Have you read Hard Landing?

[Ben Dover]

I'm curious how many pilots have read Hard Landing by Thomas Petzinger, Jr. This is a great book. It's put so much into perspective about the airline industry I wish I would have read it years ago.

If you're looking for a copy, check out Amazon.com. I picked up a used copy for under $5.

 

[vtchaz]

Excellent Book@

I would venture to say that 99% of the people that post on these boards are ignorant of airline history and facts. If more of us would educate themselves by reading books such as this one then I doubt there would be so much disagreement and bickering.

 

[LawReview]

hard landing

I've read the book twice. I think it's an exceptionally accurate, and encompassing book. I believe it would be beneficial for everyone in the aviation industry to read.

 

[wingnutt]

i read it awhile back...recommended it to a friend, and it scared him off. he has since sworn off attempting to fly for the airlines...hes sticking to cargo for the rest of his career

 

[Ben Dover]

Educate yourself

My feelings exactly. This book should be required reading for all airline pilots, present and future. First it will make you think twice about your choice. And for those of us already in the industry it would help to unify us as a pilot body. As I read this book I kept thinking of how all of the chaos we are currently experiencing is ground that's been covered before. If we can't learn from our history we are doomed to repeat it. This book is a wonderful way to learn the rich legacy of all the great airlines and also reads as a virtual playbook for the Lorenzos and Ornsteins of the world.

 

[flywithruss]

My feelings exactly ... this book should be required reading for anybody considering an airline career, as a pilot or in any other position! When I was a 20-year-old Continental intern, a grey-haired 737 captain recommended that I read the book ... might be some of the best advice I ever got! I own a copy, keep it on my bookshelf at home, and pull it out and re-read it about once a year.

I highly recommend it to everybody ... an excellent, well-written, historically accurate look at the airline business ... not biased toward labor or management. Unlike many business books, it is not dry or dull. With all of the intrigue and infighting in the airline business, this book reads like something by John J. Nance. (Don't believe me? Read "Hard Landing" then pick up Nance's "Phoenix Rising" ...)

R

 

[gnx99]

My feelings exactly...

It was one of our textbooks for an aviation management class that I took in college. It was pretty good.

 

[bobbysamd]

Hard Landing

To use the phrase of the day, Hard Landing is a "must read." Every career pilot should read this book. It's hard to put down. You'll get a great education on how Uncle Frank and his pals and successors operate.

I would recommend reading both volumes of Flying the Line to round-out your education on the subject and to receive a historical perspective.

 

[BoDEAN]

Sounds like a stocking stuffer =)

 

[FlyComAirJets]

Flying the Line part two nicely coincides with this book but both books end their coverage about ten years ago. We should encourage sequels to these fine books.

Still, it is amazing how history tends to repeat itself.

 

[VADriver]

Flying the Line part two nicely coincides with this book but both books end their coverage about ten years ago. We should encourage sequels to these fine books.

Still, it is amazing how history tends to repeat itself.

You guys wrote a chapter or two of Vol III, the rest is being written as we surf cyberspace....

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

You convinced me. I just ordered it.

 

[bobbysamd]

You convinced me. I just ordered it.

You will not be disappointed.

Happy reading!

 

[bailout]

>>Hard Landing -- Lynne Heitman; Paperback<<

What is this one? (from the amazon site)

 

[JD2003]

Hard Landing Petzinger

Read it...loved it...encouraged others to read it

especially the bit about Crandall calling the washington deregulationists "fu%#$%ing academic eggheads"...still giggle about that one...or uncle herb and the barrell of wale dung...what a riot!

good perspective, good history, good read...highly recommend

 

[SanJuanPlebe]

Petzinger has it cold!

Great book! A MUST read for any pilot, and more importantly, management!

The Plebe

 

[Rottweiller]

Read it several times and it is a shame that it couldn't be reprinted bring it up to the present day.

Should be included in all those pilot kits when you go and start your private - would give great insight of the years ahead and why it is so.

 

[flywithruss]

>>Hard Landing -- Lynne Heitman; Paperback<<

What is this one? (from the amazon site)

That book is a work of fiction, written by Lynne Heitman, a former Delta CSA. It's not a bad read.

The book we're referring to is also called "Hard Landing" but its author is Thomas Petzinger Jr., a Wall Street Journal writer.

Hope this helps.

R

 

[MJG]

Excellent reading for anyone either already in or considering jumping into the airline profession.

It's been several years since I read it but I remember after finishing it how I wished they would release a couple more chapters to bring it all up to date.

One chapter would definetly have to be about the RJ revolution.

Another about Tuesday, September 11th.

How about one more titled "Fall of the Giants" refering to UAL bankruptcy and AA's near bankruptcy.

Great book either way.

