HowtoLanda Plane
BYMARKVANHOENACKER.THEEXPERIMENT,
- 64 PP.,$12.95.
A perfectlanding,anypilotwill attest,
involvesgreatskillanda bitofluck. Two
suchlandingsina row?Allluck. Three
ina row,andsomebody’slying.
Todemystifyhowaviators return to
Earthperhapsnotalwaysperfectly but
nearlyalwayssafely,andhow they get
frompointAtoB,one
needlooknofurtherthan
BritishAirwayspilot
MarkVanhoenacker’s
charming,chuckle-filled
Howto Landa Plane.
Thislittle primer
explainsmuchofwhat
goesintotheactoffly-
ing—fromtakeoffto
touchdown.Wanttoknow what the
heckallthosedigitaldisplays on an
instrumentpanelarefor?Whether
you’rehighorlowonanapproach?
Vanhoenacker,whofliestheBoeing 787
Dreamliner,coversthefundamentals in
accessible,non-propeller-head terms,
allwithoutyouhavingtoslog through
a singledayofgroundschool—though
it’sdoubtfulaspiringpilotswere ever the
author’sintendedaudience.
Howto Landa Planemayappeal more
tothelegionsofpassengerswho each
dayboardcommercialjetliners with no
thoughtofflyingone(andtothose who
enjoyedhispreviousbook,Skyfaring).
Considerthis“ImportantNotice” in what
passesforthebook’slegaldisclaimer: “If
youhaveopenedthisbookbecause you
findyourselfinthesky,inthecockpit of
a planethatyoudonotknowhow to fly,
there’snoneedtostandonceremony—
pleaseskiprightaheadtoChapter 2,
‘Aviate,Navigate,Communicate.’ You
canreturntothisintroduction at a more
convenienttime(say,aftertouchdown).”
Oneonlyhopesthatthereader won’t be
smilingtoobroadlybythento grease it on.
■DAVIDFREED,ANAIR& SPACECONTRIBUTING
EDITOR,ISA PRIVATEPILOTANDFORMER REPORTER
FORTHELOSANGELESTIMES.
REVIEWS74 AIR & SPACE airspacemag.com