Airport arthur hailey pdf

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Loved each and every part of this book. In High Places is set in the world of government; Hotel looks behind the scenes at life in a grand hotel; air travel is the context for Airport; he looks at the car industry in Wheels , at the financial world in The Moneychangers and at the medical world in The Final Diagnosis and Strong Medicine Hailey has always believed in making sure that he has a thorough understanding of the background to each book, and there is no doubt that the level of detail included in his stories brings them to life in a special way.

The story is carefully planned and fast-moving, and there is always a long and varied list of characters whose daily personal lives run alongside the larger emergency situation on which the story hangs. These features of Hailey's writing have made him a best-selling writer and his books are popular with readers all over the world.

He spent three years planning and writing Airport, one of his best works. He visited airports in North America and Europe, becoming particularly familiar with daily life at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, one of the world's busiest air traffic centres. He spoke to all types and levels of airport employee, watched them at their work, and finally understood the special problems and responsibilities that each of them faced.

At the time the book appeared, air traffic was increasing sharply. For many people the world of aviation was still a strange and exciting one. People were discussing the subjects mentioned in the book: the problems with noise suffered by those living near airports; dangers connected with bombs; overcrowded airports and, in particular, plane crashes.

In , 93 people were killed in a plane crash in New York and 30 died in Kansas when their plane hit a house. Three years later people died when a plane crashed in Tokyo Bay. Real-life emergencies such as these serve to heighten the tension of the story as the reader sympathizes with the ordinary characters caught up in events: the pilots and air hostesses, the airport managers and air traffic controllers, the ticket salespeople and maintenance workers.

All have their personal and professional pressures and their own ways of dealing with them. The action of the book is centred round Lincoln International Airport in Chicago, during one of the worst snowstorms to hit the city in years. The man with the responsibility for keeping the airport open is the Airport General Manager, Mel Bakersfeld. Fortunately he can depend on the support of some of the other people working with him, including the attractive Passenger Relations Agent, Tanya Livingston, and the strong and courageous Joe Patroni; Joe is responsible for moving a plane which is blocking the longest runway, a job that becomes more and more important as the story unfolds.

At the same time Vernon Demerest, a proud and unlikeable pilot, is doing his best to make life difficult for Mel, but is himself about to have an unpleasant surprise. People living in the Meadowood area of the city are planning a protest about the noise from the airport, encouraged by the lawyer Elliott Freemantle, who has reasons of his own for getting involved in the case.

And in a cheap and dirty apartment on the south side of the city, a sad and lonely man is beginning to make plans for an event that he hopes will bring comfort to the wife he loves but can no longer support. The airport, together with the whole of the Midwestern United States, had been hit by the worst storm in years. It had already lasted for three days. Now troubles, like spots on a sick, weakened body, were beginning to break out everywhere. A truck carrying dinners was lost in the snow somewhere on an airport service road, and so far the search for it had been unsuccessful.

At least a hundred flights were delayed, some by many hours. Out on the airfield, runway three zero was out of use. The front wheels were stuck in the deep mud which lay under the snow near the edge of the runway. Now they were asking TWA to help them. The loss of runway three zero made the work of Air Traffic Control even more difficult than usual.

With 20 planes waiting to land, they were delaying take-offs. The airfield seemed to be full of waiting planes. Inside the main passenger terminal, too, there were crowds of impatient people waiting beside their piles of luggage. Mel Bakersfeld was surprised that the airport was still open. Mel was the Airport General Manager.

He was a tall, powerful man. At the moment, he was standing by the Snow Control Desk, high in the control tower. Only Air Traffic Control had a better view. Tonight you could see only a few lights. This was an unusually hard winter.

The storm had started five days ago in the Colorado Mountains, and then swept across a large part of the United States. It brought strong winds, freezing cold and heavy snow. Maintenance men with snowploughs were clearing the snow as it fell, but by now many of them were terribly tired. The storm seemed to be winning. I need six more snowploughs out there.

And where do you think they're going to come from? Any more stupid ideas? Mel knew how easily tempers were lost under these conditions. These men were highly trained, and they were working as hard as they could. The maintenance man's voice came on the phone again. The driver could freeze to death. He won't die of hunger, though, if he has any sense! Airport managers were used to complaints. The most important thing was to save the life of the driver. For a moment, he wished that he could sit down and help Danny.

Mel needed action. The cold weather was making his bad foot - an old war wound from Korea — ache. Then he realized that Danny could work better on his own. He telephoned Air Traffic Control.

This proves it. The trouble was, there were plenty of people who disagreed with him, and they were more powerful than he was. The complaints have started coming in already. He was tired of hearing complaints from the people who lived in Meadowood. The airport had been built long before their houses, but they never seemed to stop complaining about the noise. As a result, the runway nearest to Meadowood was used only under special conditions.

