Why Airplanes Crash: Aviation Safety in a Changing World [Hardcover]

Clinton V. Oster Jr. (Author), C. Kurt Zorn (Author), John S. Strong (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 28, 1992 | ISBN-10: 0195072235 | ISBN-13: 978-0195072235

This work examines the causes of airplane accidents and what private and public policies are needed to improve aviation safety. It begins by examining the safety record of the United States commuter airline industry in the post-deregulation era characterized by increased emphasis by airlines on cost control and growing pressures on the air traffic control and airport system. The authors go beyond the safety of the scheduled airlines to examine the reasons for accidents in the nonscheduled and general aviation segments of the United States industry, where the bulk of fatalities occur and where airline pilots increasingly receive most of their training and experience. They then turn to an examination of aviation safety throughout the world, first with a detailed comparison of Canadian and American aviation safety, and then with a look at air safety in all regions of the world and the safety performances of all the world's major airlines. Three emerging issues are then examined in greater detail: assessing the margin of safety, worldwide aging of all airline fleets, and terrorism.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"To those concerned with aviation safety, this book provides a complete examination of the topic."--Policy Currents

"This book should be on the desk of every airline and FAA executive concerned with safety; its conclusions should be the basis of a new aviation safety regulatory regime."--J.E. Murdock III, Baker, Worthington, Crossley, Stansberry & Woolf

"These widely recognized experts on aviation safety have provided some important analysis on the subject, putting to rest some concerns that airline deregulation has made the skies less safe, but raising some thought-provoking policy questions about the future of aviation safety in an increasingly globalized and technologically sophisticated air system. It is very readable and a must for policymakers, the aviation industry and all frequent flyers."--John E. Robson, Deputy Secretary of Treasury

"Why Airplanes Crash reports the results of a careful analysis of myriad statistics developed over the years concerning civil aviation safety. The material is well-presented both in text and data and is equally accessible to the aviation professional and the interested layperson."--Aaron Gellman, Northwestern University

"All true aviation professionals continually focus on safety. Safety relies on an integrated system of people, equipment, and procedures. A great deal of margin is built into aviation, so the key to safety is having the 'man-in-the-loop' well trained and continually vigilant. Why Airplanes Crash is a factual summary of the issues and incidents that have prompted more modern approaches to aviation safety in the cockpit, on the frontline, among our engineers, and in the board room."--T. Allen McArtor, President, FEDEX Aeronautics Corporation

About the Author

Clinton V. Oster and C. Kurt Zorn are both at Indiana University. John S. Strong is at College of William and Mary.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (May 28, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195072235
• ISBN-13: 978-0195072235
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,984,934 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Real life drama., February 20, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Why Airplanes Crash: Aviation Safety in a Changing World (Hardcover)

I put on about 100,000 frequent flier miles a year. Once in an airport while waiting for a delay I came across this book. Almost as a joke I bought it to amuse my travel companions. We all joked a bit about it for a while. Our flight eventually boarded and I took the book out and began to read. I was captivated. I finished the book in less than a day. I left it on my desk in the office and people are still borrowing to this day. There is something morbid about reading these accounts but once you start you will not be able to finish.

3 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent,overview of commercial aircraft accident causes, February 8, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Why Airplanes Crash: Aviation Safety in a Changing World (Hardcover)

Covers the effect or lack of effect of aviation deregulation on aircraft accidents in the US. Shows primary causes and has an amazing number of statistics on how and why aircraft crash