Hi Mark -

A question came up in another forum that you might be able to answer. Given the private ( or sim) pilot's often dreamed scenario of being on an airliner with the crew incapacitated and having to fly the plane---etc.

Someone mentioned that they believed that if the crew were incapacitated, the airline would have one of the attendants handle the controls rather than a passenger (a ppl) due to insurance reasons.

Is there an official airline policy re emergency procedures in the event the flight crew is incapacitated? I would think the choice between anyone with some flying skills as opposed to none at all would be a no brainer and insurance requirements would NOT be a consideration - getting the pax down in one piece would be primary concern.

Thanx,

Vic

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• RE: Crew incapacitation,mark_hoffman, 02:20z, 10-25-03
  • RE: Crew incapacitation,vgbaron, 19:47z, 10-25-03
    • RE: Crew incapacitation,ibpilot, 02:44z, 12-06-06

Hi Vic,

Sorry for the long delay in answering. I have been in Denver for the last 5 weeks in transition training for the A320. In fact, I'll be writing an article about the differences between Boeing and Airbus from a pilots perspective soon.
As far as your question regarding pilot incapacitation, you are right, it is an often dreamed of senario. In fact we do have a very specific procedure in case of pilot incapacitation, unfortunately for all of the budding Karen Grays (Airport '75 reference) out there it doesn't involve any of the passengers. In fact there has never been an instance at a U.S. airline (I don't have data for foriegn carriers) of both pilots becoming incapacitated at the same time. Therefore our procedures always assumes that we have at least one concious pilot. In addition, on virtually 100% of the flights there are at least one or two deadheading pilots in back. They are the primary resource for the remaining pilot.
I don't think that this as anything to do with insurance as we would also not allow a flight attendant at the controls! It may seem odd to say, but flying a heavy jet and flying a light aircraft are so different that I don't feel that a private pilot would be of much help. Of course if the unthinkable did happen, I suppose being comfortable with the radio and ATC would allow such a person to get guidance on how to get the autopilot on and how to configure for an autoland (if the aircraft is so equipped). Frankly, I think that an autoland would be the only sure bet as far as getting everybody down in one piece. As Dennis Miller says "Of course that's just my opinion, I could be wrong".

Mark

Hi Mark -

Ben told me you were in Denver so I didn't expect a quick response. Can't wait to read your article.

Thanx for the answer. It's pretty much what I expected. If the unthinkable DID happen and there were no dead heading crew, my thoughts were that the PPL would at least be able to find some of the primary flight instruments and having contacted someone on the ground ( Charleton Heston probably <g>) might be able to respond a little quicker than a "civilian". Without the autoland, I would doubt that 1 in 100 ppl's would be able to make a safe landing.

Well, let's hope it stays in the realm of fantasy "what-if's".

My favorite is still the scene where they lowered Charleton Heston on a tether into the cracked windscreen of a 747 in one of the Airport movies. Now that's one I'd really like to see!

Sorry you couldn't make it to Miramar - you missed a lot of fun!

Take care -

Vic

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Thats what all pilots say "this job is so difficult no one else but me with my cat like fighter pilot reflexes could do this". When in all actuallity flying is easier than driving a semi tractor trailer and i've done both. I learned to fly in the air force, and when i discovered it was so easy i went to my (fighter pilot) commander and asked him why all pilots said its so hard. he said it was so we could ask for more money?// hahahaha yokes in yer hand. But dont tell no body its a secret.

Ibpilot and IMAtruker