On the occasions when it had to be used, pilots were told to reduce the noise made by the engines on take-off. It was possible to do this, but most pilots considered it to be foolish and dangerous and hated being told to do it. In any case, it had not stopped the complaints from Meadowood. I hear they're holding a meeting tonight to decide what to do next.

He asked:'Is my brother on duty tonight? Does he seem nervous? More than usual. He put the phone down, and thought again about a note he had received 15 minutes before. It was from Tanya Livingston. The note warned him that the Airlines Snow Committee, led by Captain Vernon Demerest, was going to blame Mel for the many flight delays. They were going to attack him for what they believed was bad management.

Captain Vernon Demerest was one of Trans America's most experienced pilots. He was married to Mel's sister, Sarah. The Bakersfelds were a real "aviation family", but even with this family connection Mel and Vernon were not friendly with one another.

Recently they had exchanged angry words at an important meeting, and Mel felt that the critical report was a direct result of this. He was not really worried, because he knew that he was doing everything he could to run the airport well. It was unpleasant to be criticized, but his conscience was clear. Tanya ended her note by inviting him to have a cup of coffee with her, when he had time.

Mel decided he had time now. He always enjoyed talking to Tanya. Chapter 2 Mel Bakersfeld Mel went down from the control tower to his office.

The office was silent and empty. He took a heavy coat and boots out of a cupboard near his big desk. He was not really on duty at the airport tonight, but because of the storm he had stayed on to help. Otherwise he would have been at home with Cindy and the children. It's hard to know the truth about yourself, he thought.

If there had been no storm he would probably have found some other excuse for not going home. He didn't seem to go home immediately after work very often these days. Of course, the airport kept him very busy, but — to be honest — it also offered an escape from his endless quarrels with Cindy.

Oh God! He had just noticed a note that his secretary had left on his desk, reminding him that he had promised to go to a party with Cindy that evening. Cindy hated to miss a party if she knew that any important people were going to be there.

He still had two hours. He could finish what he had to do here in time to get to the party — but he would be late.

He phoned his home number. Roberta, his older daughter, answered. Which one are you asking me about? There were days when he felt that his home life had become unbearable. Did all thirteen-year-old girls talk to their fathers like this? He loved both his daughters very much. There were times when he thought that his marriage had only lasted as long as it had because of them. It hurt him to hear Roberta speak so coldly. But who was to blame for her behaviour? Perhaps she had seen her parents quarrelling too often.

She hopes you'll try not to be late for the party for once. I have homework to do. Don't talk to me like that, Roberta. I won't allow it. Libby wants to talk to you.

Because of the storm, I'll probably sleep at the airport tonight. Then Roberta said:'Will you speak to Libby now? Good night, Robbie. Guess what happened today! You had fun in the snow today' 'Yes, I did. But it wasn't that. Mel wondered how long she would remain like this. Will you help me? He needed a map of February himself, he thought.

He heard her small feet running from the room. Someone else put the telephone down without speaking. Mel walked out of his office carrying his coat. From here he could look down over the crowded hall of the main terminal building. He could not see a single empty seat. Every information desk was surrounded by a crowd of impatient or worried people.

The ticket agents were working under severe pressure. As he watched, one of them was speaking calmly to a young man who had lost his temper and was shouting at her.

Looking down at another desk, he saw an agent quietly finding a seat on a plane for an important businessman. Nobody looked up and saw Mel. Most passengers never gave a thought to the large number of people necessary to keep an airport running. Of course, if people knew more about the airport, they would also know more about its dangers and weaknesses. Perhaps it was better for them not to know about these things. He walked towards Tanya's office. Mel wondered what they were saying about his friendship with Tanya.

We had a little problem. She's taking care of it now. Tanya made her sit down, and told her: 'Make yourself comfortable. We can talk later.

Patsy Smith was about twenty. Tanya was nearer forty. Looking at the girl, she felt that the difference in their ages was even greater than that.

Perhaps it was because she had been married and Patsy had not. It was the second time that Tanya had thought about her age today. This morning she had noticed grey hairs among the red. It reminded her that she was getting older, and that by now she should know what she was doing with her life.

Her own daughter was growing up. Patsy Smith began to speak, finding the words with difficulty. Her eyes were red from crying. I was doing my best. We all were. It was a familiar story. A man had missed his flight, and it had been difficult to find him a place on another. When Patsy at last succeeded in finding him a place, he complained that he didn't want to see the film that was going to be shown on that flight, and told her that she was slow and didn't know how to do her job properly.

In the end she had been unable to bear his insults any more, and she had thrown a book at him. Now I'm going to send you home to have a good rest.

