City in the Sky

At any given moment, up to a million passengers are airborne, creating a "city in the sky." But lots of hard work is involved in guiding people to departure gates, keeping them aloft, and returning them safely to the ground. Filmmakers Matt Barrett and Russell Lever's PBS-aired three-episode documentary series describes the epic journey that transpires behind every flight. The first step is at departure, wrangling passenger suitcases and bags that should arrive on time at their proper destinations. In today's mega-airports, like Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International, most of the work is done by computers. Passengers must be constantly moved along in a smooth and steady flow, with underground "plane trains," a minimum of signs (to discourage readers from blocking lanes), and even "S"-shaped runways meant to prevent the stacking of airplanes. Jet fuel must be loaded and checked for purity, while runways are scanned for debris and obstacles, including something as small as a bolt. The documentary details the elaborate food preparations, which must be adjusted for dietary needs and different national cuisines. If a medical problem occurs mid-flight, doctors are consulted for a quick diagnosis and a plan of action. Other topics include building, maintaining, and retiring airplanes; the aerodynamics of flight; the hazardous effects of extreme cold, lightning, and bird strikes; moving exotic cargo such as racehorses; and the “ghost” airport in Bangor, ME—a sizable facility available for emergency stops for transatlantic jet flights. A final note is what happens to unclaimed bags, which are doomed to end up in a blind auction, no looking or touching permitted. Surprisingly, little coverage is given here to the subject of airport security. Although statistics-heavy, this is an entertaining documentary series that offers an interesting behind-the-scenes look at air travel. Aud: P. (S. Rees)