Seconds to Disaster

by Glenn Meade

"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, or various combinations of all five.

Seconds to Disaster will demonstrate that part of that bad luck is often aided by the airline industry’s own endless and aggressive pursuit of bottom-line profit which contributes to a creeping erosion of safety standards and puts both passenger and crew lives at serious risk.

˃˃˃ The Plane Truth About Flying

"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: My Search for What Really Matters

˃˃˃ Children's Safety On Aircraft Is Second Class

These revelations are made in the hope that any resulting debate will contribute to making air travel a safer experience for both crew and passengers alike.

Seconds to Disaster will not only pose and answer questions as to why accidents happen, but also offer solutions as to how they can be further prevented.

And it will explore a highly contentious issue: what parts do both the airline industry and the worldwide watchdog authorities responsible for governing that industry contribute in playing dice with passenger lives, through negligence and collusion.

Scroll up and grab a copy today.

Genres: Nonfiction, Aviation

144 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 10, 2012

About the author

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 aviation—and has also been a journalist for the Irish Times and the Independent.

While living in New Hampshire, he persistently tried to interview the famously reclusive author of CATCHER IN THE RYE, J.D. Salinger, an effort that only served to vex Salinger, who set his dogs on Meade, who luckily managed to outrun Salinger’s hounds and survive.
He began writing in earnest in the late eighties, when he wrote and directed his own plays, mostly for the Strand Theatre in Dublin, but Meade decided to turn his efforts to thriller writing in the mid-nineties.

His novels to date—SNOW WOLF, BRANDENBURG, THE SANDS OF SAKKARA, RESURRECTION DAY, WEB OF DECEIT, THE DEVIL’S DISCIPLE, THE SECOND MESSIAH—have been translated into twenty-six languages, and have enjoyed critical and commercial success.

His first novel, BRANDENBURG, about a neo-Nazi resurgence in present-day Europe, came about when he travelled to Germany to write an article for the Times on the billions in Nazi gold that went missing at the end of the Second World War. Quite by accident, he met an elderly former SS officer who told him a remarkable and highly personal tale about his part in keeping a disturbing war-time secret. That story became the inspiration for BRANDENBURG.
Several of his novels were also inspired by his journalistic work but inspiration only takes you so far and Meade claims that to produce anything of worth it always comes down to the same three constants: hard work, prayer, and putting your imagination through the wringer.

Critics have compared the standard of his work to that of Frederick Forsyth, John le Carre, and Tom Clancy, and his stories have tended to be a tantalising blend of fact and fiction. SNOW WOLF won the prestigious thriller of the year award by the Japanese Writer's Guild (second place went to Stephen King's THE GREEN MILE).

He has also worked on several Hollywood scripts but Meade confesses that employment in Tinsletown was not a pleasant experience and he has learned to stick to the golden rule for novelists whose work is bought by Hollywood—gratefully accept the pay check, walk away and just pray that they don’t turn your treasured story into a musical.

Meade has earned a reputation for meticulously researched stories and has travelled extensively—to Russia, the Middle East, Europe—to research his novels. For RESURRECTION DAY, a highly realistic thriller about a dramatic attack on the US capital by an Al Qaeda terror group armed with a chemical weapon of mass destruction, and completed three weeks before the events of September 11th, he spent many months in Washington DC. He interviewed senior White House staff, former Secret Service agents, US Federal emergency planners, and senior FBI terrorist experts, some of whom were later involved in the hunt for Al Qaeda terrorist suspects on US soil. One former senior FBI source, John O’Neill, who helped Meade, was killed in the September 11th attacks, having resigned from the bureau only months prior to taking up a new post—as head of security at the Twin Towers.

RESURRECTION DAY was published internationally but Meade’s then New York publisher considered it too raw a subject for the US, coming so soon after 9/11, and they parted company. However, the work garnered rave reviews and much media attention in Europe.
Having read the book, Newt Gingrich, then a member of the Hart-Rudd commission (set up post 9/11 by President George Bush with responsibility for determining future likely terrorist threats against the US) was so impressed that he contacted Meade and kindly offe

Reviews

[Tara Chevrestt · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 because in all my aviation career, that possibility was always in the back of my mind, ensuring I did my job carefully. This book brings up many air crashes and disasters, some I watched on that show, some that were new to me. My one and only quibble is the book leads with introducing a flight crew and telling us they crashed, but never do they tell us why. Urgh! I felt teased. If it did reveal the reason, it was so far later, I didn't make the connection.

But...things I learned that blew me away:

Your baby and your child under 7 are NOT safe on commercial planes. Babies on the lap: not safe. The likelihood of your baby surviving in severe turbulence or a rapid brake landing: nil. Seatbelts are made for adults, not children, as it can severely damage their pelvises and abdominal area in a crash. Talk your airline about a "car seat" and NEVER use loop belts. Incredible data was revealed in this.

