Customer Reviews

Flying Blind, Flying Safe

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

As a 10,000+ hour turbojet pilot, my opinion is that the book is riddled with falsehoods labeled as fact. Ms. Schiavo has done aviation in general, and the flying public specifically, a grave injustice with her unqualified writings and scare tactics. Example: she claims that pressurized air inside a commercial jetliner is sealed inside and everyone breathes the same contaminated air for the duration of the flight. Fact: There is a constant exchange of air every two or three minutes. If there wasn't, the aircraft would eventually rupture like an over-inflated tire. Ms. Schiavo's area of expertise is law, not aviation. She imagined conspiracies everywhere she looked. She claims to be an experienced pilot where in fact she has very little flight time as a pilot and has flown nothing more complex than a simple single-engine aircraft. The book could have been superlative had she researched the subject, used the services of an experienced aviation advisor, and been far less emotional. My advice is to wait for a factual re-write. Don't waste your money on this one.

Schiavo's book, although meant to be a blockbuster, was obviously completed in a rush after she resigned her position as Inspector General in charge of overseeing the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). It could have been a much better book if the timing wasn't so critical. Numerous factual errors and some amatuerish prose (even with a second author) make the book quite a bit less than it could have been. Although the book contains references, there is no index (a large omission in any work of non-fiction).

First, it must be realized that the FAA has many good and conscientious employees who try to do the job of overseeing our nation's air carrier industry with too few resources. The FAA's organizational structure is just too bureaucratic for many of its employees to think they can make a tangible difference individually. Second, the dual mandate that the FAA both promote and oversee the aviation industry might be too dichotomous in nature for both mandates to be served effectively. Third, Schiavo paints a picture that airlines are constantly attempting to cut corners in safety matters if they weren't restrained from doing so by the FARs (Federal Aviation Regulations) and the FAA. Contrary to this belief, most carriers would continue to insist on a safe operation even if the FAA did not exist. When the statistics are perused, most of the air carriers in the world are safe, many outstandingly so. An air carrier's very existence, economically-speaking, demands a reasonably safe operation be maintained.

Schiavo does, however, make some very good points in areas that need improving. But like many issues in today's society, and specifically concerning the dichotomy of airline safety, the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle of a continuum (the opposite ends of which might be marked "Unsafe" and "Safe"), with the safety of individual carriers, aircraft, and airports occupying different locations on the continuum.

The following excepts illustrate some of the technical foibles that can be found throughout the book:

. . . "if no one was hurt or killed, then its just an incident, not an accident." (p. 66) Schiavo needs to review the definitions of "incident" and "accident."

Refers to a sextant as a "sexton." (p. 160)

"In tests, wings are flexed as much as 150 degrees from their normal position." (p. 214) Figure this one out.

Referring to Lockheed's L-1011, "With the DC-10, their past troubles made a lot of people wary of flying them." (p. 229) The L-1011 is one of the safest and systems-redundant aircraft in the air; this author knows of no previous or current inherent problems with the L-1011 that would make passengers "wary" of flying on them.

Referring to aging aircraft, "It can't be mere coincidence that TWA is getting rid of its fleet of old 747s and replacing them with newer 767s and 757's." (p. 231) TWA is replacing its 747s for purely economic reasons, with its high fuel and crew costs. An airplane may be used safely as long as the carrier deems necessary as long as it is properly maintained.

Again referring to the L-1011, "The plane has only six exits as opposed to eight in most planes." (p.234) The L-1011 has eight exits.

Definition of "cross-check." (p.241) Huh?

Definition of "pilot deviations." (p. 249) Includes inadvertent altitude, heading, or course deviations, usually due to misunderstanding with ATC (Air Traffic Control) or complacency.

Referring to wind shear, "It is also a mystery--no one really understands how it affects plane performance." (p. 288) Wind shear has been actively studied since the 1975 Eastern B-727-225 accident at JFK (which the author mistakenly refers to as an L-1011 on page 265).

Although there are many more errors in the book, the foregoing is a sample. For most passengers, the most useful and accurate chapters in the book are: Chapter 15 "Straighten Up and Fly Right, and Chapter 16 "Flying Healthy." Arguably, the most unusual and entertaining chapter is Chapter 7 "Relative Truth: CULT-ure at the FAA," which describes some of the bizarre practices employed at FAA management seminars conducted by Gregory May.

"Flying Blind, Flying Safe" is a decent read if one realizes the point of view portrayed by the author is an extreme one. Still, for its impact, Flying Blind, Flying Safe has to be almost on par with Rodney Stich's "The Real Unfriendly Skies: Saga of Corruption" (3rd ed., Reno, NV: Diablo Western Press, 1990, 656 pp.)

The following news story provides a clue about the one-sided nature of this author's views: COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Authorities were investigating an unaccompanied piece of luggage at the Port Columbus International Airport that led to the shutdown of a runway for four hours.

WCMH-TV reported Saturday that Mary Schiavo, a former inspector general of the Department of Transportation, checked a bag Friday as part of a story the station was doing on airport security, but didn't board the flight to Washington.

