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AA has at least one kick-ass pilot

Y

Yossarian

Lifer
Here's a letter I just sent in via AA's website. I flew from LAX to Hartford, connecting in Dallas.

========================

I am writing to commend the actions of David Hirsch, captain of flight 1258, and his co-pilot. Their skill and aeronautical decision making brought a challenging flight to a safe and successful conclusion.

Conditions on approach at Hartford were very poor--night, heavy rain and winds, and ceiling below 1000'. The flight was already half an hour late due to ground delays at DFW. About 100' AGL the MD80 encountered heavy wind shear. Mr. Hirsch immediately brought the a/c to full power and executed a missed approach. The flight crew brought the aircraft around and were able to land on the second attempt.

As an instrument-rated private pilot, I have some understanding of the difficulties Mr. Hirsch and crew faced. They did not force a risky landing on the first approach despite schedule pressures. Additionally, Mr. Hirsch waited until we were at a safe altitude on the missed approach before he took time to communicate the situation to the passengers.

It is very reassuring to know that American employs such skilled and professional pilots. I will continue to fly AA whenever possible.

Please confirm that this message is passed along to your pilot organization.

Sincerely,
Yossarian
 
:thumbsup:

You gotta let these organizations know about situations like this. Let's just hope it does get relayed to the pilot at some point.




KeyserSoze
 
Great that you wrote and send that, Yossarian. I would've done the same. Many times people get worked up on something like that. I have not experienced a tube flight where I've noted good actions taken the the crew - as all the flights I have been on have been in great weather. Did you email it, or actually send a letter?

edit: n/m didnt pay attention the first time 🙂
 
Originally posted by: Yossarian
Here's a letter I just sent in via AA's website. I flew from LAX to Hartford, connecting in Dallas.

========================

I am writing to commend the actions of David Hirsch, captain of flight 1258, and his co-pilot. Their skill and aeronautical decision making brought a challenging flight to a safe and successful conclusion.

Conditions on approach at Hartford were very poor--night, heavy rain and winds, and ceiling below 1000'. The flight was already half an hour late due to ground delays at DFW. About 100' AGL the MD80 encountered heavy wind shear. Mr. Hirsch immediately brought the a/c to full power and executed a missed approach. The flight crew brought the aircraft around and were able to land on the second attempt.

As an instrument-rated private pilot, I have some understanding of the difficulties Mr. Hirsch and crew faced. They did not force a risky landing on the first approach despite schedule pressures. Additionally, Mr. Hirsch waited until we were at a safe altitude on the missed approach before he took time to communicate the situation to the passengers.

It is very reassuring to know that American employs such skilled and professional pilots. I will continue to fly AA whenever possible.

Please confirm that this message is passed along to your pilot organization.

Sincerely,
Yossarian
Click to expand...

Are you trying to get a foot in the door ?
 
I was gonna send a letter but then I saw that they have a whole customer service thing on their website with a thing for compliments. If I don't get any response via email I'll send it in snail mail. the guy next to me was about to soil himself, when the a/c went to full power he was like "WTF!!"

p.s. I didnt' really sign it with my AT nick, you numbnuts 😉

It would be cool to work for them someday but the costs to even get qualified for that job are insane. $50k in training, plus a couple years working for a regional carrier at $10/hr 🙁
 
Reminds me of a joke I heard years ago, that may or may not have been true.

After a particularly rough flight and landing, the stewardess (or pilot, can't remember) came on the intercom just before the passengers disembarked: "Thanks for flying the Friendly Skies, if you enjoyed your flight, tell a friend; If not, tell 'em you flew Continental."

 
Originally posted by: Yossarian
I was gonna send a letter but then I saw that they have a whole customer service thing on their website with a thing for compliments. If I don't get any response via email I'll send it in snail mail. the guy next to me was about to soil himself, when the a/c went to full power he was like "WTF!!"

p.s. I didnt' really sign it with my AT nick, you numbnuts 😉

It would be cool to work for them someday but the costs to even get qualified for that job are insane. $50k in training, plus a couple years working for a regional carrier at $10/hr 🙁
Click to expand...

How many hours are you at? Are you multi-engine rated? Airlines typically see PIC Multi engine time as pure GOLD. I'm hoping to get my ME soon so i can build time in my friends Twin Comache.
 
Originally posted by: jadinolf
Originally posted by: mugs
Alcoholics Anonymous has a lot of kick-ass pilots.
Click to expand...

Boy they sure do and I'll bet they are proud of it.
:beer:
Click to expand...

Step. 10

Inform crew and passenger manifest of ones condition and ask forgiveness in return for pulling them out of the dive.
 
I can just imagine the conversation between the pilot, copilot, and ground....
"Flight 1258, do not abort landing - we're backed up as it is. Over"
"Ground control, this is Flight 1258. F you. I'm not dying. Over."
 
Originally posted by: her209
So turning on the A/C does what now? (I'm not a pilot)
Click to expand...

I'm not a pilot either, but I think in this case a/c stands for aircraft instead of air conditioning... seems to make more sense that way.

JW
 
When I was in elementary school one of my friends was on vacation in Florida and was involved in a plane crash. The pilot went to put the landing gear down (it was a 737 or similar sized plane), and the rear left gear didn't come down. So the pilot circled around the airport while they shut everything down and got all the fire trucks out. The pilot managed to put the plane down on the right gear and keep it like that for quite a bit before he had to put the wing down, which caught on fire but was put out quickly.

BTW is there anywhere online (FAA site somewhere I presume) that would have the full account of what happened? This was mid 90's (1994, 1995 era) at I believe the Orlando airport.
 
Originally posted by: JW310
I'm not a pilot either, but I think in this case a/c stands for aircraft instead of air conditioning... seems to make more sense that way.

JW
Click to expand...
Ah ok...
 
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