Fatigue: bad problem.

Counterfeit parts: Yikes!

Boeing and their 737 NGs. Wow. This chapter talks about a major scandal and cover up regarding parts Boeing bought from a company... The company claimed they were computer made when in reality, they were man made with sharpie markers and hand saws and you have aircraft flying around that shouldn't be. This chapter was my favorite. Very revealing.

I'm not done. See what else I had to say on Book Babe: http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2013/...

[Wayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 earn less than $15,000 a year. The airlines are under constant threat of bankruptcy or takeover and as a consequence cut corners on maintenance and repair. Passengers have also contributed to this undesirable situation by seeking out low fares --- understandable given economic circumstances.
Perhaps only time will lead to improvements in passenger safety. In the meantime, the last chapters of the book offer some useful tips to the travelling public to reduce the chances of being in an aviation accident.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 to my friends and fellow colleagues in the airline industry.

[Telma · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Judie · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 attendants also went flying, one of them breaking her arm and the back of a seat on the way down. The other one was also out-of-commission. Luckily, some of the passengers knew enough first aid to help stabilize the casualties. (We discovered the first aid kit had children’s scissors and lack of other supplies to needed for this particular emergency) Air control moved everything out of our way and brought in ambulances so we could land and get professional help quickly.
While traveling by air is a very common occurrence, and more people die in automobile accidents than in airplane crashes, SECONDS TO DISASTER catalogues the reasons that most airline crashes occur.
The usual reason given by the airlines is pilot error. That is true sometimes, but often the pilots are the scapegoats because the airline doesn’t want to admit any causes for which they may be held accountable. As airlines try to increase their incomes by lowering fares, squeezing in more passengers, paying lower salaries which translates into younger, less experienced captains, , and using less qualified contractors in Asia or South America to build and maintain their planes, the risks to passengers, crews, and people on the ground increase. Counterfeit parts have been found on a large percentage of airplanes, including Air Force One. Trying to keep on schedule to keep expenses lower sometimes involves taking a risk, such as flying in inclement weather or allowing the captain to divert to another airport. Airlines sometimes take risks by by not allowing the captain to make changes in the flight plan. Whistleblowers have been fired.
The book discusses these areas and provides tips on how to survive a plane crash. Some of the primary reasons for crashes are extending the hours that crew members must work, including travel time, the use of automatic and computer-driven operation without thoroughly instructing the crew what to do if the system doesn’t work, and improper maintenance. It focuses on several crashes and details what went wrong in each case.
SECONDS TO DISASTER points out that unless children are seated in approved car seats, like found in automobiles, they are more at risk than are adults. When the airline has the child ride in someone’s lap, that child serves as an airbag for the adult. Amazingly, some airlines will not permit passengers to bring on a safe car seat for the child’s use even though they are available.
The authors list several tips for consumers to watch for to help ensure safe flying. They include knowing which airlines to avoid, sitting within five rows of an exit, knowing how big the exit door is (the ones in the front and rear are larger and easier to exit), being prepared to quickly release the seat belt (pull, don’t push), and don’t try to take anything out with you such as packages in the overhead compartments. Unfortunately, the pilot’s mental state is not one of them and it’s nearly impossible to know if the pilot has mental issues which may lead to suicide by plane.
Chapter 1 was the worst chapter of the book It stated at least seven times that the plane was headed for disaster. The remainder of the book had a better presentation but people who are afraid of flying shouldn’t read it. For everyone else, it details the many pressures that airplane crews face which affect passengers in a somewhat simplified manner.
This book was a free Amazon download.

[Sheila Carsins · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 dangerous, the public needs to be aware of the dangers of flying with that company.

Every newspaper and news channel, as well as 20/20, CNN, and every magazine, newspaper, computer blog, and Facebook page should include this book's contents and warnings, and make the public aware of dangerous planes, or airlines. Write your senators, congressmen, and governors, and get this information to them. Every talk show host should make this information a major lead story on their programs.

Everyone in the military should spread the information in this book, to their fellow recruits and families and friends. What a cruel punishment that would be, to finish your tour of duty safely, only to have you, or your loved ones killed on a flight mishap, when your families and friends are finally able to be reunited.

Shame on anyone who's swept this information under the rug, downplayed it's importance, or managed to make the government offices and officials in charge of our airline's safety look away from their job of protecting the world's public safety. If even one person dies from their dereliction of their duty to protect and serve, that's one too many lost.

Shame on the airlines that allow airplanes that are too old, too dangerous, or blatantly inferior from the start of production, until the finish of the production, to remain actively flying, particularly when it's a known risk factor to the airlines and their governing agencies, before the planes even leave the ground with passengers onboard. There's no valid excuse to pick profit margins over human lives.

Shame on every airline for not making child safety a priority. Shame on every airline that has had any culpability in the death of a child in an airplane accident due to improper seat restraints or safety seating, it's inexcusable. Ask yourself how you'd feel if that child were yours, or your family's or your friend's child.