The station showed the contents of her bag, which included what appeared to be a tape recorder, an alarm clock and wiring. Ms. Schiavo had put identification on the bag, the station reported.

IDENTIFIES PROBLEMS(HER OPINION) NO SOLUTIONS---HIGHLY CRITICAL OF EVERYONE---ONLY SHE IS RIGHT--IF SHE REALLY FELT AS STRONG AS SHE CLAIMS--WHY DID SHE CUT AND RUN-- THIS BOOK-- COUPLED WITH THE ATTITUDE THAT SHE PROJECTS ON TV INTERVIEWS--REFLECTS THAT OF A WHINNING PERSON WHO COULDNT HAVE HER WAY--AND DECIDED TO MAKE A LOT OF NOIS

Ms. Schiavo's shrill tone and cheap scare tactics start on the cover and continue through the final page. My mother once told me that 'paper never refused ink,' and this tome is a fine demonstration of that phenomenon. The author's shameless effort to frighen naieve travelers about the safety of our air transportation system is exceeded only by her book tour rhetoric. Although not depicted in the book, I enjoyed seeing her with a smoke-hood over her face on the Oprah Show

Mary Schaivo, is the sort of bureaucrat that comes along very seldom. She was an amazing public servant, and she fears for the safety of the American flying public. As the IG of the Dept. of Transportation, it was Mary's job to oversee the FAA and make sure it did its job in keeping the airlines up to standard. Instead Mary found that the FAA did and still does cater to the airlines, helping them commercially, rather than pressing their safety concerns. Result : unsafe airlines often have several minor failures prior to a major crash. Mary was involved in the Valuejet crash in the everglades killing all onboard, and details this in her book.

She portrays the politics in Washington as polluted by special interests - corporate influence on administrators, friends of administrators that lobby against regulation and oversight, and now, even the removal of telephone booths that government employees would use to blow the whistle on illegal activities - like committees hiding memos and things like that.

Mary, for openly stating her concerns with the media, was removed from office as a troublemaker. She now represents the victims of 9/11 among other things. She has claimed that the airlines were primarily responsible for aircraft safety and totally failed on 9/11 despite warnings.

There is no better person than Mary Schaivo as public servant,in the entire world, and this is her story about fighting the system for an important cause : your safety in the air.

Yes, there are some good points Ms. Schiavo raises. She does not provide evidence that older aircraft are less safe but it's something to think about...even in 1998 it is hard to avoid a 727,

She certainly knocks Delta...a shabby smelly plane and says she has gotten letters regarding Delta. From whom? About what? My last flights on Delta were fine, the planes were immaculate, the flights were on time and were uneventful. What's her hangup with Delta.

She discusses the belief that flying is safer than driving. All you have to do is walk around Downtown Seattle and see how people drive. It is obvious that flying is safer than driving.

We can look at a time factor as she proposes or look at it this way. Say 10,000 people were driving from Seattle to Washington DC and 10,000 people were flying from Seattle to Washington DC which would have the higher percentage of those arriving in Washington DC alive?

Sadly, one with as much exposure as Ms. Schiavo, gives into the Dark Side. It is true that we can do much to improve commercial air safety in this country. It is also true, however, that our (U.S.) air safety record is the best on the planet. Often, by orders of magnitude. No other country even comes CLOSE. Moreover, there's never been a better record in the entire history of aviation. As such, it was unnecessary for Ms. Schiavo to panic (not a recommended character trait for any pilot). The only value of this publication is as rally call to AIM for perfection in aviation. That's it. Else, if you're looking to learn, look elsewhere: this book wreaks of gross inaccuracies of both technical and administrative nature -- only further testimony of Ms. Sciavo's self-serving rush-to-publish on the tails of the Summer of 1996 commercial aviation accidents.

Mary Schiavo has done an excellent job of investigating and reporting on FRAUD and GREED and outright DANGER in the airline industry.It is a must read for any one who flies daily or steps on an airplane just once in their life. She exposes the big boys who pressure the FAA to give them approval on planes before they have been fully tested, known problems with the Valujet planes and many other Airlines. If you HAVE to fly at least take the time to find out what airlines you should use and what airlines have horrible ratings. Mary risked her life to get into print- what we need to know. I have read some of the other reviews of her book -duly noting that they couldn't even SPELL correctly, let alone write a book. They also asked to remain anonymous. I am sure by writing this book Mary hurt a lot of people in the airline industry and it has been a grave embarrassment for them. Well, sometimes industry has to be EMBARRASSED to save innocent lives! For instance the new problems involving the Alaskan airlines.If her book saves one life...we can all say...AMEN. Read the book...draw your own conclusions.I am not a friend of Marys' or involved in the airline industry, but I intend to be an educated consumer.

If you fly or no someone who is going to use the airlines this is a must read book. I took it out of the local library and was so disturbed by its information that I now consider it a reference book and have added it to my library. Having 4100 hrs. in the air as a former Air Force MATS navigator and who had safety constantly drilled into me as a flight crew member, I am appalled by the accusations in this book and their implications for the flying public. This book should be a must read for every congressperson in Washington. Thank you Ms. Schaivo.