• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

USAF pilot helps in airline emergency

Deciding to play that support role rather than taking over with all those complexities in that situation was remarkable. I think many of us have stepped up before but of course we'd much rather do than teach in an emergency - not to mention in a much less critical situation.

Any "non-revenue pilots" on board? Does that mean they wanted to be sure they weren't going to be charged for helping out?
 
Harder than stepping up was probably holding back and letting the first officer handle the flying. Glad everything worked out.
 
rh71 said:
Deciding to play that support role rather than taking over with all those complexities in that situation was remarkable. I think many of us have stepped up before but of course we'd much rather do than teach in an emergency - not to mention in a much less critical situation.

Any "non-revenue pilots" on board? Does that mean they wanted to be sure they weren't going to be charged for helping out?
Click to expand...

Yeah why would they word the question that way?
 
Wait, I'm not completely sure what's the story here with the support role?

The First Officer is fully competant in flying a plane, and is completely qualified to take over all duties if the Captain is incapacitated. The entire bit with the "USAF Pilot showed extreme humbleness by not taking control of the plane" seems a bit inflated. There was never really an appropriate moment where he could have made the decision to fly the himself and take control from the first officer.

It would have been more relevant if both pilots were incapacitated and he managed to land the plane on his own.
 
Don't think it was that hard of a decision. FO is still a pilot and most likely has more experience on that airframe than he did.
 
rh71 said:
Deciding to play that support role rather than taking over with all those complexities in that situation was remarkable. I think many of us have stepped up before but of course we'd much rather do than teach in an emergency - not to mention in a much less critical situation.

Any "non-revenue pilots" on board? Does that mean they wanted to be sure they weren't going to be charged for helping out?
Click to expand...

It was probably the simplest way to get people who had military flight training vs civilian flight training as most civilian flight is with smaller aircraft like a 2-3 person Cessna which really wouldn't be of much use to someone flying a 737.
 
rh71 said:
Any "non-revenue pilots" on board? Does that mean they wanted to be sure they weren't going to be charged for helping out?
Click to expand...

I think it's the term for pilots that are onboard getting a "free" ride to or from work. For example my uncle was an airline pilot, he lived near Charlotte NC but was officially based in Pittsburgh PA, so all the flights he did were out of PA. He would have to catch a flight to Pittsburgh and then back home to Charlotte every time he worked.

So basically they were calling for other airline pilots rather than just any pilot. I'm guessing they only let this guy help since he had experience with large aircraft.
 
NikolaeVarius said:
Wait, I'm not completely sure what's the story here with the support role?

The First Officer is fully competant in flying a plane, and is completely qualified to take over all duties if the Captain is incapacitated. The entire bit with the "USAF Pilot showed extreme humbleness by not taking control of the plane" seems a bit inflated. There was never really an appropriate moment where he could have made the decision to fly the himself and take control from the first officer.

It would have been more relevant if both pilots were incapacitated and he managed to land the plane on his own.
Click to expand...

/this

also i don't think he would have any say what he did. If she wanted to pilot and him do the support roll that is what he was going to do. IF he tried to step in and take control i think it would have ended badly.
 
Yeah, I don't understand either. I'm just a layperson but it seems to me the most logical and really the only defensible course of action here from both sides would be to have the first officer pilot the plane and the USAF pilot act in a support role.

So, it seems that article is sensationalizing things a bit... which is stupid, because it was already a cool story. Sensationalizing it the way they did just takes away from the story a bit IMO.
 
Last edited:
Eug said:
Yeah, I don't understand either. I'm just a layperson but it seems to me the most logical and really the only defensible course of action here from both sides would be to have the first officer pilot the plane and the USAF pilot act in a support role.

So, it seems that article is sensationalizing things a bit... which is stupid, because it was already a cool story. Sensationalizing it the way they did just takes away from the story a bit IMO.
Click to expand...

what else would you expect from the military's own propaganda printing press?
 
Cool for the USAF pilot ... bad for the First Officer who didn't know how to taxi a 737 and didn't knwo how to get ATC to give the plane guidance all the way to an ambulance.
 
