
Spinning at the Boundary
The Making of an Air Traffic Controller
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
$0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Buy for $19.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Thomas Block
-
By:
-
David Larson
About this listen
Air traffic control is one of the most misunderstood occupations in the world, and yet it affects anyone that has ever... or will ever fly in an aircraft. This audiobook tells all. You may never fly again.
©2015 David Larson (P)2015 David LarsonListeners also enjoyed...
-
Flying Blind
- The 737 MAX Tragedy and the Fall of Boeing
- By: Peter Robison
- Narrated by: Feodor Chin
- Length: 10 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Boeing is a century-old titan of industry. It played a major role in the early days of commercial flight, World War II bombing missions, and moon landings. The plane maker remains a cornerstone of the U.S. economy, as well as a linchpin in the awesome routine of modern air travel. But in 2018 and 2019, two crashes of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 killed 346 people. The crashes exposed a shocking pattern of malfeasance, leading to the biggest crisis in the company’s history—and one of the costliest corporate scandals ever.
-
-
(Revised). Missing some, but informative.
- By Amazon Customer on 12-04-21
By: Peter Robison
-
Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge: FAA-H-8083-25B
- Federal Aviation Administration
- By: Federal Aviation Administration
- Narrated by: Airman Audio
- Length: 21 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge provides basic knowledge that is essential for pilots. This handbook introduces pilots to the broad spectrum of knowledge that will be needed as they progress in their pilot training. Except for the Code of Federal Regulations pertinent to civil aviation, most of the knowledge areas applicable to pilot certification are presented. This handbook is useful to beginning pilots, as well as those pursuing more advanced pilot certificates.
-
-
Amazing!!!
- By pat on 09-18-21
-
747
- Creating the World's First Jumbo Jet and Other Adventures from a Life in Aviation
- By: Joe Sutter
- Narrated by: Paul Boehmer
- Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
747 is the thrilling story behind "the Queen of the Skies" - the Boeing 747 - as told by Joe Sutter, one of the most celebrated engineers of the 20th century, who spearheaded its design and construction. Sutter's vivid narrative takes us back to a time when American technology was cutting-edge and jet travel was still glamorous and new. With wit and warmth, he gives an insider's sense of the larger than life-size personalities - and the tensions - in the aeronautical world.
-
-
What a beautiful plane
- By Jean on 10-18-13
By: Joe Sutter
-
Bogeys and Bandits
- The Making of a Fighter Pilot
- By: Robert Gandt
- Narrated by: Thomas Block
- Length: 11 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Americans are fascinated by the undeniable mystique of the elite world of Navy fighter pilots. In Bogeys and Bandits, Robert Gandt takes listeners on a thrilling ride in the FA-18 Hornet, one of the fastest, sleekest, and deadliest aircraft in the world. Gandt lived and worked with several pilots learning to fly the Hornet: the identical twins from Middle America; the computer nerd with a penchant for speed; the grandson of a Tuskegee Airman, trying to live up to a proud legacy; and two women dealing with the post-Tailhook world of the Navy.
-
-
Great book but the narrator...
- By AshliDF on 08-03-17
By: Robert Gandt
-
Dangerous Lessons and Guardian Angels
- An Airline Pilot's Story
- By: P. J. Spivack
- Narrated by: Tom Lennon
- Length: 7 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This is an action-packed, true adventure book that spans 35 years of airline flying. There are stories about transporting guns to Biafra in order to help the Independent Nigerians, flying cargo up and down the Berlin Air Corridor during the Cold War, as well as missions deep into Russia. Many of the stories in this book will put you on the edge of your seat; for example, when the author is forced to make a death-defying landing of a four-engine jetliner in total fog.
-
-
Excellent book - great aviation experiences...
