The Killing Zone: How and why pilots die

[Ian_Wannabe]

Hello - anyone had any good reviews about this book? I'm looking to buy it, does anyone know where I can get the best price?

Many thanks!

[niknak]

Amazon. £21.99 new, used from £11.99 plus postage.

Alternatively, if you aren't sure if you really want to go to the expense you can order it from your local library for nothing.

Anything else I can do for you within this free 5 minutes of my usually chargeable time?:rolleyes:

[matt_hooks]

People pay you to state the bleeding obvious?

Pray tell, where can I get such a job?

[DBisDogOne]

Try the Civil Service or become an MP.......

[Lister Noble]

Good book,I've got it and there are some useful chapters on how not to end it all in an avoidable accident.
Lister.
PS Niknak,get back to work!

[Mikehotel152]

I got it for Christmas shortly after I started flying, complete with a handwritten note from my darling wife on the inside cover: "Please read cover to cover and then read it again". Bless her. :)

The Author gives lots of general advice on 'The Killing Zone', together with separate chapters on 'Takeoff and Climb', 'Fuel Management', 'Ice' and about 15 other areas where inexperienced pilots have come to grief. Each chapter has a number of case studies with associated in-depth discussion and advice. There is also a chapter at the end about pilot personality, including a test so you can find out if you've got the right attitude, and a section on statistics.

Most of the examples are from the USA but that doesn't detract from the book's usefulness.

Buy it!

[Ian_Wannabe]

I can give you 10p for your time? Flying is an expensive business..

[Duchess_Driver]

....cannot recommend this book highly enough - and I do to all my students.

I've now read it three times....and even for a seasoned aviator it re-focuses the mind. There may be others that do it - but this one is the one I read. You learn so much from others mistakes.

DD

[dwshimoda]

People pay you to state the bleeding obvious?

I think that may have been what NikNak was trying to get at in an ironic way - it would have taken Ian_Wanabee longer to write his post than do a Google, as NikNak did...

Back to the point: great book. As someone said, mainly American based, but lots of good learning points - a very valuable text.

DW :ok:

[flightlevel1985]

:ok: I would buy it, its an interesting read and really hammers home many points and the possible consequences of decisions made under pressure !!!

[jonkil]

Also check e-bay, I picked up a copy of it there for £2.99

[Ian_Wannabe]

ergh, no offence but whatever happened to the pprune days where you could post something and you wouldn't have a single reply from someone on a high horse about either doing a search or typing something into google because it would be quicker...

I actaully did a google search, but as this is a forum... intended to initate conversation about aviation in all forms, I thought i'd post my query here to allow others to hear about the book, and from the positive replies it seems like it was a good idea to do that.

I know it would have taken me longer to post on here, but who cares. People who havent heard of the book before may now know of its existance.

So we all win - thank you to the people who replied with worth while responses!

Now cheer up

(This is ofcourse meant in the nicest way possible and in no way is an attack on anyone)

[ronnie3585]

whatever happened to the PPRuNe days where you could post something and you wouldn't have a single reply from someone on a high horse about either doing a search or typing something into google because it would be quicker...

Well said Ian. The reason I've posted about twice on this forum in the last two years is that every discussion descends into a slanging match or a pissing contest.

[eharding]

Well said Ian. The reason I've posted about twice on this forum in the last two years is that every discussion descends into a slanging match or a pissing contest.

With respect, Ronnie3585 - if you can't remember if it was "about" twice..or thrice...or maybe once, but still have the mental capacity to distinguish between a Proon slanging match vs. a pissing contest (I think the formal PPrune definition is that a slanging match involves a moderator...er..moderating whereas a pissing contest involves a moderator taking time to set out the contest rules, degree and direction of the allowable pissing, and a sliding scale of single-transferable voting from other forumites regarding the formal scoring of the contest....and meanwhile everyone else has decided to revert to a good old slanging match)...anyway, if you're still forgetful about the former but obsessive about the latter, then I'd recommend a change of medication.

Regarding the book, yes, it has a number of valid points to make, but his calculations about the 'Danger Zone' hours (50-550 as I recall) are a bit dodgy to say the least.

Regarding the best deals on the purchase of the book - if the OP had asked nicely, he could have had my copy for the cost of the postage - but I've decided to keep it, just in case.

[Lister Noble]

but his calculations about the 'Danger Zone' hours (50-550 as I recall) are a bit dodgy to say the least.

He actually says 50-350hrs,and has graphs and tables which seem to substantiate this.
I think the most important thing is to realise that a "low hours pilot " can be caught out by these mistakes.

Not slanging or pissing.;)

Lister
(Low hours pilot):)

[IO540]

That book has been discussed for years, in every imaginable place.

His apparent conclusions are controversial, not least due to the way the data is interpreted.

[clareprop]

eharding,

If your post is irony or humour...it's very funny.:)

If it's not, then perhaps you should might look to the left and read your personal message....

[dwshimoda]

The reason I've posted about twice on this forum in the last two years is that every discussion descends into a slanging match or a pissing contest

If that's what you think, fair enough.

I think in my post I answered both Ian's original question (see my response about the book) and a couple of other peoples questions about what Niknak was meaning.

Online forums do this - it's impossible to tell intonation and meaning from simple text, hence people regularly take a meaning that is very different to that which was meant by the poster.

The book in question (as I and many others have said) is very good, and has been discussed on many other occassions.

It's absolutely fine for Ian to ask the question about if the book is any good - even if it has been discussed before, fresh opinion is always welcome. However, asking where is cheapest is a simple search, and doesn't really need an opinion.

Sorry if anyone took offence - none was intended.

DW.

[IO540]

The way to deal with aggressive posters is to ignore them. It doesn't work right away but they get the message eventually.

[Mikehotel152]

The book may have been discussed before but that's neither here nor there. Only this thread is discussing it now! :p

For what it's worth, I would hazard a guess that every book known to Aviation has been discussed on Pprune at some stage, not least because the greatest minds in the industry are present on these hallowed pages, but also because you are guaranteed a lively and informed debate...;)

[Twiddle]

To summarise it states that over-confidence kills.

Luckily some of us actually are bloody good so that's fine......

[JohnHarris]

Regarding the best deals on the purchase of the book - if the OP had asked nicely, he could have had my copy for the cost of the postage - but I've decided to keep it, just in case.
fúĉĸĩńġ right, you hang on to er buddy.:D

[Ian_Wannabe]

Thanks for the reaplies guys

[Pace]

To summarise it states that over-confidence kills.

Twiddle

Totally disagree. It is underconfidence which kills, getting into a situation where your confidence goes.

Overconfidence can draw you into such a situation but its the underconfidence which then rears its ugly head which kills.

Pace

[Duchess_Driver]

Regardless of whether you think the statistics are skewed or not, each individual chapter is backed up by some eye openning examples of what the author is talking about.

Some, yep, you think "What a knob - deserved everything he got.":ugh: - but there are many, many examples where it does make you stop and think.

Whether it's over confidence or under confidence that kills you - something does, and this book highlights the dangers of both.

[jonkil]

Dutchess_Driver,
you have it about right.
I read the book and attempted to take "ideas" from it that would prevent a situation occurring to me.... so far it has worked ! :}

[Mark1234]

In summary, it's worth a read (I have it also).

Personally I rather rated the analysis on personality types, and the effect they have on your decision making process - I know I have a certain type, and it's useful to understand how that colours my judgement, and hopefully keep a lid on it.

[niknak]

Lister
(Low hours pilot)

But at least you fly a proper aeroplane!;)

[Lister Noble]

Not today!
;)