Last of all, shame on any airline that cuts costs of airplane construction, the costs for proper pilot training, and simulation time, or that reduces pilot's and crew's living allowances and the down-time that the pilots and their crews need to rest between or on flights, in order to perform their duties safely and effectively.

Thanks to the authors of this book, for getting valuable information to the public. It's a great book, and you should be rewarded for your candor. It takes a great deal of courage to do the right thing, and you "have it in spades." I wish you all many blessings for helping to protect airplane travelers in these dangerous times. Thank you!!!

[Charles Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 uncounted here because the authors point out that injury to infants who are not ticketed, but flying in an adult’s lap are not counted.
After reading this well-documented account of the worldwide airline industry, you’ll probably be afraid to ever fly again. Fortunately, the authors have included advice on how to increase your safety when flying, although, they’re the first to admit—accidents will always happen, and unless something is done to bring airlines under more effective control there will be more rather than less.
This book reads like a suspense novel, unfortunately, it happens to be true.

[Juan Ortiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

De siempre se ha dicho que volar es el medio de transporte más seguro, y es cierto. Pero de un tiempo a esta parte, y según la tesis del libro, la seguridad de la que se presumía en el pasado ha pasado a un segundo plano en favor del puro y duro beneficio económico de las compañías.
Con un lenguaje perfectamente entendible y nada técnico, el libro repasa todos los aspectos que entran en juego a la hora de un accidente. Todo ello ejemplificado con accidentes, como la tragedia de Spanair en Madrid, que no debieron haber ocurrido nunca.
Pero el tono del libro no es efectista ni se ampara en la tragedia para enganchar. Se trata de poner las cartas boca arriba, explicar determinados aspectos que todos cuando nos subimos a un avión deberíamos conocer.
Aerotrastorno mío aparte, muy recomendable para todo el mundo.

[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

"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: My Search for What Really Matters

[Jaki · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Susan Sigourney · Rating 5 out of 5]

“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. There is also a hint of complicity suggested between the airlines and the FAA to overlook safety. Chapter 16 lists Top Tips for Flying Safe, what you can do before and after you buy a ticket to make your flight a safer one. It gives lifesaving tips on surviving a crash using the initials S.O.S.: Survive the impact, get Outside, Survive outside.

One important point that this book and the book Sully: My Search for What Really Matters makes, is that people are now paying much less for airline tickets than previously, leading to airlines cutting corners because they are driven by profits before passenger safety. This book suggests that “Regular flyers should perhaps take a moment to send one email, reminding regulators of their obligation to you, the passenger, not to the airlines.” It also suggests giving your business to airlines that treat their passengers well, as they likely will also treat their employees well. Excellent advice.

[Nelson Meaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it if you or someone you care about flies

The truth about why we have the problems with air safety a.d some practical things to know when you fly.

[Shodges7977 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe it's weird but I love books like this ... this was well written and very interesting.

[Brianne Ingraham · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Christy Mangano · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a little technical at times therefor a wee bit dry. It certainly had some interesting points though. Interesting for anyone who flies.

[Vikas Sasidharan · Rating 2 out of 5]

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 begins or ends with something along the lines of "... but this is/was not done because airlines only care about profit". And it keeps getting worse as the book progresses - the chapter talking about the horrific Air France Flight 447 crash just makes passing mention to the actual crash and its cause.

In short, what should have otherwise been a coherent and poignant argument, ends up as a rambling discourse with a lot of finger pointing that's not backed by any accompanying details. Such a shame!

(I originally gave this one star, but upgraded to two stars when I realized that the book did have its moments - specifically, the section about airlines banned in Europe and the one about child safety belts)

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 opening read.

[Suzie Quint · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 a few other things.

[Alex Cruse · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Les · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Melinda Rodger · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Chad Rexin]

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.

[Chris Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Sheena · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secrets, Misleading information, and Straight up Coverups the public needs to know.......

Capt. Sully ABSOLUTELY CORRECT...A must read book for everyone....even those that have never flown nor has any intention of flying.

[Brad · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short read... but well worth it.
A good insight into how overworked and stressed commercial pilots are, and gives some good tips on how to make your next flight safer (ie which aircraft and airlines to avoid!)

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book to sit down and read, and I read this book in one sitting. This book really looks at how safe our skies really are. I found this book engrossing and I would recommend it to anyone who flies, or loves someone who flies, I will never take my safety for granted again.

[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Se trata de un libro que escribí, así que es difícil ser imparcial. Ayudé a escribir, porque creo que el público tiene derecho a saber.

Raymundo.

[danielle MONTANARO · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will be afraid to ever fly again. I highly recommend this!

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good info

Makes a lot of sense for the common every day flyer
We take all this for granted too many pilots killing peopl