- By Mark on 06-08-17
By: P. J. Spivack
-
The Aviators
- Eddie Rickenbacker, Jimmy Doolittle, Charles Lindbergh, and the Epic Age of Flight
- By: Winston Groom
- Narrated by: Robertson Dean
- Length: 17 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Gifted storyteller Winston Groom, the best-selling author of Forrest Gump, has written the fascinating story of three extraordinary heroes who defined aviation during the great age of flight: Charles Lindbergh, Eddie Rickenbacker, and Jimmy Doolittle. These cleverly interwoven tales of their heart-stopping adventures take us from the feats of World War I through the heroism of World War II and beyond, including daring military raids and survival at sea, and will appeal to fans of Unbroken, The Greatest Generation, and Flyboys.
-
-
Too much a hagiography
- By Joseph Valenzi on 09-08-15
By: Winston Groom
-
Flying Blind
- The 737 MAX Tragedy and the Fall of Boeing
- By: Peter Robison
- Narrated by: Feodor Chin
- Length: 10 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Boeing is a century-old titan of industry. It played a major role in the early days of commercial flight, World War II bombing missions, and moon landings. The plane maker remains a cornerstone of the U.S. economy, as well as a linchpin in the awesome routine of modern air travel. But in 2018 and 2019, two crashes of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 killed 346 people. The crashes exposed a shocking pattern of malfeasance, leading to the biggest crisis in the company’s history—and one of the costliest corporate scandals ever.
-
-
(Revised). Missing some, but informative.
- By Amazon Customer on 12-04-21
By: Peter Robison
-
Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge: FAA-H-8083-25B
- Federal Aviation Administration
- By: Federal Aviation Administration
- Narrated by: Airman Audio
- Length: 21 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge provides basic knowledge that is essential for pilots. This handbook introduces pilots to the broad spectrum of knowledge that will be needed as they progress in their pilot training. Except for the Code of Federal Regulations pertinent to civil aviation, most of the knowledge areas applicable to pilot certification are presented. This handbook is useful to beginning pilots, as well as those pursuing more advanced pilot certificates.
-
-
Amazing!!!
- By pat on 09-18-21
-
747
- Creating the World's First Jumbo Jet and Other Adventures from a Life in Aviation
- By: Joe Sutter
- Narrated by: Paul Boehmer
- Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
747 is the thrilling story behind "the Queen of the Skies" - the Boeing 747 - as told by Joe Sutter, one of the most celebrated engineers of the 20th century, who spearheaded its design and construction. Sutter's vivid narrative takes us back to a time when American technology was cutting-edge and jet travel was still glamorous and new. With wit and warmth, he gives an insider's sense of the larger than life-size personalities - and the tensions - in the aeronautical world.
-
-
What a beautiful plane
- By Jean on 10-18-13
By: Joe Sutter
-
Bogeys and Bandits
- The Making of a Fighter Pilot
- By: Robert Gandt
- Narrated by: Thomas Block
- Length: 11 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Americans are fascinated by the undeniable mystique of the elite world of Navy fighter pilots. In Bogeys and Bandits, Robert Gandt takes listeners on a thrilling ride in the FA-18 Hornet, one of the fastest, sleekest, and deadliest aircraft in the world. Gandt lived and worked with several pilots learning to fly the Hornet: the identical twins from Middle America; the computer nerd with a penchant for speed; the grandson of a Tuskegee Airman, trying to live up to a proud legacy; and two women dealing with the post-Tailhook world of the Navy.
-
-
Great book but the narrator...
- By AshliDF on 08-03-17
By: Robert Gandt
-
Dangerous Lessons and Guardian Angels
- An Airline Pilot's Story
- By: P. J. Spivack
- Narrated by: Tom Lennon
- Length: 7 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This is an action-packed, true adventure book that spans 35 years of airline flying. There are stories about transporting guns to Biafra in order to help the Independent Nigerians, flying cargo up and down the Berlin Air Corridor during the Cold War, as well as missions deep into Russia. Many of the stories in this book will put you on the edge of your seat; for example, when the author is forced to make a death-defying landing of a four-engine jetliner in total fog.
-
-
Excellent book - great aviation experiences...
