Crew Resource Management

Following the crash of United Airlines Flight 173 at Portland, Oregon on December 28, 1978, aviation training has emphasized the need for strong cockpit management. Over the past thirty-five years, much progress has been made due to the dedicated trainers and facilitators of Crew Resource Management. I wish to commend their efforts and professionalism, and likewise, advocate that crew members and key personnel embrace their expertise and contributions to safety. And, in view of problematic cockpits of today, I believe resources and funding for additional research should be paramount in airline training budgets throughout the world.      

I’m most grateful to AirDisaster.com for making the details of the Portland crash available on its anniversary date.  It’s encouraging to reflect on advancements in airline safety, and also to acknowledge the need for improvements.

My novel, Reaching for Polaris, was inspired by actual events.  It addresses the degradation of airline safety when corruption erodes the efficiency of sound cockpit management.   

Blurbs: Reaching for Polaris

"The protagonist of Jean Chardon’s Reaching for Polaris is beautiful, smart, clever, creative, and she won’t tolerate any BS. Besides her masterful understanding of aviation, Captain Elizabeth Stewart possesses a rich knowledge of opera, horseback riding, fine wine, fine food, and physics. As a federal informant, this dazzling airline pilot gambles her career—and her life—in pursuit of airline safety. She also seeks to recoup millions of dollars fraudulently charged to the United States Government—by schemers hell-bent on stopping her. Elizabeth Stewart is capable of everything and anything—if she survives. Reaching for Polaris is a powerful first novel! Get busy, Ms. Chardon. We want more."
—Leonard Nash, You Can’t Get There from Here and Other Stories


More than a story, Jean Chardon’s Reaching for Polaris offers a realistic and gripping affirmation of gross airline maintenance practices, the mechanisms of legal remedies, and an individual’s daring pursuits to protect the general public. Interesting, historical, and beautifully written! 

—Konrad Kuczak, Esq.

"Jean Chardon’s Reaching for Polaris exposes the frightening dark side of American aviation. The courageous whistle-blowing Captain Elizabeth Stewart leads us through unscrupulous airline practices and an unspoken conspiracy between government agencies in allowing poorly maintained airplanes to fly within US airspace. The captivating story reveals the stress and consequences of an honest, knowledgeable, proficient aviator who risks everything in her attempt to unveil the criminal acts of a nefarious employer whose motto is profit above everything, especially safety. Reaching for Polaris is a compelling novel."

—George A. Kokus, Esq.

"A female pilot heroically confronts safety issues as airplanes and corporate America converge in this hair-raising thriller. You will be breathless. Reaching for Polaris needs to be a film. Kudos to first-time author Jean Chardon for her deep insights into the underbelly of the commercial airline industry."

—Jo Ann Lederman

"Convincing, suspenseful, and educational, Reaching for Polaris provides an intense social reminder that business practices often compromise safety. It’s a chilling story and an astute disclosure of problematic aircraft." 

—Klara Farkas, Photographer, Miami, Florida

“Compelling reading … Chardon exposes the dangerous secrets of the aviation industry … the riveting intricacies of the plot are testament to her professional credibility as an airline pilot.”
—Professor Virginia Sward

My aviation thriller, "Reaching for Polaris," is now available for download on Kindle!

Aviation Safety

NPR's feature of August 16, 2013, "Why Do Cargo Airplanes Have Spottier Safety Records?" addresses serious issues within the air cargo industry.  I believe this candid report serves the general public, since often, the disparity of regulations and other important factors are not known.  Also, I maintain that accidents should not be a precursor to enhanced regulations and oversight.