A History of Aviation Safety

About the Book

There have been countless books written on the history of aviation, beginning in 1896, but there has not been a book that tells the story of the history of aviation safety from its origins to the present day until now.

This book features the story of the United States airline system aviation safety history from its beginnings in 1926 to the present day. A common theme appears throughout this history: a technological solution is already available to solve a safety problem before it is implemented into the safety system.

This book also tells the story of aviation safety in the early years of flight, including the era of the Wright brothers, the period of the barnstormers, and the development of the U.S. air mail system, which laid the foundation for the U.S. airline system.

Significant episodes in the history of aviation safety are included to provide a perspective of the enormous range of safety that has occurred throughout aviation history: crossing the Atlantic Ocean from 1919 to 1934; the Cleveland air races from 1929 to 1949; the Eighth Air Force in World War II; the X-15 rocket plane; the Space Shuttle; and the history of General Aviation safety.

About the Author

Ray Holanda was a NASA Research Scientist at the Lewis (now Glenn) Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio for 36 years. In his retirement years, he has been a member of the National Air Disaster Alliance/Foundation, a citizens’ aviation safety advocacy group, and has represented the organization on a FAA Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee. He has also taught classes in aviation and space history.  He lives near Cleveland, Ohio with his wife, Luretta.