IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU SIT

by Fred McClement ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 26, 1969

Fasten your seat belts for severe turbulence likely to be created by this pilot's expose of the dangers of flight. In a careful survey of scores of recent disasters, the author looks into underlying causes such as flying in hazardous weather (including conditions no one yet understands); inadequate exits, firefighting equipment and ground crew service; the strain of jet flight on aging, overworked pilots; the chaos in the air space over our congested jetports. Many frightening facts emerge: a probability of over 2000 near-collisions a year, based on FAA reports; a rating by the Air Line Pilots Association which calls 217 American airports (35% of the total) completely unsafe in case of accident. Projecting a minimum of 10,000 annual air deaths by the mid-70's, McClement offers some advice to government and industry. A few of his proposals seem contradictory (he suggests baggage flights to precede passenger jets, which would seem to crowd the skies even further). Some seem inadequate to the enormously complex problem posed by the escalating public demand for service and the utter irresponsibility of the airlines. For this reason, one wishes he had investigated the politics of air safety. Still, the book effectively flashes a warning signal. Well written, and offering all the fascination of a true horror story, it should alert air travelers to what they might pay later if they fly now.

Pub Date: June 26, 1969

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Holt, Rinehart & Winston

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 1969

Categories: NONFICTION