- By Mark on 06-08-17
By: P. J. Spivack
-
The Aviators
- Eddie Rickenbacker, Jimmy Doolittle, Charles Lindbergh, and the Epic Age of Flight
- By: Winston Groom
- Narrated by: Robertson Dean
- Length: 17 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Gifted storyteller Winston Groom, the best-selling author of Forrest Gump, has written the fascinating story of three extraordinary heroes who defined aviation during the great age of flight: Charles Lindbergh, Eddie Rickenbacker, and Jimmy Doolittle. These cleverly interwoven tales of their heart-stopping adventures take us from the feats of World War I through the heroism of World War II and beyond, including daring military raids and survival at sea, and will appeal to fans of Unbroken, The Greatest Generation, and Flyboys.
-
-
Too much a hagiography
- By Joseph Valenzi on 09-08-15
By: Winston Groom
-
The Night Stalkers
- By: Michael J. Durant, Steven Hartov, Lt. Col - Ret Robert L. Johnson
- Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor
- Length: 11 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Here are thrilling, never-before-heard stories of the Army's elite aviation unit - the most daring and professional helicopter crews in the world. Special Operations pilots are notoriously reticent; they don't talk about their missions, at least not to anyone outside their small community. But now, with the publication of The Night Stalkers, Durant and Steven Hartov shed a fascinating light on these mysterious super commandos and take readers into a world they have only imagined.
-
-
A book that does justice
- By Robert on 10-05-07
By: Michael J. Durant, and others
-
Apollo 13
- By: Jim Lovell, Jeffrey Kluger
- Narrated by: Fred Sanders
- Length: 16 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In April 1970, during the glory days of the Apollo space program, NASA sent Navy Captain Jim Lovell and two other astronauts on America's fifth mission to the moon. Only 55 hours into the flight of Apollo 13, disaster struck: a mysterious explosion rocked the ship, and soon its oxygen and power began draining away. Written with all the color and drama of the best fiction, Apollo 13 (previously published as Lost Moon) tells the full story of the moon shot that almost ended in catastrophe.
-
-
Great story but a terrible narrator
- By Nicci on 01-29-20
By: Jim Lovell, and others
-
A Day in the Life of an Airline Pilot
- By: Robert Lawrence
- Narrated by: Michelle Volz
- Length: 1 hr and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
My name is Robert Lawrence. I am an airline pilot. Before becoming an airline pilot, I imagined that pilots earned huge salaries, traveled to exotic locations, and cavorted with beautiful people. I was mistaken. In this audiobook, I explain how I prepare for a flight; what happens in the flight deck; why delays occur; and what I do when I am done flying for the day. I also share passenger behaviors that drive flight crews crazy.
-
-
Excellent Inside Look and Interesting Story
- By Rick on 08-09-18
By: Robert Lawrence
-
Skygods
- The Fall of Pan Am
- By: Robert Gandt
- Narrated by: Thomas Block
- Length: 11 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Originally published by Wm. Morrow, in 1995, Skygods is the saga of America's most glamorous airline - from its meteoric ascent to its plunge to extinction. Pan Am blazed the way across the world's oceans with its magnificent Clipper ships, launched the first international jet service, was the first to fly the behemoth 747, was the lead customer for America's SST and the Concorde, and was even taking reservations for the first commercial flights to the moon.
-
-
An Absorbing Slice of Social History
- By S. Perry on 06-01-14
By: Robert Gandt
-
Black and White
- Tales of the Texas Highway Patrol
- By: Ben H. English
- Narrated by: Christopher Lane
- Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
You know I never saw an officer, an EMT, a fireman, or an ER crew ask anyone what their politics were and then refuse to care for them because of their answer. The color of skin pigment, the last name, the amount of money in a bank account, none of that mattered. All that mattered was someone needed help, and they had the skills as well as the burning desire to do so. Yes, they are only human and internally flawed and prejudiced as any other. But their true nature, their crowning glory in mortal life, is their ability to rise above those flaws and prejudices when called upon.
