A Passengers Worst Nightmare

[Steve Brown]

Initially panic, like he's flying a Saturn 5 or something. Gradually figures out that he flying an airplane that basically works the same as the ones he's been flying and his questions focus on the differences. Eventually he settles in and starts acting like a pilot - taking control of the situation.

This guy is a single engine low time pilot. He knows how to fly and he knows the lingo. I don't think this is at all related to the problem of a non-pilot spouse taking the controls. Unless there is previous training of some sort, that is going to be like your first lessen. Except, instead of a reassuring instructor in the right seat, there will be a dead or incapacitated loved one in the left seat. That is going to be terrifying all the way to the ground.

Without prior training, the outcome is probably not going to be good.

[6S4 Hugo]

Years ago, when I was taking my (now ex-)wife flying, I sat her down and we went through her checklist. She carried it with her on all flights.

1) Pilot clear of controls. Wrap seatbelt around neck if needed to keep clear of controls.
2) Keep the plane level and clear of clouds
3) Speed setting listed below
(All listed speeds in plain english...as opposed to plane english)
4) 7700 on the transponder (She was also shown how to ident, if needed)
5) 121.5 on the radio. Key the mike "Mayday, mayday, mayday! This is (look for the plate on the instrument panel). The pilot is dead and I am a non-pilot and I need help to land"
6) You are the pilot. Demand whatever you need. (They can't take your license away...remember that)

We sat in the plane and went through the entire scenario (master off) with her setting frequencies and keying the microphone. We went over throttle and mixture, flaps and brakes. She (and I) always felt safer with her flying with "Her Checklist".

Had we stayed together, my intention was to at least get her to solo for a better chance for her to come out of an emergency, unscathed.

My 2?, FWIW

[Don Jones]

The first(and last) call made by the pilot was chilling to hear his voice trail off to a whisper. It was a great job on the part of the passenger turned King Air pilot!

[pierre smith]

Originally Posted by Don Jones

The first(and last) call made by the pilot was chilling to hear his voice trail off to a whisper. It was a great job on the part of the passenger turned King Air pilot!

and look for 4/12/2009. Apparently the pilot was the owner of the airplane, according to the transcript and he had his wife and two daughters aboard! No wonder that he had a rather big load of responsibility. He had to be praying since he told the controller in his Southern drawl that, "Me 'n the Lord is flying this thang!"

Yep, the relief for him was overwhelming, as I could imagine. In most airplanes with retracts, there's almost always a pitch trim change with gear extension/retraction as well as flaps up/down trim changes. He must've used the trim button since he'd found it. Amazing guy.

Regards,

[scard]

I must say that I was a little surprised at just how little help those on the ground were able to give him. It seems to me that the King Air is a pretty common machine and that the controllers would have been able to find someone that could have talked him through every little detail of that cockpit just by closing their eyes. Hand that guy the radio and stop the relay. I bet the controllers were thinking the same thing . "where is a King Air driver when you need one." No doubt that he did a fantastic job with the situation he was dealt.

[RickWoodall]

Most spouses seem to have this concern. Out of that i came up with a course for our flying club we called the comfortable co-pilot course, and did it all in 4 hours on a saturday with lunch etc free for all friends and aviation people. Some info from the aopo pinch hitter course, some from other sources and we had a packed room and excellent feedback. Well worth others putting on at their flying clubs...a comfortable copilot is a big help and much more relaxed. I can certainly understand the panic that would set in quickly...

[Ironflight]

Originally Posted by scard

I must say that I was a little surprised at just how little help those on the ground were able to give him. It seems to me that the King Air is a pretty common machine and that the controllers would have been able to find someone that could have talked him through every little detail of that cockpit just by closing their eyes. Hand that guy the radio and stop the relay. I bet the controllers were thinking the same thing . "where is a King Air driver when you need one." No doubt that he did a fantastic job with the situation he was dealt.

Actually, If I recall the reports on this correctly Scott, they had an experienced King Air 200 pilot on the other end of the phone line all the time he was with approach - that's where the info was coming from. When you consider that the whole thing happened in just 38 minutes, I think it's a bit unrealistic to expect they'd have the perfect person on hand in time for the way the events unfolded. I am used to getting a question from a crew, asking the right person for their input, and then feeding that back to a crew - it takes a little time, but having correct info a little delayed is better than bad info sent quickly (been there, done that as well!).

I expect that if the rookie pilot on board didn't have any flying experience at all, they would have had to spend more time in the air before trying to land him - but he seemed to be handling it pretty well, and they fed him what he needed when he needed it - not necessarily when he wanted it. I was impressed with the professionalism of the team effort - on the ground, and in the air. Made me want to load up the King Air in Flight Sim and fly along as I listened!

[Greg Arehart]

So, a bit off the topic, but I was curious whether he could count this 38 minutes as PIC time in his logbook, even though he obviously wasn't certified to fly that airplane?

greg

[scard]

Originally Posted by Greg Arehart

So, a bit off the topic, but I was curious whether he could count this 38 minutes as PIC time in his logbook, even though he obviously wasn't certified to fly that airplane?

greg

I'll comment. My household has been quite immersed in FAA taining for about the last 10 months. I say YES, the time can be logged from the moment that he declared an emergency. That was the first thing he did (good pilot). All rules and requirements are suspended at that point. He was PIC (period). I would log it and laugh at the person or agency that wanted to challenge it. He and his family survived! The rest is gravy and entertainment.

[pierre smith]

Originally Posted by scard

....... Hand that guy the radio and stop the relay. I bet the controllers were thinking the same thing . "where is a King Air driver when you need one." No doubt that he did a fantastic job with the situation he was dealt.

.....to "hand the mike to a King Air driver", Scott.

Their SOP may not allow that either, rather relaying messages as Paul mentioned.

Regards,