News Release

New book shows why US air travel system is broken, and how to fix it

Book Announcement

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Book Cover

image: Terminal Chaos: Why US Air Travel Is Broken and How to Fix It. view more 

Credit: Cover design: Gayle Machey

April 7, 2008 -- Reston, Virginia -- The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is pleased to announce an important new book, Terminal Chaos: Why U.S. Air Travel Is Broken and How to Fix It, scheduled for release in May. The authors, expert analysts George L. Donohue and Russell D. Shaver III, tackle U.S. air transportation system problems head-on, and propose practical solutions.

In 2006 alone, flight delays and cancellations cost U.S. travelers an estimated $3.2 billion. In 2004 and 2005, the U.S. tourism industry is estimated to have lost $98 billion in revenue due to air transportation problems. More importantly, the authors assert that there is a complete absence of advocacy for the customer -- the passengers.

Written with the airline passenger in mind, the authors arm the flying public with the truth about flight delays. Their provocative analysis not only identifies the causes and extent of the problems, but also provides solutions that will put air transportation on the path to recovery.

This is a very disturbing book--and it was intended to be. For the crisis in U.S. aviation is far more serious than most people imagine. Donohue and Shaver have given us the best prescription I've seen for fixing it.-- Robert W. Poole Jr., Director of Transportation Studies at the Reason Foundation

Dr. George Donohue is director of the Center for Air Transportation Systems Research, and Professor of Systems Engineering and Operations Research, at George Mason University, and co-director of the FAA National Center of Excellence for Operations Research. Donohue previously served as associate administrator for research and acquisitions at the Federal Aviation Administration. Dr. Russell Shaver is a visiting research fellow at the Center for Air Transportation Systems Research at George Mason University. He previously served as chief scientist for policy analysis at the MITRE Center for Advanced Aviation System Development and senior research analyst at the RAND Corporation.

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The first chapter of the book is available online at www.aiaa.org/donohue. Review copy requests may be e-mailed to janices@aiaa.org. Author booking requests may be e-mailed to jgreif@gmu.edu. Orders may be placed online: www.aiaa.org/books; by mail: AIAA Publications Customer Service, P.O. Box 960, Herndon, VA 20172-0960; by phone: 800.682.2422 or 703.661.1595; or by fax: 703.661.1501

AIAA advances the state of aerospace science, engineering, and technological leadership. Headquartered in suburban Washington, D.C., the Institute serves over 35,000 members in 65 regional sections and 79 countries. AIAA membership is drawn from all levels of industry, academia, private research organizations, and government. For more information, visit www.aiaa.org.


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