-
-
Great book
- By Jake on 04-09-25
By: Ben H. English
-
My War in the Jungle: The Long-Delayed Memoir of a Marine Lieutenant in Vietnam 1968–69
- By: G. M. Davis
- Narrated by: Alex Hyde-White
- Length: 5 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This memoir tells the story of a Marine rifle platoon commander’s time in the mountainous jungle of the northernmost province of the then Republic of Vietnam. While tasked with fighting the enemy, G.M. Davis made some great friends but saw too much death. The author tracks his tour of duty in the jungle, leading Marines not against the Viet Cong but against the North Vietnamese Army, a well-trained and well-supplied professional army dedicated to unifying the two Vietnams.
-
-
Outstanding
- By Andrew on 02-04-24
By: G. M. Davis
-
Turn and Burn
- A Fighter Pilot’s Memories and Confessions
- By: Darrell J. Ahrens
- Narrated by: Eric Jason Martin
- Length: 7 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Turn and Burn the author takes the readers with him in the cockpit as he shares the fulfillment of his boyhood dream and some of his most memorable adventures and misadventures during a 24-year flying career as a fighter pilot, both in combat and peacetime.
-
-
Absolutely Fantastic
- By Wayne Fannon on 05-11-21
-
The Right Stuff
- By: Tom Wolfe
- Narrated by: Dennis Quaid
- Length: 15 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Millions of words have poured forth about man's trip to the moon, but until now few people have had a sense of the most engrossing side of the adventure: namely, what went on in the minds of the astronauts themselves - in space, on the moon, and even during certain odysseys on earth. It is this, the inner life of the astronauts, that Tom Wolfe describes with his almost uncanny empathetic powers that made The Right Stuff a classic.
-
-
Righteous Book, Righteous Narrator, Righteous MEN!
- By Gillian on 02-08-18
By: Tom Wolfe
-
Fighter Pilot
- The Memoirs of Legendary Ace Robin Olds
- By: Robin Olds, Christina Olds, Ed Rasimus
- Narrated by: Robertson Dean
- Length: 17 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A larger-than-life hero with a towering personality, Robin Olds was a graduate of West Point and an inductee in the National College Football Hall of Fame for his All-American performance for Army. In World War II, Olds quickly became a top fighter pilot and squadron commander by the age of 22—a double ace with twelve aerial victories. But it was in Vietnam where the man became a legend.
-
-
Top Notch Audiobook
- By R. A. Frank on 10-08-10
By: Robin Olds, and others
-
Airframe
- A Novel
- By: Michael Crichton
- Narrated by: Frances Cassidy
- Length: 11 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Airframe is nonstop Crichton: the extraordinary mixture of super suspense and authentic information on a subject of compelling interest that has been a Crichton hallmark since The Andromeda Strain.
-
-
A Good Listen & a Solid Story
- By Vic on 06-26-03
By: Michael Crichton
-
CFI! The Book
- A Satirical Aviation Comedy
- By: Alex Stone
- Narrated by: Ray Lesniewski
- Length: 3 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
An underpaid, overworked certified flight instructor cheats death while attempting to teach a cast of incompetent student pilots to fly at a skeezy South Florida flight school; all in the quest to build flight time so he can get a “real job” at an airline. The planes break, the regs break, metal gets bent, students are lost at sea, and a Top Gun wannabe student, who has 400 hours of flight instruction, still hasn’t made his first solo flight.
-
-
Entertaining and Funny
- By Jeff Meyers on 03-11-19
By: Alex Stone
-
Viper Pilot
- The Autobiography of One of America's Most Decorated Combat Pilots
- By: Dan Hampton
- Narrated by: John Pruden
- Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sure to rank as one of the greatest aviation memoirs ever written, Viper Pilot is an Air Force legend's thrilling eyewitness account of modern air warfare. From 1986 to 2006, Lt. Col. Dan Hampton was a leading member of the Wild Weasels, the elite Air Force fighter squadrons whose mission is recognized as the most dangerous job in modern air combat. Weasels are the first planes sent into a war zone, flying deep behind enemy lines purposely seeking to draw fire from surface-to-air missiles and artillery. They must skillfully evade being shot down - and then return to destroy the threats, thereby making the skies safe for everyone else to follow.
