit with rapt attention more than once.
The chapters can be read in order (which tells the bigger story from start to finish) or one can jump around and read separate accounts, without missing pertinent details.
This is a great introduction to learning the ins and outs of the industry, and to encourage people to follow their dreams, no matter what age they are.
I received an ecopy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
June 16, 2025
Thanks to CWR Press for the ARC!
"Life itself is ultimately a one-way passage."
Wow, a book written by a Captain! I had never read anything like this before.
I would say it's the perfect book for those working for airlines, but also for regular people who just enjoy traveling and flying, like me. It's nice to understand what's happening on the other side. I don't know anyone who's never imagined what it's like to be responsible for so many lives on the air.
The author shares with us so many facts that marked his life and career. It's inspiring to see the challenges he faced in order to get where he wanted. I think it's beautiful how he values all his professional colleagues who crossed his path along all those years, with whom he has learned so much and also had lots to teach.
"Life itself is ultimately a one-way passage."
Wow, a book written by a Captain! I had never read anything like this before.
I would say it's the perfect book for those working for airlines, but also for regular people who just enjoy traveling and flying, like me. It's nice to understand what's happening on the other side. I don't know anyone who's never imagined what it's like to be responsible for so many lives on the air.
The author shares with us so many facts that marked his life and career. It's inspiring to see the challenges he faced in order to get where he wanted. I think it's beautiful how he values all his professional colleagues who crossed his path along all those years, with whom he has learned so much and also had lots to teach.
April 30, 2018
What happens when the green lights flash in the cockpit, but the red lights indicate an error at the same time? What kind of decisions does a captain have to take during a flight? And does it ever get boring?
These are only some of the questions you get answers for in Uplift. Constructed by small informative pieces in combination with true events that the author and former pilot has lived through, the books is a must for people who love flying. Written informatively and attracting the reader's attention immediately, this is a humorous story that will leave you with more knowledge about the people taking you home when you board that plane.
Uplift was a very pleasant read, strongly recommended for everyone.
These are only some of the questions you get answers for in Uplift. Constructed by small informative pieces in combination with true events that the author and former pilot has lived through, the books is a must for people who love flying. Written informatively and attracting the reader's attention immediately, this is a humorous story that will leave you with more knowledge about the people taking you home when you board that plane.
Uplift was a very pleasant read, strongly recommended for everyone.
April 29, 2018
Unfortunately I struggled through this book. It does have some genuinely interesting insights into a pilot's world and some real moments of excitement but overall it is too bogged down with technical jargon which lost my interest. However, I think plane geeks, enthusiasts and wannabe pilots will love this book.
In the author's words, his career has been fairly routine and his stories are the more mundane type which although weren't enough to hold my attention I think would be fascinating to someone with an real interest in becoming a pilot.
In the author's words, his career has been fairly routine and his stories are the more mundane type which although weren't enough to hold my attention I think would be fascinating to someone with an real interest in becoming a pilot.
July 19, 2018
This book was offered as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Anyone who flies often glances quickly into the cockpit and wonders what it's like to fly a plane. This book's author, a pilot who has worked for 30 years for airlines manages to give you a sense of what it's like to be up front, in charge of a plane and responsible for hundreds of lives. This memoir provides many interesting, insightful and funny stories. I found it to be filled with more technical information that I was interested in but overall it's a great book if you have any interest in aviation!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews