Could you fly the plane in an emergency?????????

[infinity]

I did a 737 Simulator flight this week.

Took off and landed at ORD in a snow storm (both Day and Night)

Took off and landed at Hong Kong Kai Tak in Snow Storm (they forgot to turn off the snow from ORD- Now that was a first!)

Landed at Kai Tak with Starbord Engine out!

Seriously though,

Have you ever pondered your answer (sitting as a passenger), if in an emergency the PA says

"Can anyone advise if they have flight experience or can fly a plane?

What would you do??????????????????:shock:

 

[Princess Fiona]

Ehhh no
However I am happy to be the personal physician of the brave soul who volunteers

 

[JessicaTam]

I think I would wait until the second or third call from the FA before venturing that I had minimal experience. I would then ask where the heck the radio was and start calling for someone to tell me what all the buttons do! If the plane was going down anyway I could hardly make the situation worse.


Sent from my iThing.
Why, because iCan.

 

[mella2007]

A client of mine is an air traffic controller at MEL. They do go through these types of scenarios in their training. There is no way I'd volunteer...I know zilch about planes and how they work....though I would offer to serve refreshments to anyone brave enough to get up and have a go

 

[munitalP]

I think the fundamentals of flying from PPL training all them years ago would kick in with the background basics of "I know what we are supposed to do in theory" applying, however it would require a lot of help from the ground in telling which buttons to press or click.
After looking into the coughpit of a 787 this week, the parachute option would be a safer bet though ;-)

 

[infinity]

I think the fundamentals of flying from PPL training all them years ago would kick in with the background basics of "I know what we are supposed to do in theory" applying, however it would require a lot of help from the ground in telling which buttons to press or click.
After looking into the coughpit of a 787 this week, the parachute option would be a safer bet though ;-)

I have had the oppertunity to fly a cessna assisted a few times including landing and also a R22 Chopper lesson

Assuming I hadnt had much (or anything to drink- That would be a first on long haul though), I genuinely would give it a go if there were no other pax who were takers

I can use a radio and that would be my 1st step

Get someone on the other end to talk me through what to do

I guess it assumes the plane can still fly without some mechanical issues to make the job impossible!

 

[medhead]

It's lucky that they will never make such an announcement.


Sent from the Throne

 

[infinity]

It's lucky that they will never make such an announcement.




Sent from the Throne

Why not? Surely someone would want a pax to step up if they could?

 

[medhead]

Why not? Surely someone would want a pax to step up if they could?

Simply because if they need to call on some random passenger then the plane is going to crash. Having a numpty sitting in the seat who thinks they can fly the plane isn't going to change that. The Airport movies were not real.


Sent from the Throne

 

[Undercover Brother]

Haha its really not that easy for the 'people' at the other end to help you! More than likely you are on your own!

 

[harvyk]

Years ago I thought I could, (typical naive MS FSX player who thought it had any bearing on reality), however after talking to JB747, and trying some of the online tests (of which I failed quite spectacularly, although that's what you get when doing a test with no prior training), I expect any large jet I was at the controls for would have a similar flying properties to a gold brick.

 

[TonyHancock]

I have absolutely know idea how to fly a plane, but I once had Microsoft Flight Simulator on my computer....I do find the prospect of sitting in front of lots and lots of backlit buttons with knobs and levers and stuff the sort of thing I would be good at in a crisis.

Now, in a crisis, would you prefer me to be sitting in my passenger seat with, or more likely without during a crisis*, a stiff drink or flying your plane?





*Makes mental note to always travel with an emergency mini bottle of whisky as it seems highly unlikely the FA's will be focused on serving me alcohol during a crisis situation.

 

[Sifor]

As JB has articulated several times, it would be very tricky for an inexperienced person to have a "crack"..

If there was no one else experienced on the plane then I'd go for it..hopefully there is though!

 

[mannej]

United 232 had an off duty pilot as a passenger who came to the help of the crew.

Unfortunately he has just passed away, but he did receive quite a few accolades for his role in helping bring the flight down.

Dennis Fitch - Telegraph

 

[infinity]

I guess the question might be.

Sit there with the G&T (know the FA's are probably pouring their last drink for themselves), while the plane goes down or take some action to save at least yourself if there was no one else willing to step up?

 

[amaroo]

I've driven a car for around 30 years, put me in a coughpit of a Formula 1 racer & I reckon I'd struggle to get the thing started let alone drive it!

 

[markis10]

The question should be - can you find the push to talk button, which of course is the first action, most times folks just go for the AP disengage button - otherwise known pretty much as an instant fail! There was an instance in 2009 where a C172 pilot landed a King Air after the pilot passed away, and earlier this year an 80 year old landed a twin after her husband was incapacitated.

 

[TonyHancock]

If I am being a little more serious that I usually am, I guess the question is "who makes the decision to select a candidate to help in a crisis?" I have traveled with someone (who has never flown a real aircraft) who prays for the day an announcement along the lines of "Could anyone with flight experience please make themselves known" is made. It would be at that point that I prevent him from raising either hand or communicating in any way with the crew.

If, as Markis10 points out, the real need is to communicate with someone who knows what they are doing I'd rather back a crew member, be it CSM or FA, over the enthusiastic amateur.

 

[infinity]

The question should be - can you find the push to talk button, which of course is the first action, most times folks just go for the AP disengage button - otherwise known pretty much as an instant fail! There was an instance in 2009 where a C172 pilot landed a King Air after the pilot passed away, and earlier this year an 80 year old landed a twin after her husband was incapacitated.

Radio button is LHS of the Yoke (either Captain seat LHS or Co-pilot seat RHS). Frequencies are on the middle top of dash ( at least on a 737 or Cessna)

 

[markis10]

Radio button is LHS of the Yoke (either Captain seat LHS or Co-pilot seat RHS). Frequencies are on the middle top of dash ( at least on a 737 or Cessna)

Depends on what avionics suite you are using and aircraft!

Well, the first thing you'd have to do is find the transmit switch. Every time a cabin crew member has asked that, I always get them to find that switch, and then press it for them. Without exception, they've found the autopilot disconnect......