Cleared To Climb

About the Book

"Cleared To Climb" is the story of a man who, as long as he could remember, harbored a desire to be a pilot. It is the story of a desire fulfilled as he becomes a military flight instructor, airline pilot, and manager of the aviation department of a large corporation, the Halliburton Company. At Halliburton, he would eventually work directly for the man who later would become Vice-President of the United States, Dick Cheney. This book chronicles the events of a forty-one year career as a pilot.

About the Author

Charles Roy McConnell served as an intelligence operations specialist for the United States Air Force from 1960-1964. From his youth, his desire was to fly. Since the Air Force would not accept him to be a pilot, he took flying lessons in his off-duty time and obtained his commercial pilot license prior to discharge. After re-entering civilian life, he added instrument, multi-engine, and instructor ratings to his resume. Ironically, in 1966, the Air Force hired him, as a civilian, to give Air Force pilot candidates their basic flight training. Later that year, he became a pilot for an airline, flying as co-pilot on DC-3 and Convair 600 aircraft. After more than six years as an airline pilot, he was hired as a corporate pilot for the Halliburton Company, eventually becoming aviation manager and chief pilot. From 1995-2000, he worked directly for Dick Cheney, who would leave Halliburton to become Vice-President of the Unites States. In 2003, McConnell retired from Halliburton after more than thirty years of service. He lives in Duncan, Oklahoma with his wife, Peggy. He is currently pastor of the Hastings Baptist Church, a rural community in south-central Oklahoma.