Tracon

Rating:
Summary: Tracon is a Triumph
Review: One of the most difficult responsibilities as a Safety Representative for the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) is explaining the intricacies of the Air Traffic Control System to non-controllers. It is a frustrating task. Paul McElroy not only does it well, but he makes it entertaining.

I was overwhelmed by "Tracon". It is such a rare pleasure to find an author that has the skill to explain the truth by using fiction. "Tracon" comes closer to the truth than anything I've ever read about ATC...and I've read them all, fact and fiction.

"Tracon" really is a triumph. From now on, whenever I have people ask me about what it's like to be a controller, I'll have an easy answer; Read "Tracon" and you'll understand. You'll have a good time learning about it too.

And for you controllers out there...Paul McElroy has the flick.

Don Brown

Facility Safety Representative

NATCA-Atlanta Center

Rating:
Summary: A truly gripping novel of intrigue, politics, and romance.
Review: One of the most gripping novels of the season, Tracon is the story of an air traffic controller implicated in a plane's crash when his reliance on a new technology fails. Tracon controllers daily avert disaster, but one failure will change their lives. Add intrigue, political undercurrents, romance, and powerful characterization and you have a charged winner which is recommended as one of the season's outstanding fiction picks.

Rating:
Summary: TRACON is 100% Technically Correct !
Review: Paul McElroy's TRACON is the first accurate representation of what the Air Traffic Control environment is really like. As an 18 year ATC veteran, I was immediately drawn into his novel as he precisely described incidents in which TCAS (Traffic Alert/Collision Avoidance System) caused aircraft to climb/descend and put themselves in closer proximity to other aircraft--all in direct confliction with the controller's instructions! Kudos to Mr. McElroy for shining some light on a problem that continues to plague the aviation world to this day. TCAS is a valuable awareness tool for pilots, but allowing a computer to override the judgement and pre-planned actions of an air traffic controller is a subject for serious debate.

McElroy's research into the world of ATC will be evident to all of those who are associated and familiar with aviation. The way that he takes technical situations and explains them in layman's terms through his characters makes for extremely enjoyable reading. He also captures the competitive comraderie found in the radar room as controllers try to one-up each other, trading light hearted insults as a way to vent their frustrations with having to work in a less than perfect system. The "war stories" told by the controllers as they unwind with a beer after work are hilarious. One can only hope they are somewhat embellished, but in the air traffic world you can't be too sure.....

I found this book to be addictive; I didn't want to put it down. After watching the disappointing air traffic movie, "Pushing Tin", it was a pleasure to read an authentic accounting of what goes on at the radar scope. McElroy manages to capture everything perfectly!

I rate this book at 5 stars.

Rating:
Summary: Stick to the facts!
Review: Really enjoyed this book, but give me a break....how many women are as eager as Christy to jump into bed? The controller stuff was really interesting, the relationship stuff was pure fiction.

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down
Review: Story line really kept me interested from beginning to end. Was interested in the work related end of the story as well as the personal life of the characters. It never got dull or boring. Living in Chicago, I could also related to the different sites that were mentioned and that is always interesting too. Excellent character descriptions.

Rating:
Summary: I'll take the bus.
Review: The realism with which the Air traffic control system is detailed makes me think twice about flying. Is anyone in the FAA reading this? A must for anyone wants to know exactly what is going on behind the scenes.

Rating:
Summary: Never boring, easy to read, hard to put down
Review: This book is never boring. There is a lot happening, without much violence, and it gives interesting insights in the operation of the Tracon part of air traffic control. Despite all the happenings the book is very easy to read. I am looking forward to similar books from this author

Rating:
Summary: Good fiction despite the flaws
Review: This book is written in a very simplistic prose, the pace is fast and the story lines are simplistic. The author is an entertaining writer, one who can lead you on to the next chapter and make you wanting more. However there are some flaws in the book. The author has set up the press as the knight in shining armor. While the government is really just trying to help people regardless of how the truth may hurt them. And the only villain, you guessed it a republican senator looking out for big business (I guess nobody told the author that the democrats take more campaign contributions from big businesses than the republicans do).
With these intricacies aside I wonder if the author has ever flown on a plane with a TCAS I or a TCAS II system? I also wonder if he has ever thought like a pilot, every conflict resolution he mention revolved around a vertical component of flight (climb or descend). Never once did it come to mind that there is a horizontal component of flight (turn right or left). This is interesting, since the majority of traffic alerts are resolved or simply not allowed to happen with simple commands such as "Delta 123 turn left 30 degrees for traffic". But this wouldn't be exciting for a book to be written about.

Overall, this book is fun to read if you take it as fantasy. If you take it as a probability then the fatal flaws destroy the premises and make the book a dull read.

Rating:
Summary: Accurate and entertaining
Review: This is an excellent novel to read if you like aviation. Technical details are accurate but explained in a way that will make them easy to understand to everyone. The story line is very well paced.

Rating:
Summary: A woman's view
Review: This is not a subject that I am usually interested in, but since it was sent to me by a friend I did decide to read it. I was spellbound! I found the technical parts to be informative and interesting, not boring, and the stroy line intriguing. I liked the writing style,as the story had a good flow ,and the characters were believable. A book like this is a rare find!