Brian Power-Waters

Brian Power-Waters, retired United States Air Force Major, commercial airline pilot, and author of several airline safety books, passed away July 21 at the Shore Medical Center in Chestertown. The Centreville, MD, resident was 91. Born in London, England, in 1922, to parents Alma Shelley (an artist, actress, and great, great grandniece of Shelley, the poet) and Pierce Power-Waters (a World War I Captain in the Royal Engineers), Brian’s family followed their passion for the theater and settled in New York City when Brian was five years old. Brian developed his love for flying at an early age, often riding his bicycle several miles to Roosevelt Field on Long Island and taking flying lessons at nearby Flushing Airport. He had his first solo flight at the age of 16 and within a year earned his pilot's license. During World War II, Brian was unable to enroll in the US Air Force Aviation Cadet Program because he was not a US citizen. He went to Canada and joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1943, serving as a flight engineer on a Mark 5 Halifax. After the war, Brian became a US citizen and graduated from basic pilot training at Perrin Air Force Base in Sherman, TX. He served five years of active duty and joined the reserves serving in the 104 Tactical Fighter Group in Westfield, MA. In 1954, Brian was hired by Mohawk Airlines which later consolidated into Allegheny Airlines, and then US Airways. Brian flew as Captain for this airline for 28 years. Brian met flight attendant Kay Lawrence in 1956, and they were married later the same year. After years of flying commercial airplanes, Brian grew concerned with safety conditions in the airline industry. In 1972, he wrote his first book on airline safety, Safety Last. Over the next 35 years, he published six more books on air safety. These books reflected his continuing crusade to keep safe the airways he loved so much. After retirement from US Airways in 1982, Brian completed his certification for an aircraft mechanics license. He competed in national aerobatics contests in his Pitts S1S biplane. At the age of 78, Power-Waters received certification to fly ultra-light aircraft and hang gliders. An avid sportsman, Brian earned world champion status benching 290 pounds at the age of 79 - a world record at the time. Brian competed in the Senior Olympics in track and field events. He medaled in over 150 competitions and qualified for the International Senior Olympics, in Sydney, Australia. Brian is survived by his wife, Kay, of Centreville, MD; and four daughters, Lisette Brosan of Annapolis, MD, Laurette Bollinger of Bel Air, MD, Linette Tinelli of Grasonville, MD, and Lanette Power-Waters of Queenstown, MD; and nine grandchildren, Brian, Benjamin and Brayden Bollinger, Geoffrey, Alex and Lauren Tinelli, Connor and Devyn Brosan and Collette Wood. A memorial service will be held 3:00 PM, Wednesday, August 6, 2014, at St. Christopher's Church, 1861 Harbor Drive, Chester, MD 21619. Interment at Arlington will be at a date to be determined in Spring 2015.

Brian Power-Waters

December 19, 1922 - July 21, 2014