SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
HARRISON: "I've got a serious situation here. My pilot has gone incoherent. I have no idea how to fly the aeroplane."
CONTROL: "ATC: 333 Lima Delta, Roger, what's your position?"
HARRISON: "I have no idea. I can see the coast of Florida in front of me but I have no idea."
CONTROL: "Maintain wings level and just try to follow the coast, either northbound or southbound. We're trying to locate you."
On 10 May at 10,000 feet above the ocean a Cessna 208 Caravan pilot suffers aortic dissection and collapses. The other two people on board are passengers without piloting experience -- Russ Franck, 69, and Darren Harrison, 39. The plane goes into a dive. Harrison takes control, slowly levels the aircraft, establishes radio communication and gets assistance from ground controller Robert Morgan, a seasoned Cessna flight instructor. One hour later, after what Franck describes as "a normal landing", the pilot Kenneth Allen, 64, is rushed to Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center where his life is saved for second time that day.
The story:
• May 11 https://www.flightradar24.com/blog/passenger-safely-lands-aircraft-after-pilot-incapacitated/
• May 11 https://medium.com/faa/miracle-in-the-air-air-traffic-controllers-guide-passenger-to-land-plane-safely-27362004f07c
• May 12 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-61416384
• May 12 https://people.com/human-interest/air-traffic-controller-speaks-out-after-helping-passenger-land-plane/
• May 16 https://people.com/human-interest/passenger-who-landed-airplane-with-no-flying-experience-speaks-out/
• May 17 https://people.com/human-interest/pilot-has-miraculous-recovery-after-health-emergency-led-to-passenger-landing-plane/
• May 26 https://people.com/human-interest/pilot-who-had-medical-emergency-speaks-out-after-passenger-landed-plane/
--
Ever wanted to know how to fly an airplane just in case?
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Thexalon on Wednesday June 01 2022, @11:46AM (2 children)
Your goals in this situation are, in order:
1. If needed, use the yoke and throttle to get something resembling straight-and-level flight.
2. Get on the radio and contact ground control so they can give you a clue as to what to do next.
3. Do whatever they tell you to the best of your ability.
And yes, this is also a time to give praise to ground controllers who can handle difficult situations and prevent death. They really don't get the credit or pay they deserve.
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by drussell on Wednesday June 01 2022, @01:25PM (1 child)
In these situations, it's usually the fact that they can find a flight instructor around that really saves the day!
(Score: 2) by Thexalon on Wednesday June 01 2022, @10:00PM
Get me Rex Kramer!
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.