I do think 30 Seconds to Impact portrays BA in a very bad light. Clearly it is only 1 side of the story, but the chain of events suggests either that nobody had considered what should happen in that situation or those in control had been very badly advised indeed. I liked the book and enjoy having it on my reading table on board to provoke conversation with the crew. Absolutely everyone sympathises with Captain Burkhill. In the event, he demonstrated why I choose to fly BA rather than anyone else. Had that have happened with an Irish LCC pilot in control, I do not think there would have been such a happy ending.

Thanks for the replies on the Miracle on the Hudson. I was not being flippant about a fantastic outcome under the most enourmous pressure, but just ignorant of the realities of flight. If I was to be told at the boarding gate that something was going to go very wrong on this flight, Peter Burkhill or Sully would be top of my list for Captain on the flight deck.

Actually, make that any BA pilot. I was forced to listen to a seminar about "Influencing for the best outcome" last week. We were talking about brands and trust and the presenter actually said:

"There is something incredibly calming and reassuring about the voice of the captain when you get on a BA flight that you just don't get with any other airline."

Touche.^