In the wake of the recent tragedy of the Germanwings crash, it is natural and understandable to be apprehensive about air travel. The incident has already caused officials to reassess security protocols; surely another wave of reforms is in store for travelers. The best you can do is stay informed. In his 2013 book Cockpit Confidential: Everything You Need to Know About Air Travel: Questions, Answers, and Reflections, former pilot Patrick Smith pulled back the curtain on the inner workings of air travel, including the misconceptions, practices, and culture of the industry.

You can purchase the book here.