Product Description

David Gero assembles a list of major air disasters since the 1950s across a wide spectrum of countries. He investigates every type of calamity, including those caused by appalling weather, mechanical failure, pilot error, inhospitable terrain and hostile action. The first incident of sabotage involving a commercial jetliner is covered, as is the first, much-feared crash of the jumbo jet era. High-profile episodes such as that of Pan American Flight 103 at Lockerbie in 1988 and the Twin Towers tragedy of 11 September 2001 are examined alongside less well-known disasters. An overview of the history of air passenger travel over the decades provides context, contrasting the rise of the threat of terrorism since the 1970s with the improvements rooted in the massively increased technological safeguards now available. The positive aspects of these tragedies are examined, such as the development of the many new technologies that help civil aviation authorities to prevent or minimize risks. Sophisticated control, navigation and safety aids have now become available to airlines, many having arisen directly from the recommendations of investigating boards.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #24784 in Books
• Published on: 2006-11-23
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 368 pages

About the Author
David Gero has always had a keen interest in aeronautics, starting his collection of air disaster reports at the age of 13. Since then he has gathered information on many thousands of incidents, involving all kinds of aircraft and from many different countries. He lives in California.

Customer Reviews

The Bible of Civilian Air Disasters!
I agree, a compelling read to either dip into or immerse yourself in. My only slight criticism is there seems to be a lack of balance in the depth of each story, for instance one crash is covered significantly over a large number of pages with seemingly trivial information whereas other landmark crashes are a simple paragraph. That said, I could not put it down, carried it everywhere, and read excerpts to anyone who would listen! A good mix of photographs and diagrams too. The most amazing photograph for me was a plane taxiing past wreckage on a runway of a plane that had crashed the night before, only to read that the taxiing plane takes off and crashes 30 minutes later. Takes your breath away...

Infromative and Interesting reference to disasters
I have had this book for years, and have learnt that whereas 95% of airliner crashes are logged, there are 5% that have neither registration, make or airline, so that the people who have perished are not accounted for. I find this a very good reference book for the beginner who is just taking an interest in airliner disasters, as I did when I first started reading it. It is a compulsive read and very hard to put down. The photographs & drawings/diagrams are excellent and descriptive. A must have for any disaster groupie.

Aviation Disasters: The World's Major Civil Airliner Crashes Since 1950.
When my copy of this superb book dropped through my letterbox, I wasn't to be disappointed in any way at all, when I opened it! The crashes are dealt with in some detail, and there are many excellent photographs that create a lump in one's throat, when you realise people died in those burnt out hulks. There are some very informative diagrams, that just add to this book's appeal. David Gero writes about each terrible crash, with finesse, knowledge & feeling. For the ridiculous price I paid for this excellent publication, I have in my grasp, for good, a superb aviation/air crash investigation publication, that I will treasure. This book should be dedicated to every person who lost their lives in the terrible crashes, dealt within the covers of this fine book. I can't find a single bad thing to say about this book at all, and I rate it as a 5 star publication!