 

[English]

Is it "Hard Landing" or "Flying the Line" that ALPA sends out to everyone as freebies every so often? Trying to figure out which I've read...

 

[fly4ever]

Excellent book but with one big error - the section discussing the 1985 strike by UAL pilots includes some information about the newhires at the time. It says that they knew they were being hired as replacement pilots and then were convinced not to cross the line. This is not true. They were hired for positions that were and would be available after the contract was settled, not as strike breakers. This group became known as the class of 570 and they wear a pin in recognition of their support of the pilot strike. They originally were fired but won a court case in which UAL had to honor their date of hire although no retro pay was awarded. I believe the original number of the group at the time was around 576 and only 6 crossed the line.

 

[MJG]

Is it "Hard Landing" or "Flying the Line" that ALPA sends out to everyone as freebies every so often? Trying to figure out which I've read...

Flying the Line, volumes I and II are the publications that ALPA has produced.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Exceeded expectations!

You will not be disappointed.

You were right, Bobby. What a great read. I took it on a little vacation to the Philippines and ironically, as I was about 3/4's of the way through the book, I checked my email only to find that my current airline had been sold!

I really do hope the last ten years get filled in and printed by Mr. Petzinger.

 

[highflyer7]

Great book guys!

Ordered it after reading this post. Just amazing learning about the insides of this business. Wasn't aware about how really cut-throat it was. Two things that really got my attention - 1. the whole labor situation at Eastern. Wow - i felt the tensions between labor and management just by reading this book, couldnt' imagine being part of that. 2. Lorenzo - what an a-hole. really did an injustice to a lot of folks. I knew guys like that really screwed people over, but to find out just exactly how he did it was very interesting.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Agreed. I would also like to hear more about the severence deals all those execs got. I heard Lorenzo gets to fly on CAL for life and when he does, no pax are allowed in first class with him and crews are forbidden to speak to him. Heard similar stuff about Wolf at UAL. Not sure if there's much truth to it, but found that stuff interesting.

 

[Sleepyhead]

If you are interested in reading a short article about what happen during the "85 strike at United. check it out here:
http://www.fracpilot.com/fromwoodenwings.pdf
Also very enlighting reading about airline management tactics.

 

[spitfire1940]

Amazon just shipped my copy. this thread made me finally get off my duff and buy the book.

if you want a good account of airline BS since 9/11, check out http://www.zyworld.com/brancatelli/bf2003/branc042403.htm.

it's a story by Joe Brancatelli titled "The Axis of Excess"

here's a sample:
"While the greedy, amoral men who run the nation's largest carriers are looting their airlines, shareholder equity is being destroyed, good jobs are being lost, surviving rank-and-filers must bear draconian pay cuts, taxpayer dollars are being squandered and the nation is watching a huge portion of its airline infrastructure disintegrate."

 

[nimtz]

Agreed. I would also like to hear more about the severence deals all those execs got. I heard Lorenzo gets to fly on CAL for life and when he does, no pax are allowed in first class with him and crews are forbidden to speak to him. Heard similar stuff about Wolf at UAL. Not sure if there's much truth to it, but found that stuff interesting.

Frankie does have lifetime free passes on CAL, but he doesn't get all the perks you mentioned. He travels on some super management code that I don't even think Gordon Bethnue has. He's fly us out to ACK from time to time in the summer and not suprisingly does not get anything to drink from the FA. I can't wait to get him in the back one time, cause I'll risk a chief pilot carpet dance to go f*ck with the worthless b*stard.

As for Wolf, back in 2000 he was riding UAL from IAD to CDG and the mechanics took 'a real long time' trying to fix a write-up. Ended up cancelling the flight. I really want to show Phil Bakes my brown-eye, because he was the pathetic sob that put into motion all of Lorenzo's plans when he was Preisdent of CAL and Eastern. I think he's actually a district judge somewhere. What a bunch of d*ckheads. All the more reason not to vote Republican...

 

[P3 Tweek]

`Hard Landing'

Convinced me! I'm going over to Amazon.com and get a copy. Just finished `Southwest Passage' by Lamar Muse. Another excellent book.

Gotta LUV it!

"Among the Marines who fought on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue" FADM C. Nimitz

 

[bobbysamd]

Exceeded expectations!

You were right, Bobby. What a great read. I took it on a little vacation to the Philippines and ironically, as I was about 3/4's of the way through the book, I checked my email only to find that my current airline had been sold!

I really do hope the last ten years get filled in and printed by Mr. Petzinger.

Glad you liked it. You're right; he should write a second edition bringing it up to date and devoting a chapter to regional shenanigans, e.g. Frank O. (intentional) and Mesa, the Comair strike, scope clauses, RJDC in plain Englsih, etc. Also the UAL bankruptcy, etc.