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Seconds to Disaster
by
"Everyone Who Flies, Or Loves Someone Who Flies Should Read This"
Captain 'Sully' Sullenberger, Miracle On The Hudson.
As with the Air France Flight 447 tragedy, much of the time air crashes are a confluence of events; a cascade of bad luck, bad decisions, inappropriate airline company policy, the failure of aviation regulators, and sometimes insufficient training, o
...moreKindle Edition, 138 pages
Published
October 8th 2012
(first published July 10th 2012)
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Community Reviews
Showing 1-30

Start your review of Seconds to Disaster

Wow! What a read. It's going to be hard for me to get on any more MD-80s, 737s, or an Airbus every again. Even though I LOVE airplanes. This book was incredibly insightful. Perfect for an aviation buff such as myself. Having had an "insider view" into some aspects of these things in my career as a mechanic, I felt as though I was getting the full 411 for a change.
I love Air Emergency. I have this sick obsession with airplane crashes. What causes them? Was it mechanical? I think that's partly bec ...more
I love Air Emergency. I have this sick obsession with airplane crashes. What causes them? Was it mechanical? I think that's partly bec ...more

In this book, the authors do a credible job of documenting the current (2012) state of airline safety. Although clearly the safest way to travel long distances, passenger safety has been compromised significantly since the beginning of the worldwide economic downturn. All parties including the manufacturers, the airlines, governments, and airports have been operating under immense financial pressures. Once well paid pilots are a thing of the past, and those employed by regional carriers often ea
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This was a quick, easy read - full of interesting tidbits for anyone who is really into aviation, or even for those who are just curious about some of the 'behind the scenes' factors at an airline. There are many facts that will probably scare you, and some that will make you mad - but certainly you won't look at flying the same way again.
This must have been an amateur publication, because I found numerous typos and grammar mistakes, but it wasn't too distracting. Overall, I'll recommend this t ...more
This must have been an amateur publication, because I found numerous typos and grammar mistakes, but it wasn't too distracting. Overall, I'll recommend this t ...more

Chesley Sullenberger has said anyone who flies, or loves someone who flies should read this, and he's right. Scary stuff we all should know.
...more

A few years ago, my husband and I were on a flight from Los Angeles to San Francisco. As usual, the preflight announcement stated that in case of an emergency, the crew was trained to help. Soon after we were told we could unfasten our seatbelts, the flight attendants began rolling the cart in the aisle to serve beverages. Just then we hit a 300-foot air pocket. Things went flying; people who had unfastened their seatbelts hit their heads on the overhead storage compartments. The flight attenda
...more

Please Make This Book Available for All Passengers, and Anyone Even Remotely Connected to the Airline Industry!
If you're reading this review, and you are in a position to sponsor the distribution of this book to anyone and everyone even remotely connected to the airline Industry, please, please, please, help do it!!! This needs to be taught to anyone and everyone in schools, colleges, government offices, travel agencies, and especially to potential passengers!!! If an airline is known to be dang ...more
If you're reading this review, and you are in a position to sponsor the distribution of this book to anyone and everyone even remotely connected to the airline Industry, please, please, please, help do it!!! This needs to be taught to anyone and everyone in schools, colleges, government offices, travel agencies, and especially to potential passengers!!! If an airline is known to be dang ...more

If you fly frequently, Seconds to Disaster by Glenn Meade and Ray Ronan is a must-read book. Beginning with the tragedy of Air France flight 447, which plunged into the Atlantic on a flight from Rio to Paris, the authors detail how a combination of bad luck, bad decision, insufficient training, poor regulation, and pursuit of profits at the expense of safety puts thousands of lives at risk, and how they have contributed to the death or injury of an uncounted number of airline passengers. I say u
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"Meade and Ronan pull back the curtain on the airline industry and shine a bright light on the dark corners. Everyone who flies or cares about someone who flies should read this eye-opening account of the current state of commercial air travel. What you don't see can hurt you."
Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, retired airline pilot, consultant, speaker, CBS News Aviation and Safety Expert, and author of Making a Difference: Stories of Vision and Courage from America's Leaders and Highest Duty: ...more
Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, retired airline pilot, consultant, speaker, CBS News Aviation and Safety Expert, and author of Making a Difference: Stories of Vision and Courage from America's Leaders and Highest Duty: ...more

A real insight into Airlines and their safety or lack of. Having worked in this industry for a part i give a huge thumbs up to this books Authors! Read this book to make yourself more aware. If youre a parent? It makes you realise that you as a parent can assure better safety for your little ones when flying. Read the tips and enjoy your trip!

“Everyone who flies should read this.”
- Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, Captain of the Miracle on the Hudson.
The Kindle edition of this book is 121 pages packed with descriptions of air disasters and how they could have been avoided. The overlying theme presented throughout the book is that airlines are driven by profits with safety being neglected, leading to pilot insufficient training and experience, with overwork resulting in fatigue, poor maintenance of aircraft, and lack of child safety. The ...more
- Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, Captain of the Miracle on the Hudson.
The Kindle edition of this book is 121 pages packed with descriptions of air disasters and how they could have been avoided. The overlying theme presented throughout the book is that airlines are driven by profits with safety being neglected, leading to pilot insufficient training and experience, with overwork resulting in fatigue, poor maintenance of aircraft, and lack of child safety. The ...more

If you're concerned about the safety of flying, you should read this. If you're not concerned, read this and you will be.
There's stuff in this that will keep you up nights, but there are also some good tips that could save your life. Like where to sit on a plane. Front? Back? Middle? Nope, none of that matters. What does matter is how many rows you are from an exit. And, of course, paying attention to the instructions at the beginning of the flight no matter how well you think you know it. And ...more
There's stuff in this that will keep you up nights, but there are also some good tips that could save your life. Like where to sit on a plane. Front? Back? Middle? Nope, none of that matters. What does matter is how many rows you are from an exit. And, of course, paying attention to the instructions at the beginning of the flight no matter how well you think you know it. And ...more