-
-
FINALLY A Pilot Tells it Like it is!!
- By aaron on 10-26-12
By: Dan Hampton
What listeners say about Spinning at the Boundary
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Desire Thorn
- 08-08-24
The realism and sarcasm in a type A environment.
I love this fact finder unapologetic asshole.
I loved this book because I’m not a controller but was curious about the functions of that job. As a woman I would probably wouldn’t survive in that field or end up black listed and creating a go fund me to get bailed out for bitch slapping some idiot. Anyhow, I loved the voice of Tom Block , the tempo as it brought calm in the chaos on the tales, scary facts and anecdotes.
Great book, a lot of numbers and lingo for the non aviary wise peeps but a blast and entertaining.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Gil
- 09-15-15
Good Lord, I just didn't know.....
Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?
From pranks to serious acknowledgement of a problem that we as frequent flyers in this country must now face, this book was an eye opener. Time well spent.
What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)
Many of the legal issues and the manner with which they were presented were beyond my ability to digest, yet, I still felt that I grasped enough to realize the concern of the author and the great need for reform.
Which scene was your favorite?
The author dealing with each new location assignment during his career was quite interesting.
Could you see Spinning at the Boundary being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?
Maybe a TV series.
Any additional comments?
Amazing to me how Mr. Larson was able to remember so many incidents, in so much detail. Quite an eye opener into this very serious line of work.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mark L. Berry
- 10-13-15
The ABCs of ATC
What other book might you compare Spinning at the Boundary to and why?
A complimentary read is 'Secrets from the Tower: an O'Hare Air Traffic Controller's Personal Stories of Life and Aviation' by Bob Richards.
What about Thomas Block’s performance did you like?
I'm a fan of Thomas Block's storytelling.
Any additional comments?
Much like the 'For Dummies' series of books, this memoir reveals technical info infused with an edgy sense of humor, and metaphors galore. 'Spinning at the Boundary' is the scoop on those who steer from the (radar) scope. 'Ear muffs' warning: Lots of graphic language. Also, there are plenty of accusations and finger pointing in this former Air Traffic Controller's tell-all.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Ken
- 01-29-16
Spinning at the earphones 😊
As a past military ground crew and aviator I found the book interesting and often very funny. Larsons style of honestly telling his anecdotes coupled
With self deprecation and humor was very entertaining.
On the down side anyone who does not have an extensive background in aviation, air and ground aerodrome practices and a good "air sense" is highly advises to gloss over the detailed descriptions of air traffic vectoring and general radio and physical activities by the characters here in or you'll be spinning at the earphones.
Mr Block was the perfect and possibly only professional narrator in the industry who could pull this one off given his history as a international heavy jet commercial pilot for almost half a century. His excellent narration techniques and voice were well up to the task as usual.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- kevin malloy
- 06-27-20
fascinating behind-the-scenes account
This is a very well-written (and in audio version well-read) account of the life of an air traffic controller whose career spanned key decades.
Since it paints a disturbing picture up through 2008, I’m glad I flew as a passenger in that period without incident—surely a tribute to superb work by controllers in difficult conditions. I’m curious to read an updated account.
The book is quite profane, even crude, in its language—but it is real-life language and I was fine with it, indeed it’s pretty amusing if you’re not a snowflake. And it was in no way offensive to any group or gender, just to people doing stupid things.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Ron Fink
- 08-23-20
Bad Vibes
It’s unbelievable a controller used to make and retired on $167,000. No one is worth that kind money with only high school diploma.
That’s why FAA upgrading to ADS-B more computer and direct routing.
All the incompetence this writer talks about is depressing.
Braggart as well.
I have a Money private plane corvette wife has Ferrari come on and so sour attitude on life.
Be glad your healthy most important thing thanking your Blessings.
Very negative book don’t bother announcer could been better one too.
Overall ungracious self absorbed book.
Don’t waste you money.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful