No Man's Land: the untold story of automation and QF72

This book is an absolute must read for anyone interested in aviation, suffering from or knowing someone who suffers from PTSD, or anyone who wants a clear example of how modern technology is actually leading to unexpected safety hazards in every sector of our modern day lives. Without revealing too much information on specifics there were parts of this book that were so well written than it caused some anxiety and were hard to read. The book provides clear examples on how a major aviation tragedy was avoided thanks in part to the extreme skill and background of the Pilot in Command Captain Sullivan. The book bridges his Military background flying from the extremely demanding Navy Air craft carriers to his modern day position as PIC (pilot in command) of a modern aviation marvel Airbus passenger airplane. The book is well written and as a Private Pilot and A&P I found it extremely interesting and captivating.

Written by an amazing pilot. Enough said. Anyone that has a passion for aviation, this is a must read. You will be hooked.

"It seems we've survived a science-fiction scenario, a No Man's Land of automation failure on an unprecedented scale." That sentence is the understatement of the millennium. A routine flight from Singapore to Perth for pilot Kevin "Sully" Sullivan and his two co-pilots turns into one of the most harrowing, horror-filled true stories I think I've ever attempted to read. The Quantas Airbus, which all three pilots were well experienced at flying, suffered a unforseen catastrophic computer failure (and I'm not sure "failure" even comes close) whereby the airplane's systems not only malfunctioned and/or shut down, but took control of the plane away from the pilots. A series of computer-generated nosedives resulted in major injuries for both the cabin crew and the passengers. Captain Sullivan, thank God, was able to rely on his US Navy fighter pilot training to not only wrestle (and I do mean physically wrestle) control of the plane back into the hands of the pilots, but also MANUALLY (without the benefit of systems, radar, or other basic in-flight instruments) flew this enormous plane hundreds of miles to a MAYDAY landing at a remote Australian airstrip. While many were injured and some severely, no one died, and that is a testament to those three pilots who literally fought for their lives and the lives of their passengers. There were several times, I had to stop reading to have a good cry. I can't help but compare what happened on this flight with the still-unknown whereabouts of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which disappeared from radar in the same general area of the Indian Ocean. Could that have also been a sytems-takeover that resulted in the loss of the plane and all lives? You have to wonder after reading this story. Captain Sullivan was as heroic a pilot as could be, given the circumstances. Medically retired (due to ongoing PTSD years after the near-crash), he sums up his role that day as follows: "I'll probably be required to continue to exercise my authority in the hours ahead (before help arrived). A quote from General George Patton rises out of my memory: 'Do more than is required of you.'" You certainly did, Captain.

Must read for those interested in aviation in the age of ever increasing automation. The author, an extraordinarily experienced pilot, a thorough professional and a person of feelings, had the dubious fortune to face a unique challenge and to survive it, giving everything he had to give. Like many warriors before him, his unseen injuries changed his life forever. Our deep gratitide and admiration for his battles and for having the heart to share and relive his worse times.

“No Man’s Land” is the fascinating and relevant true story of how a Qantas flight crew prevented disaster when rogue flight control computers on their Airbus A330 suddenly commanded pitch-downs … twice. Written by incident-pilot Captain Kevin Sullivan, the book delivers a comprehensive and well-written explanation of what caused the problem. His detailed description of how he and his fellow crew kept the plane airborne and reduced injures will have you checking that your seatbelt is fastened, even if you are sitting in your living room chair. It was fortunate that Sullivan had been a US Navy F-14 pilot and was able to draw on those experiences when the situation required a cool and skillful pilot, which he proved to be. But this is not an ego-book, he repeatedly lauds the efforts of other crewmembers, as well as Australian emergency responders and even the passengers who remained as calm as possible given the circumstances. Much of the book’s real power comes in the aftermath of the incident, when the trauma continues to haunt several crew members, and Sullivan’s candor in describing these difficult times is admirable. Though the QF 72 incident happened in 2008 it is just as relevant today as we continue to deal with imperfect computers that control critical activities.

I loved this book. I have a new respect for those who pilot those huge machines in the sky. Also I enjoyed getting to know who Captain Kevin Sullivan is. Sure wish I could meet him and just listen to his history.

A page turning account of the flight of QF72

I cannot count the number of times I have sat at airports and wondered as to whether or not the pilot is old enough to be in charge of so many lives. The shift to automation obviously allows some airlines to employ lower cost pilots with very little real world flying experience. The three books I have read by Qantas pilots all share the common theme of true professionalism and dedication to safe flying.

Hard to put this book down. Amazing story.

This is a great book, it gets quite technical but as an electrical engineer I enjoyed this aspect. Beyond the narrative and tech stuff, I found a lot of great leadership and communication lessons in this. Amazing story and a credit to the captain/author.

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