Maybe it's weird but I love books like this ... this was well written and very interesting.
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Okay. Not great, but okay.
Not as much information as I would have liked. It was alright, but I can't say that I learned anything new. ...more
Not as much information as I would have liked. It was alright, but I can't say that I learned anything new. ...more

If you were expecting a detailed look at air crashes and their ensuing investigations/consequences, you are going to be sorely disappointed! Bluntly put, this book is just a lengthy gripe about how the airlines sacrifice safety for profits. It could have been a noble endeavor. Although most of us suspect as much, it would have definitely helped to be explicitly made aware of this alarming problem. However, the authors carry this to the very excess, so much so that almost every other paragraph be
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Informative read
what was especially interesting to me, was the information on children (under the age of two) and the lack cohesive safety rules and or regulations for the world's smallest travelers.
also eye opening to me was how varying the safety regulations are from domestic U.S. flights and international flights agencies.
the very idea in a aviation world that safety is not job #1 for the traveling public, but rather the $ bottom line is frightening and frustrating.
it was for me a very eye o ...more
what was especially interesting to me, was the information on children (under the age of two) and the lack cohesive safety rules and or regulations for the world's smallest travelers.
also eye opening to me was how varying the safety regulations are from domestic U.S. flights and international flights agencies.
the very idea in a aviation world that safety is not job #1 for the traveling public, but rather the $ bottom line is frightening and frustrating.
it was for me a very eye o ...more

Sep 12, 2014
Alex Cruse
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
aviation,
own-kindle
Aviation is my thing and learning about why accidents occur fascinates me and is important to me as my dad is an amateur private pilot. This book takes a hard look at the commercial industry which I liked but makes you feel somewhat hopeless as a passenger because the industry is so focused on the bottom-line. The book has good case studies to back-up its claims though I felt the analysis of Air France 447 was a bit empty in regards to what they were trying to accomplish.

Jul 07, 2015
Leslie
rated it
really liked it
Recommends it for:
any one who flies commercial
Shelves:
non-fiction
If you fly you need to read this book. Detailing why bargain airlines may not be a bargain, why your pilot may make less than a guy who makes your fries at the airport and why if you travel with a child you should buy a seat and bring a booster / car seat. Giving the inside story some of the accidents you have seen on Smithsonian Channel's air disasters. It will make you believe that you should join the pope in kissing the tarmac when you land safely.
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Very Informative
This book was a real "eye opener" into the strengths and flaws of the aircraft industry. Focusing mainly in Boeing manufactured passenger jets, the author paints a clear picture of several crashes the could have been avoided or wouldn't have been as damaging as far as the airplane or the loss of lives. It is researched with linkable side stories or photos.
I would definitely recommend this book especially if you're a frequent flyer or you fly with children. ...more
This book was a real "eye opener" into the strengths and flaws of the aircraft industry. Focusing mainly in Boeing manufactured passenger jets, the author paints a clear picture of several crashes the could have been avoided or wouldn't have been as damaging as far as the airplane or the loss of lives. It is researched with linkable side stories or photos.
I would definitely recommend this book especially if you're a frequent flyer or you fly with children. ...more

Sep 07, 2015
Chad Rexin
added it
Insightful look into some airline disasters
This goes into why some airline crashes occurred and what can be done to prevent future crashes. This doesn't cover every airplane crash, but does cover some of the larger and more recent ones that have occurred. Most importantly this book covers a few safety tips that could be the difference between life and death if you are a passenger in a passenger jet. ...more
This goes into why some airline crashes occurred and what can be done to prevent future crashes. This doesn't cover every airplane crash, but does cover some of the larger and more recent ones that have occurred. Most importantly this book covers a few safety tips that could be the difference between life and death if you are a passenger in a passenger jet. ...more

Exciting
Wow, what a exciting collection of unfortunate airline disasters! This is a thoroughly enjoying read with well developed story lines and fascinating, well researched material. At times I almost felt like I was there and that evinces genius writing.
However, statistics still proves that flying is the safest mode of transportation. But even so, as much as I enjoyed this read, I wouldn't advise an edgy frequent flyer to read it. ...more
Wow, what a exciting collection of unfortunate airline disasters! This is a thoroughly enjoying read with well developed story lines and fascinating, well researched material. At times I almost felt like I was there and that evinces genius writing.
However, statistics still proves that flying is the safest mode of transportation. But even so, as much as I enjoyed this read, I wouldn't advise an edgy frequent flyer to read it. ...more

This was a quick read but still very disturbing and scary. If you are afraid of flying this book would only intensify that fear. We all want to believe that the airlines have our best interests at heart but of course the reality is, that they just want to keep their profit margins up whilst denying any wrongdoing. A very interesting read that will haunt you afterwards.

The gospel. If it ain't Boeing, I ain't going.
...more
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Glenn Meade was born into a working-class family in Dublin, Ireland. After finishing secondary school he had a tough time choosing between studying theology or engineering, but eventually engineering won out and he studied telecommunications. Soon after graduating, he lived and worked in New Hampshire. He worked as a specialist in the field of pilot training—having had a life-long interest in avia
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“A hundred years ago, it could take you the better part of a year to get from New York to California; whereas today, because of equipment problems at O’Hare, you can't get there at all.” Dave Barry”
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“Because aircraft spares are incredibly expensive, and in the case of older aircraft hard to source, the black-market in aviation spares is highly profitable. One head of a counterfeit parts ring said she had moved on from distributing drugs to aircraft parts, simply because it was much more lucrative.”
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