A Journey Beyond Runways

In Above and Beyond, Shiv Kumar Mohanka compiles an extraordinary aviation chronicle — from early air balloons and warplanes to drones and digital skies. A treasure trove for enthusiasts and general readers alike

- SANJEEV CHOPRA

‘Above and Beyond (A & B): Exploring the Amazing World of Aviation’ by CISF veteran Shiv Kumar Mohanka is certainly India’s (and perhaps the world’s) most comprehensive cover-to-cover offering about anything and everything connected with aviation — from the earliest history of aerial reconnaissance by ’Entreprenant, a lighter-than-air balloon used by the French Army in their engagement with the Austrians in the Battle of Fleurus in 1794, to the remote-controlled drones of today, which hit precise targets at the time and place of choosing by their handlers.

This monumental work of five hundred-plus pages is encyclopedic in its range, covering every possible entry in the dictionary of aviation. ‘The work is spread over eight chapters, with the first two relating to the infrastructure, design, operations, and management of airports. From the naming (and renaming) of airports to the protocol related to the transport of everything — from human beings to racehorses, from mobile phones to lifesaving drugs — every possible aspect of the physical infrastructure of the airport and the aeroplane is covered.

‘The third chapter focuses on environmental concerns and safety considerations, as well as their interconnectedness. We learn about the environmental impact assessment of aviation and the field of aviation meteorology. Today, pilots can avoid hazardous weather conditions like turbulence, thunderstorms, and poor visibility based on critical information regarding atmospheric conditions such as temperature, wind speed, wind direction, visibility, and cloud cover.