While attending the University of Miami, he took a job as an apprentice bricklayer. He arranged to take all his course work in the mornings so that he could work afternoons. After a year, he tested and became a journeyman bricklayer.

Brian graduated from basic pilot training at Perrin Air Force Base in Sherman, Texas, and moved on to Lubbock where he graduated in class 50-F. He earned his wings on the great B-25. Later, he was assigned to MATS flying C-54's, where he became an Instructor Pilot. Unfortunately, the Air Force wanted officers first, and pilots second. The prospect of 4 hours of fly time a month was not what Brian considered to be FLYING. After 5 years of active duty in the US Air Force, Brian left the Air Force and joined the reserve. Flying was his life; he would join an airline. (shown at left - Captain Power-Waters with wife, Kay, and a B17 Flying Fortress)

Later Mohawk Airlines was consolidated into Allegheny Airlines, and then US Airways. Brian flew as Captain for this airline for 28 years.

In the reserves, he joined the 104 Tactical Fighter Group in Westfield, Massachusetts. It was there he had the opportunity to fly the T-33 and the great F-86. To fly any aircraft is a pleasure; to fly a fighter is a great privilege!

After years of flying commercial airplanes his passion never wavered. It was this zeal that sent Brian on a new journey. Flying was his life, but it was becoming more and more dangerous in the sky. Brian saw much of this danger caused by the regulations set up by the Federal Aviation Association. Lives were at risk. So, in 1972, with the same fervor he held for flying, he wrote his first book on airline safety, Safety Last. His intension with this book was to shed to light the inherent dangers for travelers flying commercial aircraft. Not much has changed since 1972 and, in some areas, safety has deteriorated.

In 1981, his pen was called to paper once again. The PATCO strike stirred more than just a media frenzy. Seeing the unjust treatment of the hard-working men and women of the air traffic control system, Brian rallied to their defense. In his second book, Margin for Error: None, Brian wrote about the job of an air traffic controller, and the reasons for the strike. Brian stood fast beside the controllers whose daily routine included managing faulty, unreliable systems that could cause a controller's scope to go blank at any moment and force him or her to guide up to 18 aircraft by memory. His book received national attention, sending him on television programs, such as Larry King Live, The Joan Lunden Show, Johnny Carson, and Night Line telling the world that the skies were not as safe as they could be. Unfortunately, his notoriety placed his job in jeopardy: US Airways grounded him. It was one thing to write a book about the problems of flying in the US; it was another thing altogether to get on national television and say it out loud.

Most recently, Brian has published 3 more books on air safety: 93 Seconds to Disaster, Is It Safe?, and Danger in the Air. These two books reflect his continuing crusade to keep safe the airways he loves so much. (shown at left: Capt. Power-Waters with wife, Kay, and a F-86 Sabre)

An avid sportsman, in 1995, at the age of 73, he started to really come into his own as a Senior Olympian, throwing the shot, discus, javelin, and running the 50- and 100-meter sprints. He has been an avid weight lifter all his life, and has now earned world champion status benching 290 pounds at the age of 79-A new world record. He has earned over 100 track and field medals and 50 power-lifting trophies. Additionally, Brian scuba dives, skis, ice skates, plays tennis, and is an active skydiver with over 50 jumps.