From the revelation of our new flight-related services purchasing experience—whereby airlines no longer sell customers a flight but a whole litany of separate items, such as seat assignments, drinks, snacks, legroom, etc.—Gerchick proceeds
From the revelation of our new flight-related services purchasing experience—whereby airlines no longer sell customers a flight but a whole litany of separate items, such as seat assignments, drinks, snacks, legroom, etc.—Gerchick proceeds to safety topics (older jets, pilot training), costs (fares, fees, and other games), and in-flight illnesses (blood clots! SARS!). --Colleen Mondor . One can quibble with some of Gerchick’s conclusions (anonymous quotes seem cherry-picked to confirm the author’s points) and wonder about the overt, as in circa 1970, sexism in the cockpit he describes, but it’s hard not to nod your head in agreement with his overall picture of the flailing industry. In discussing the unmitigated dread of being trapped on a runway-parked aircraft for hours, hWe find out what pilots do in the cockpit, what’s really worth worrying about when it comes to airline safety, and why we get sick on planes. Some of it will reassure you, some will make you cringe, but all will open your eyes to what it means to fly today.. With wry humor and unique insight, Gerchick takes us past the jargon, technicalities, and all-is-well platitudes to expose the new normal of air travel: from the packed planes and myriad hassles of everyday flying to the alchemy of air fares, the airlines’ endless nickel-and-diming, and the elusive hope of escape from steerage. Meanwhile, Gerchick ponders the jarring disconnect between our quaint expectations of "service with a smile" and the grim reality of cramped seats, no-free-lunch, and "watch-yer-knees."With sympathy for both fliers and airlines, Gerchick shows how the new "business-all-business" airline industry has finally learned to make money, even in the face of crushing fuel costs, and get millions of travelers where they’re going every day safely and quickly.From his singular vantage point as former aviation regulator and policymaker, Gerchick gives us a straightforward insider’s view of how hard it is for government to improve the traveler’s lot by explaining the vagaries of consumer Brilliant!. It documents beautifully an almost forgotten piece of medical history, as Semmelweis's discoveries were later eclipsed by Pasteur and Lister (who had the simple advantage of living after the discovery of the microscope and the acceptance of the Germ Theory). Although not overly deep, the book is very well written and allows for easy understanding of the material. This book has aged well. They also do not use units, so it can be confusing trying to follow the example. The only good thing I remember about this book is that it covers a lot of topics. My first copy got water damaged, but my design library just wasn't complete without it, so I reordered.Good thing. A lawyer, Gerchick has worked as counsel for both the FAA and the DOT. Mark Gerchick makes reference to another recent book - by pilot Patrick Smith - who looks at the industry from a slightly different point-of-view. Both books are very good and give the interested reader a view from both the cockpit (excuse me, "flight deck") and the busiMark Gerchick, an aviation consultant, has advised some of America’s largest airlines and busiest airports over the past fifteen years. A former chief counsel of the Federal Aviation Administration and senior Department of Transportation aviation official, he lives in McLean, Virginia.
- Title : Full Upright and Locked Position: Not-So-Comfortable Truths about Air Travel Today
- Author : Mark Gerchick
- Rating : 4.95 (843 Vote)
- Publish : 2014-12-22
- Format : Hardcover
- Pages : 352 Pages
- Asin : 0393081109
- Language : English
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