Genx87 said:
Surprised the first officer has never taxied the equipment she is flying.
Click to expand...

On the Boeing 737 the only steering while taxiing is on the Captain's side. First Officers don't get trained on taxiing. But really.... it is just like a little wheel by the pilots leg that steers the nose wheel while on the ground.

Turn forward... you turn right... pull back and you turn left.
 
I've often wondered whether I could land a plane in an emergency. Say both pilots are incapacitated. Which is probably never going to happen. I few RC models for years. I know how all the controls work, what all the most basic gauges do, and basic autopilot functions. The real challenge would be knowing how fast to come in to the airport and what altitude you need to be at, and how to find the runway you need to be on. ILS will help you align on the glide slope, but you'd need an experienced pilot to talk you through the rest. Speed is the real tricky one. Come in to hot and you'll tear out the gear or overshoot the runway. Then you're in serious trouble.
 
lupi said:
Don't think it was that hard of a decision. FO is still a pilot and most likely has more experience on that airframe than he did.
Click to expand...

Yea, the FO is supposed to be able to handle all aspects of aircraft operation and be "type-rated" for the equipment he/she is flying on. Commercial airline pilots have to be "type-rated" for the particular model of plane they are operating, different planes have some different requirements and procedures, (flap deployment speeds, instrumentation locations and functions, different specs and procedures for cross-wind landings, just to think of a few). That's one of the reasons an airline like Southwest sticks with the 737, even if a different model plane became available that was efficient, comfortable, easily serviced, the airline would have to send any pilot who was going to fly it into simulators then probably flying the plane with a qualifying Captain until the FAA gives out the type-rating. This takes pilots off duty of course and costs $$. As posted earlier by someone else I found this rather odd as well, "She had never taxied a 737 before"....huh? taxiing is part of any flight on any plane, very odd they skipped out any training on taxiing the plane as part her getting the rating..
 
rudder said:
On the Boeing 737 the only steering while taxiing is on the Captain's side. First Officers don't get trained on taxiing. But really.... it is just like a little wheel by the pilots leg that steers the nose wheel while on the ground.

Turn forward... you turn right... pull back and you turn left.
Click to expand...


There is something else that is named after your user name. LOL BTW- That device you describe is called the tiller wheel.
 
rh71 said:
Any "non-revenue pilots" on board? Does that mean they wanted to be sure they weren't going to be charged for helping out?
Click to expand...

I believe the "non-revenue program" generally means airline employees flying free (no revenue to the airline) as an employment perk. So asking for a "non-revenue pilot" was the most discreet way announcing they needed somebody to fly (or help fly) the plane, and were praying to find one such pilot amongst the passengers.
 
mmntech said:
I've often wondered whether I could land a plane in an emergency. Say both pilots are incapacitated. Which is probably never going to happen. I few RC models for years. I know how all the controls work, what all the most basic gauges do, and basic autopilot functions. The real challenge would be knowing how fast to come in to the airport and what altitude you need to be at, and how to find the runway you need to be on. ILS will help you align on the glide slope, but you'd need an experienced pilot to talk you through the rest. Speed is the real tricky one. Come in to hot and you'll tear out the gear or overshoot the runway. Then you're in serious trouble.
Click to expand...

Yes, you could, with modern automated systems and ATC would get a pilot trained on the radio quickly to guide you through the steps, here a great vid. showing that exact example on a 737, it's quite fascinating TBO..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7WMQUDGDD4
 
John Connor said:
There is something else that is named after your user name. LOL BTW- That device you describe is called the tiller wheel.
Click to expand...

True, but the amount of turning angle is limited with the rudder controls. I suppose you could use differential thrust and braking.... but easier and faster to jump into the captains chair and get where you are going.

ChAoTiCpInOy said:
You can't use the rudder for steering during Taxi unless you were going 100+ mph. During Taxing, you need to be able to steer the nose gear.
Click to expand...

Typically on takeoff the captain will make a small adjustment with the tiller wheel to help get the nose straight as engine power is applied... but once you are at a good roll the rudders are used. So you can steer at a slower speed with the rudder... you just can't move the nosewheel all that much.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top