The TWA reservation system

Abstract

Where can you find a solid, forthright overview of the computer systems and management behind airline reservations? NASA's space shuttle? Or any of the multitude of other large computer systems that support important projects or national activities? It's hard, sometimes impossible: partly because the people who worked on such systems often do not have the time to write about their experiences: and partly because many professional journalists who interview these people do not have the technical background to ferret out answers to the fundamental design questions addressed in these systems.