Books with author Arthur Hailey

This is a fictional story - fast paced, exciting, richly textured with memorable characters. Yet we think you will find it more than a story. It is about your airport too. Yet those with inside knowledge - like Mel Bakersfield, the airports career-jinxed general manager - are aware of grave deficiencies. Operational areas are out molded to the point of danger; air traffic control is overtaxed; the supposedly modern glass chrome main terminal has become a whited sepulcher. Against this background is set a dramatic, behind the scenes story of seven eventful airport hours during a mid-winter snowstorm - with pressures passions and problems of their own - who share them. You will meet Joe Patroni, cocky and genial airline maintenance chief, striving to clear a disabled aircraft from an urgently needed runway; Air Traffic Controller Keith Bakersfeld suffering stress and conscience stricken by the memory of an air disaster for which he was responsible; Tanya Livingston passenger relations agent (an attractive divorcee) whose suspicions triggered by a sharp-eyed customs inspector, reveal an unsuspected crisis; Captain (and check pilot) Vernon Demerest, arrogant admired by women and despising "ground bound pigeons," especially Airport Commissioners; Elliot Freemantle, crusading lawyer, leading a group of home-owners incensed by airport noise; Gwen Meighen, a hot-tempered English brunette from "Stewardess Row"; Ada Quonsett, an old lady who explains her techniques as an aerial stowaway; D. O. Guerrero, a psychotic with a homemade bomb. Arthur Hailey has employed the same multi-plot technique which he used successfully in Hotel and The Final Diagnosis. As usual, he has written an engrossing enjoyable tale, packed with little known and fascinating information: How, for example, smugglers trip themselves up with customs; how to get free drinks on economy flights; the way in which stewardess pregnancy programs work; what is an airport "Conga Line"; how much an airline will pay on the spot for a damaged luggage claim; and why airport insurance booths are hated by airline pilots . But the true hero of this novel is the airport itself viewed through the eyes of a master story teller.

This is a fictional story-fast paced, exciting, richly textured with memorable characters. Lincoln International Airport calls itself boastfully: Aviation Crossroads of the World. Yet those with inside knowledge are aware of grave deficiencies. Operational areas are outmoded to the point of danger; air traffic control is overtaxed; the supposedly-modern glass and chrome main terminal has become a whited sepulcher. Against this background is set a dramatic, behind-scenes story of seven eventful airport hours during a mid-winter snowstorm, and of the men and women-with pressures, passions and problems of their own. You will meet: Joe Patroni, cocky and genial airline maintenance chief, striving to clear a disabled aircraft from an urgently needed runway; Air Traffic Controller Keith Bakersjeld, suffering stress, and conscience stricken by the memory of an air disaster for which he was responsible; Tanya Livingston, passenger relations agent whose suspicions, triggered by a sharp-eyed Customs Inspector, reveal an unsuspected crisis; Captain Vernon Demerest, arrogant, admired by women, and despising "ground bound penguins," especially Airport Commissioners; Elliot Free mantle, crusading lawyer, leading a group of home owners incensed by airport noise; Ada Quonsett, a prim old lady who explains her so-easy techniques as an aerial stowaway; D. O. Guerrero, a psychotic with a homemade bomb ... and many others. Arthur Hailey has employed the same multi-plot technique which he used so successfully in Hotel and The Final Diagnosis. And, as usual, he has written an engrossing, enjoyable tale, packed with little-known and fascinating information: How, for example, smugglers trip themselves up with Customs; the way in which stewardess pregnancy programs work; what is an airport "Conga Line;" how much an airline will pay on the spot for a damaged luggage claim; and why airport insurance booths are hated by airline pilots ... But the true-hero of this novel is the Airport.

In a raging blizzard, a stricken aeroplane is struggling against all odds to reach its destination. For seven suspense-filled hours a blocked runway, a suicide, a mass demonstration, a stowaway, a pregnancy and a psychotic with a home-made bomb, bring the plot to a shattering conclusion. Airport is a bestselling 1968 novel by Arthur Hailey about a large metropolitan airport and the personalities of the people who use, rely and suffer from its operation. This book was adapted into a major motion picture starring Burt Lancaster, George Kennedy, Dean Martin and Van Heflin, among others and inspired three sequels: Airport 1975, Airport '77 and The Concorde ... Airport '79. Arthur Hailey was a British/Canadian novelist, whose works have sold more than 170 million copies in 40 languages. Most of the novels are set within one major industry, such as hotels, banks or airlines, and explore the particular human conflicts sparked-off by that environment. They are notable for their plain style,