He said you weren't to blame. He told me that he had a daughter the same age as you, and that he would hit anyone who spoke to her like that man spoke to you.

So you see, there are some nice people in the world, after all. It was hard to be polite when so many people were rude to you. As Patsy was leaving the office, Mel came in. She looked good in her blue uniform. Can I buy you a cup of coffee? I'm on duty for another two hours. I'd like to.

She had never asked him to visit her apartment before. He wondered if this could be leading to a love affair, and knew that that would be a serious matter for both of them. I will. Well, Cindy often did. As they went to sit down, Mel almost fell, and seized Tanya's arm. I suppose people will talk about that, she thought. Some people just refuse to understand what is needed.

Tanya had thought it a wonderful speech, and had told him so. But recently he had not been speaking in public so much. Tell me, why does Captain Demerest dislike you so much? He was not in uniform, but he had a commanding manner. He saw Mel and Tanya, but he did not smile or speak to them.

Only the most experienced pilots flew Flight Two, which was called the Golden Argosy. Mel was just thinking how attractive Tanya looked in her uniform, when she said: 'I may be out of uniform soon. I'm looking for a better post. Who wants a divorced woman with a child? Her husband had left her before her daughter had been born. Before they left the coffee shop, Mel phoned the Snow Desk. He was driving to the airport from his home now. The lost truck had been found and the driver was alive and going to be all right.

A stowaway had been found on a flight from Los Angeles. He had left his home, which was 25 miles from the airport, 20 minutes before, but he was making slow progress through the thick snow. In the end the traffic stopped moving altogether. He lit a cigar. Many stories were told about Joe Patroni. He had begun his working life as a motor mechanic in a garage. One day he won an old plane from someone in a card game. Without any help he repaired it and taught himself how to fly it.

He studied at night school and went to work for TWA as a plane mechanic. Soon everyone knew that he was the best mechanic TWA had. Whenever there was an urgent or difficult repair job, they called Joe Patroni. He never wasted time and always told people exactly what he thought, regardless of how important the person he was talking to might be.

He had been successful in another way, too. He had married the most beautiful air hostess in TWA. Many people were surprised when Marie married a mechanic, but now, twelve years later and with three children, they still loved one another.

Patroni waited for five minutes. Then he turned on the radio. He waited another five minutes and then decided to get out of the car. Someone called out: 'What's happened? A sixteen-wheel heavy goods vehicle was lying on its side in the road. The police were trying to pull it off the road with a breakdown truck. Patroni walked straight up to a policeman. You'd better put that cigar out. Ten minutes later Joe Patroni was in control of the whole operation.

Two more breakdown trucks were on their way, and chains were being put around the damaged vehicle. As he worked, Patroni felt increasingly worried about the situation at the airport, where he knew that he was badly needed. But helping to clear the road, he thought, is probably the most useful thing I can do now. I can't get to the airport until the road is clear. He stopped work to go back to his car and telephone the airport.

There was a message for him from Mel Bakersfeld. Runway three zero was urgently needed. When he left the car the snow was still falling heavily. He was glad to see that the first of the two additional breakdown trucks had arrived. Chapter 5 The Blocked Runway Mel went outside. His car, which had its own two-way radio, was waiting for him close by. The strength of the wind was frightening. Freezing air came into the car through an open window, and he closed it quickly.

It was difficult to see anything, but as he drove out to the airfield Mel could see that several planes were waiting to take off. He saw the lights and the passengers sitting ready in their seats. The controller sounded tired, and this made him think of his brother, Keith. He hoped that he would be all right tonight. Mel told the controller where he was going. It took him a quarter of an hour to reach the blocked runway. Out here the storm seemed to be wilder and more violent.

A shadowy figure called out to him: 'Is that Mr Patroni? I think we've tried everything already. At the moment I wish I had some other job.

He told Mel that all the passengers had been taken off the plane. It seemed to be impossible to get the plane out of the mud. He had the feeling that something terrible was about to happen. He had had this feeling once before, long ago. He went back to his car to speak to Danny Farrow. Your wife called. In a few minutes Danny told him: 'Patroni won't be here for another hour. He's stuck in the traffic. Cindy had phoned again. Danny didn't complain, but Mel guessed that she had been angry and had been rude to him.

Chapter 6 Vernon Demerest Captain Vernon Demerest was 3 miles from the airport, driving his Mercedes towards a large apartment block where many of the air hostesses lived.

Parties were often held in these apartments, and love affairs between pilots and air hostesses were frequent. Vernon Demerest had had affairs with quite a large number of the beautiful and intelligent girls who lived here.

Tonight he was going to visit an attractive, dark-haired English girl. Gwen Meighen was a farmer's daughter who had come to America ten years ago, when she was eighteen. Before becoming an air hostess she had been a fashion model. Later tonight they would fly to Rome together on the Golden Argosy, and spend three days in Italy before returning to the United States.

