Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
This is my first book outside of publishing articles in technical journals. I am a graduate of the US Air Force Test Pilot School and the US Air Force Academy, and have been an experimental test pilot since 2008. I am an Associate Fellow with the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and Member of the Society of Flight Test Engineers. In 2011, I was the USAF F-16 project test pilot for the Collier Trophy-winning Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (AGCAS). In my personal life, I am a devoted husband, proud father of two awesome kids, and when not flying all kinds of aircraft I enjoy woodworking, camping, hiking, skiing, cooking and music. My previous publications include “Flight Test Techniques for Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar”, and “Accelerated Development of Flight Tested Sensors and Systems”.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is “Introduction to Fly-by-Wire Flight Control Systems: The professional pilot’s guide to understanding modern aircraft controls”. I wrote this book after receiving an unexpected phone call from a fellow pilot I met at a G650 recurrent training. He’s leading a Part 91 flight department, and wanted to dig a little deeper into fly-by-wire concepts with his other pilots, as a professional development study topic. He knew that I am a test pilot, and asked me if there were any resources beyond the flight manual that might explain a little more of the “how” and “why” of fly-by-wire, beyond normal and non-normal procedures. I thought I could easily dig up and send him additional resources — deeper than the flight manual, but less than an aeronautical engineering PhD dissertation. I found that there is quite an information gap between these two extremes, and ended up writing this book in the process of answering his questions. I promise there is no math, it’s written for pilots!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m not sure what usual writing habits would be for comparison’s sake?
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Tony Kern. Although we share the same last name, we are not related to my knowledge. His books on safety and professionalism in aviation are unmatched.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on a series of training courses related to aerospace product development, flight test, and risk management topics. I plan to release them for on-demand remote learning.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I think having my own website to give more background to my book is useful.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Go for it! It’s exciting to release a book and get feedback from readers.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Do for others as you would have them do for you.
What are you reading now?
I’m reading a lot of diverse material regarding autonomy and artificial intelligence. This is a rapidly-developing area of research.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’d like to write about my experience developing the F-16 Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System. This is such a revolutionary integration of autonomy with human control, and it’s been highly successful in terms of lives saved.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
First of all, I’d want a book on how to build a life raft, plus a celestial navigation reference. Also my Bible, since I wouldn’t really be alone!
Author Websites and Profiles
David Kern Website
David Kern Amazon Profile
David Kern’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account
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