How Far Must One Carry Out Emergency Procedures?
Join Date: Nov 2005
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The co-pilot obviously saved the day and he should not be punished for the actions of the captain, and it is that individual I am particularly disgusted with. I think it is safe to say we all learned to fly in singles and that included forced landings without power. Despite the lack of reassuring noise from the engines, the plane was perfectly flyable and the captain could have carried out a textbook ditching ala Sully. He had plenty of time to send out a Mayday and position report. In my opinion the captain deserves everything he got and it stinks that the co-pilot is being dragged down with him.
Join Date: Dec 2006
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Not being a religious man myself I have to confess to have "Prayed" once during an "Emergency".
Acting as co-jo for a really good P1 I accidently managed to chuck an entire cup of coffee down the centre console of a 332L, moments later, smoke. flames and a nasty sinking feeling in the pit of my tummy.
I looked down at the sea, and it was boiling. I knew that if the situation was to run the full course, people would croak trying to get out.
This was easily the most scared and useless I have ever felt in my life. I had caused it. ME. No-one else.
The P1 took it really well and kicked my arse into gear getting the electrics isolated and a very quite, non-stabilised 120 miles back to ABZ ensued and I remember quitely asking the almighty that if we do go in, and he has a quota, please let it be me so I do not have to suffer the responsibility for some-one elses demise for the rest of my natural.
Its easy when fate deals you a ****ty hand and you just get on with it. Training kicks in, experience helps and confidence insulates you from that awful feeling.
I think the very best example of this was the Hudson Bay guy. He must have had at least some doubt as to the success of the outcome, but he just focused and got on with the job.
Word to the wise...keep the lid on the coffee cup till its at your mouth!!!
DB
Acting as co-jo for a really good P1 I accidently managed to chuck an entire cup of coffee down the centre console of a 332L, moments later, smoke. flames and a nasty sinking feeling in the pit of my tummy.
I looked down at the sea, and it was boiling. I knew that if the situation was to run the full course, people would croak trying to get out.
This was easily the most scared and useless I have ever felt in my life. I had caused it. ME. No-one else.
The P1 took it really well and kicked my arse into gear getting the electrics isolated and a very quite, non-stabilised 120 miles back to ABZ ensued and I remember quitely asking the almighty that if we do go in, and he has a quota, please let it be me so I do not have to suffer the responsibility for some-one elses demise for the rest of my natural.
Its easy when fate deals you a ****ty hand and you just get on with it. Training kicks in, experience helps and confidence insulates you from that awful feeling.
I think the very best example of this was the Hudson Bay guy. He must have had at least some doubt as to the success of the outcome, but he just focused and got on with the job.
Word to the wise...keep the lid on the coffee cup till its at your mouth!!!
DB
Join Date: Apr 2006
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Googled the accident to find a different report and found that our friends over in the italian forum of PPRuNe are discussing the accident too; my italian is a bit rusty 
so I tried to use yahoo babelfish to read it... more or less successful. http://www.pprune.org/italian-forum/...mo-2005-a.html
Some news agency suggests that they where convicted because they ditched instead of trying to land in Palermo. In the youtube video the pilot stated that at 4,000 ft he was unable to reach the airport, supposedly 9 miles away.
BTW.: to me it sounds that nobody gave up and they where checking items off the checklist until they crashed.
I suppose that if you put me in the situation, one or two expletives will be heard on the CVR too!
so I tried to use yahoo babelfish to read it... more or less successful. http://www.pprune.org/italian-forum/...mo-2005-a.htmlSome news agency suggests that they where convicted because they ditched instead of trying to land in Palermo. In the youtube video the pilot stated that at 4,000 ft he was unable to reach the airport, supposedly 9 miles away.
BTW.: to me it sounds that nobody gave up and they where checking items off the checklist until they crashed.
I suppose that if you put me in the situation, one or two expletives will be heard on the CVR too!
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Thanks TT & Phil, hadn't seen that. I have to agree that they both seem to be actively aviating, navigating, communicating until the end. Despite what sound like repeated attempts by Palermo ATC to vector them toward the airport they seem to have realised in a timely fashion that a ditching was inevitable, picked a suitable spot & requested assistance. Can't find anywhere that could be reasonably described as unprofessional, much less "ceding command."
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As the estimable Bob Hoover said, "If a crash is inevitable, fly it as far into the crash as you can", or something very close to that. If you're moved to pray, do it while you're flying, and secondary to the flying. Personally, I've never felt the need for prayer.
I have been assured by my mum that I fought like buggery to get into this world...Therefore I am sure eveyone fight's like hell to stay in it.
In the most dire of emergencies where there is very little you can change, I think there are two types of reactions.
1.You either keep fighting to stay in this world , in which case you will be so busy bending the sticks you wont notice the impact.
2. You follow the Captains lead from "that accident" and treat it just like a bungee jump..... Total blind faith that all will be ok at the bottom.
In the most dire of emergencies where there is very little you can change, I think there are two types of reactions.
1.You either keep fighting to stay in this world , in which case you will be so busy bending the sticks you wont notice the impact.
2. You follow the Captains lead from "that accident" and treat it just like a bungee jump..... Total blind faith that all will be ok at the bottom.
