Rudi Volti explores the economical, political, cultural, and social events that propelled the technological advances of the airline industry. From more advanced airplanes to better security and safety, Volti also presents how the contributions of air travel have shaped the world that we live in today.

Rudi Volti is emeritus professor of sociology at Pitzer College and a founding member of the Science, Technology, and Society program of the Claremont Colleges. His publications include Technology, Politics, and Society in China (1982); Society and Technological Change (7th edition,2014); The Engineer in History with John Rae (2nd edition, 2001); The Facts on File Encyclopedia of Science Technology, and Society (2000); Technology and East Asian Economic Transformation (2002); Cars and Culture (2nd edition, 2005); and an introduction to the Sociology of Work and Occupations (2nd edition, 2012).