Learning
from icarus

Aviation Safety Lessons from the Past and Present

Wisdom from great pilots and philosophers to improve flight safety in the future

About the author

Bruce Landsberg

Bruce Landsberg retired as Vice Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board. At the NTSB, he served as acting chair, as required, and was a regular member on Go-Team launches to crashes in all modes of transport. He also served as an appellate judge when pilots or mariners had certificate action taken against them by either the FAA or the U.S. Coast Guard.

As a new flight instructor, he worked at a Part 141 FAA Approved Flight School with less than 250 hours flight time when he started teaching – good on fundamentals but very light on experience. That improved rapidly by teaching 60-70 hours per month. The paycheck was lean as were the prospects. He also pumped gas and drove an old Ford tractor to keep the airfield mowed. Since nobody was hiring low time pilots, going to graduate school full time while adding advanced ratings was challenging, but essential.

Learning
from icarus

Learning from Icarus: Timeless Aviation Safety Lessons from the Past and guidance for the Future.

By Bruce Landsberg, Former NTSB Vice-Chairman & AOPA Air Safety Institute President

What do ancient mythology and modern aviation have in common? The answer lies in Learning from Icarus, a captivating and deeply informed exploration of flight safety from one of America’s most respected aviation safety leaders.

Bruce Landsberg, former Vice-Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board and longtime President of the AOPA Air Safety Institute, brings decades of flight experience and investigative research to this one-of-a-kind book. Drawing from historical crashes, real-world case studies, and personal experience, Landsberg guides readers through the lessons that continue to shape safe flight operations today.

From high-profile accidents to subtle human errors, each chapter dives into the core of what pilots, instructors, and aviation organizations must understand to prevent the next tragedy. With wisdom from legendary pilots, philosophers, and front-line investigations, this book is both a technical resource and a philosophical guide for anyone who takes to the skies.

Testimonials

Book Reader Reviews

What a privilege to read this! After spending 25 years in U.S. Army Aviation and 12 years with the Federal Aviation Administration overseeing General Aviation, this truly resonates.
As the former President and CEO of the Vertical Aviation International Association, and with over 8,000 flight hours across 100 different aircraft, I’m very familiar with many of the incidents highlighted. Yet, this book goes far beyond simply retelling accidents. It offers real insights that I hope both new and seasoned pilots take to heart.
I appreciated the humor and the directness — some of the commentary felt like a real poke in the chest (in the best way). Why do we keep having the same accidents over and over again? Well done, Mr. Safety!

Learning from Icarus is an essential read that captures why safety is the foundation of aviation’s future. By weaving together decades of investigative research, including historical crashes and personal experiences, Bruce delivers a compelling vision for making the skies safer for all. As someone who personally shares this vision and founded a company exclusively focused on flight safety, I can’t recommend this book enough.

My takeaway from this ambitious and important read is threefold: 1. Bruce has a lot of wisdom regarding human behavior and about enhancing flight safety; 2. His writing is reader-friendly, self-effacing, and authoritative [check out his aviation credentials on the back cover]; 3. Defying gravity has been demonstrated again and again and again to contain risk, which, when mishandled, can deliver tragic outcomes. So, while the fundamental message presented herein is oft repeated through numerous and often riveting real-life examples, I came away thinking that’s absolutely appropriate to ensure it penetrates.