Artur Hailey “Airport”

Arthur Haley (5 April 1920, Luton, England — 24 November 2004, New Providence, Bahamas) was a British-born Canadian novelist who wrote a number of best-selling novels in the production novel genre. During his life, he wrote 11 books.

Haley had previously written the short story “Runway Zero-Eight” based on the 1956 television production Flight into Danger.

The action takes place at the fictional Lincoln International Airport, on a Friday evening, from 18:30 to 01:30, in January 1967. The airport is vaguely similar to the real O’Hare International Airport, although the three runways mentioned in the novel are not present at O’Hare Airport (or rather, they are located in a different azimuthal direction). The airport was hit by a snowstorm, so the airport administration, ground services and flight personnel are forced to work in conditions of exorbitant loads, so that the airport continues to function. The plot is mainly tied to Mel Bakersfeld, the general manager of the airport. A lot of problems fall on him-from the missing pickup truck with food for passengers and the plane that blocked one of the runways, to family troubles. There is a line of preparation, flight and tragic accidents on board flight number 2 “Golden Argos”, as well as the relatively safe completion of the emergency flight, which did not turn into a disaster thanks to the heroic actions of the crew, as well as the clear and well-coordinated work of ground services. A fairly independent storyline revolves around Mel’s brother, an air traffic controller, and his emotional experiences after planes collide in mid-air.