They planned to go to Naples together. Vernon smiled happily as he thought of those three days. Everything was going so well for him this evening. He had arrived at the airport early, after saying goodbye to his wife, Sarah. She was a quiet, dull woman, and in a way this was very useful to Vernon.

She never asked him about his relationships with other women, and while he was married to her, no other woman could expect him to settle down with her. That pleased Vernon too. Now Mel would never again dare to criticize Vernon in public - as he had done recently. He was a little early. He could imagine Naples well - a warm night, soft music, wine with his dinner and Gwen Meighen beside him.

He began singing happily to himself. Vernon would not be flying the plane himself tonight. The pilot was Captain Anson Harris, a pilot only a little less experienced than Vernon. Vernon would be checking on Harris's flying and making a report on it.

Other pilots hated being checked by Captain Demerest. He always seemed to try his hardest to find fault with them. He had already succeeded in making Captain Harris very angry, by telephoning him at home to remind him not to be late.

Harris had been a pilot for 20 years, and had never once come to the airport late. Then Vernon had met him at the airport and told him that he should be wearing a TWA shirt as part of his uniform.

At first Harris had thought that he must be joking. The shirts were badly made and few of the pilots wore them. In fact, he knew that Vernon himself did not wear one! When he had realized that it was no joke he had gone dark red in the face with anger, but somehow he had managed to control himself and say nothing. Oh yes! It would be a very easy flight - for Vernon Demerest! He knocked on Owen's door, and then went in without waiting for an answer.

Gwen was in the bathroom. Even her voice was soft and attractive. He had noticed the effect she had on passengers — especially on men. Her clothes were laid out on the bed.

She had the same uniform as all the other girls, but under it she wore underwear of the finest French silk. We've got plenty of time. Sarah wondered why he drank so much tea these days! He went into the kitchen to make the tea. He began singing again happily Chapter 7 Out on the Airfield The biting wind blew across the airfield.

It was as strong as ever and it drove the falling snow ahead of it. As he drove to runway one seven, left, Mel was shaking with cold although it was warm in his car. Was he shaking just because of the cold, he wondered, or was it also because of his memories? The pain in his foot helped to remind him of something that had happened 16 years before, when Mel had been a pilot during the Korean War.

One day he had had a strange feeling, the knowledge that something terrible was going to happen. Next day his plane was shot down into the sea. It was sinking fast and his foot was trapped.

He had saved his own life by cutting at his foot with a knife. After a long time in hospital he was able to walk, but he would never be able to fly a plane again. The strange feeling that he had had before that experience was with him again now. Only two of Lincoln International's runways, one seven, right, and two five, were in use now. One seven, left, was being cleared and would soon be back in use. Since the storm began, men had been working on the runways.

Mel wished that the public could see the way these men worked, and the great machines they used. When he reached the men, one of them called to him; 'Why don't you join us, Mr Bakersfeld? Have a ride on a snowplough! He knew the man. Usually he worked as a clerk. A bit tired. All I can say is, it can't go on for ever. He too needed to get out of his office sometimes, and stand on the lonely airfield in the wind and snow.

That was where he always went when he needed to think hard about something important. He had plenty to think about tonight. The airport's future, and his own. Chapter 8 Cindy Gets Angry Less than five years earlier the airport had been among the most modern in the world. Many people thought that it still was.

They were wrong. Few people realized how old-fashioned Lincoln International had become. Passengers usually saw nothing but the main terminal, with its bars, restaurants and shops. They did not notice that there were not enough runways.

This meant that there was a take-ofF or a landing every thirty seconds on the two main runways, and when the airport was very busy the Meadowood situation made it necessary to use a runway which cut across one of the other two.

The result was that planes were landing and taking off on flight paths which crossed one another. Only a week before Keith had said to Mel: 'There hasn't been a crash here yet, but one day there will be. I only hope that I'm not on duty when it happens. Then, almost unbelievably close to the first plane, he saw more lights as a second plane landed.

Frighteningly close, Mel thought. Mel had often spoken about the need for more runways to the Airport Committee and to the City Council - the people who controlled the airport's spending.

They refused to believe that a new airport had become too small so quickly. Perhaps Keith was right, and there would have to be a big crash before they would be able to see the situation as it really was. A decision had to be made soon, Mel knew. The airport must either look to the future or fall back into the past. The same was true of Mel himself. Only a short time ago he had been spoken of as a young man who would get to the top in aviation.

Now many people doubted whether he could. At the end of the runway he left the snowplough and drove back to the terminal in his own car. He was thinking about what had happened to him only a few years before.

He had been president of the Airport Operators' Council then, and the youngest man ever to reach that position.