More often than not, pilot error is deemed a contributing factor in both general and commercial airplane crashes, allowing manufacturers to appear blameless in the public eye and easing consumer anxieties and concerns. However, with over 400 aviation accident cases under his belt, Richard Francis Schaden has found that design flaws and safety oversights play much larger roles in these otherwise preventable tragedies.
In his debut memoir, “Unsafe at Any Altitude: Crossing the Disciplines of Engineering and Law to Create Safer Aviation,” Schaden sheds light on findings gleaned over his decades of experience as an aeronautical engineer, aviation attorney, and pilot. His story begins at Boeing, where he launched his career in aeronautical design and flight test engineering. Consequently, he also uncovered the startling truth that safety rarely took priority over economics, branding, and marketing, and design was driven by competition rather than real-world performance.
On a mission to make aerospace safer for pilots and passengers, Schaden became an attorney and advocate for airplane crash victims to hold manufacturers accountable for negligent design practices. His memoir revisits landmark cases like Northwest Airlines Flight 255, United Airlines Flight 811, and United Airlines Flight 232 and takes readers through his fascinating processes of gathering data, flying flight simulations, inspecting crash sites, exposing biased inspection protocol, and cultivating a repertoire of expert witnesses.
In writing “Unsafe at Any Altitude,” Schaden debunks the safety myths surrounding contemporary air travel and raises awareness around the prevalence of engineering flaws and concerns that could, under the right circumstances, result in future mass fatalities. In light of the controversies surrounding the Boeing 737 Max, he hopes to illuminate the dangers looming within this airplane’s design and encourage others to join the fight to hold the aviation industry accountable and make safety a top priority.
“As an engineer and trial lawyer, I have spent many decades helping air crash victims and their families,” said Schaden. “I have found that I could do some of my best aviation re-engineerings in the courtroom, rather than in the engineering departments of the aviation industry. However, the push to make air travel safer still continues.”
Ultimately, “Unsafe at Any Altitude” is a profound testament to how Schaden has successfully faced airline manufacturers, companies, and regulatory bodies and made air travel a safer experience for pilots and travelers both at home and abroad.
“Unsafe at Any Altitude: Crossing the Disciplines of Engineering and Law to Create Safer Aviation” by Richard Francis Schaden
ISBN: 9781664167049 (softcover); 9781664167056 (hardcover); 9781664167032 (electronic)
Available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Xlibris