Reviewed by Rama Gaind.
By Richard De Crespigny, Viking, $32.99.
The author of QF32, now provides valuable ‘life lessons from the cockpit of QF32’ in what is a captivating read.
Many will remember the catastrophic explosion on board QF32 in 2010. It could have been one of the world’s worst aviation disasters. Instead it was a miraculous outcome where no one got hurt.
At the helm of the A380 was Captain Richard De Crespigny and his crew who confronted extraordinary challenges, with only three partially working engines, and a potentially explosive plane facing an imminent emergency landing.
He overcame impossible circumstances to bring the world’s largest passenger aircraft safely home with only one fully operational engine. From the clutches of disaster, the 469 souls on board somehow walked away safely.
A high point of commendation is how the captain and is crew remained so calm throughout the stressful ordeal. How can this be? The answer is a collective of competencies: leadership, teamwork and skill.
De Crespigny has lived for years in a high-pressure world of military and civil aviation. Hence, there’s no one better qualified than him to share his skills and vision. His wisdom can be applied to challenges and opportunities in the workplace as well as to our everyday life.
‘At some stage, we all face crises of varying kinds. Even when the circumstances that have caused the crisis are out of your control, the actions you take can make a significant difference in how well you survive.’
Here the captain offers valuable life lessons from the cockpit in a crisis survival checklist. It also includes some exclusive insights from fellow hero pilot Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenburger (Captain of Flight 1549, Sully: Miracle on the Hudson), astronaut Neil Armstrong and NASA’s Gene Kranz.
Be prepared, resilient and let Fly! allow you to successfully perform at your best.
