Fly By Wire: The Geese, the Glide, the Miracle on the Hudson

Fly By Wire examines US Airways Flight 1549's Hudson River landing in 2009 through multiple lenses - the technical details of modern aircraft, the history of aviation safety, and the human factors involved in emergency situations. The narrative follows pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger while exploring the complex systems and innovations that enabled this aviation incident. The book provides context about Airbus's development of computerized flight control systems and profiles key figures in aviation history who influenced modern aircraft design. It details the evolution of commercial aviation safety measures and explains how technological advances have transformed cockpit operations. William Langewiesche draws from his background as a pilot and journalist to present both the technical and human elements of the story. His research includes interviews with crew members, aviation experts, and engineers involved in aircraft design. The text raises questions about the relationship between human skill and automated systems, examining how this balance shapes modern aviation. Through this specific incident, broader themes emerge about technology's role in safety and decision-making under pressure.

Readers found this account of Flight 1549's Hudson River landing focused more on aviation history and Airbus design than expected, with less emphasis on the actual event. Readers appreciated: - Clear explanations of flight control systems - Technical background on aircraft automation - History of Airbus development - Balanced view of pilot vs computer control Common criticisms: - Limited coverage of the actual Hudson landing - Too much focus on Airbus vs Boeing debates - Perceived minimizing of Captain Sullenberger's role - Misleading marketing/title given the content Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 3.9/5 (130+ ratings) Multiple readers noted the book "feels like an extended magazine article." One Amazon reviewer stated "If you're looking for a dramatic retelling of Flight 1549, this isn't it." A Goodreads user commented "Fascinating technical detail but strays too far from the main event that drew readers to the book."

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🛩️ The book reveals that the A320's fly-by-wire system, which helped save Flight 1549, was largely developed by Bernard Ziegler, a former French fighter pilot who faced significant resistance when introducing this revolutionary technology. ✈️ Author William Langewiesche is himself an experienced pilot and the son of Wolfgang Langewiesche, who wrote the aviation classic "Stick and Rudder" (1944). 🦢 The Canada geese that struck Flight 1549 were likely year-round residents of the New York area rather than migratory birds, part of a growing urban goose population that has become increasingly problematic for aviation. 👨‍✈️ Captain Sullenberger was not only a commercial pilot but also ran a safety consulting firm and had worked as a glider instructor—experience that proved crucial during the powerless descent. ⏱️ The entire flight, from takeoff to landing in the Hudson River, lasted only 5 minutes and 8 seconds, but the investigation and analysis detailed in the book took nearly a year to complete.