Continental pilot dies in flight

Codyjp said:
How is the media on this so quickly? I mean, who tells them?

I had a gear failure once, I called GROUND instead of tower just in hopes that a media helicopter wouldn't catch wind and start filming.
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When I worked at a news station, we had scanners for police and fire as well as aviation. Producers are also starting to get the hang of FlightAware.
 
CAL Captain dies in flight FLight 61

Flight 61, the captain was 61 years old died in flight. May he rest in peace. CNN is now questioning whether the first officer will be able to land the plane. They will probably now slam the airlines and age 65 rule. I pray for the captains family
 
CNN: "...We just talked with a veteran pilot who tells us that first officers are flying the planes about half of the time and they even have to get proficiency checks..."
 
well, maybe it's not a bad thing to say to the general public that first officers landed the plane, at least it might demystify the notion out there that first officers are just there for the ride.
 
skidz said:
Well, if I recall right, last time they lowered the age limit to 60 it created some openings at the majors which pulled the folks in from regionals, which in turn pulled the folks in from cfi cadre etc...in any case, I think it both creates some oportunities for young guys and screwes the old guys
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The man was 61- hopefully he went peaceably, but can you just imagine the FO briefing those in the cabin???
I say they should use the stimulus money to pay any pilots over 55 a ton of money to retire.
We'll spend it wisely on Whiskey, cars & women while we leave the left seat available to those needing jobs.
 
Boy, talk about flying distracted. I don't mean to be glib, but flying right next to a corpse...:eek:
 
CNN: "the first officers were flying the plane, sometimes on these long trips there is another Pilot in the back that can fly the plane". So FO's aren't pilots? oh, brother.

RIP to the CA. :(
 
skidz said:
well, maybe it's not a bad thing to say to the general public that first officers landed the plane, at least it might demystify the notion out there that first officers are just there for the ride.
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I doubt it. CNN just said "that's exactly the reason there are first officers on board. To be there to take over in case the captain dies"

News to me.
 
texas_pilot said:
The man was 61- hopefully he went peaceably, but can you just imagine the FO briefing those in the cabin???
I say they should use the stimulus money to pay any pilots over 55 a ton of money to retire.
We'll spend it wisely on Whiskey, cars & women while we leave the left seat available to those needing jobs.
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I don't know if I would have said anything. I'm sure the company traffic comm was heavy.
 
Re: CAL Captain dies in flight FLight 61

I believe thats two CAL people that have died in flight now........I think we are on to something......:sarcasm:
 
Screaming_Emu said:
I doubt it. CNN just said "that's exactly the reason there are first officers on board. To be there to take over in case the captain dies"

News to me.
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I wouldn't be surprised if they called it a "heroic attempt by first officers to land the airplane"
 
tonyw said:
Boy, talk about flying distracted. I don't mean to be glib, but flying right next to a corpse...:eek:
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I would imagine that would be a pretty big distraction.
I would think that it would be pretty unfair to just say due to this incident that everyone over 60 is now a risk to die at teh controls. But I'm sure the media will play it up.
I mean what if he was 59? Should they lower the age to 55 then?

More importantly, RIP.
 
tonyw said:
Boy, talk about flying distracted. I don't mean to be glib, but flying right next to a corpse...:eek:
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I would imagine that with a relief pilot and cabin crew the guy wasn't sitting next to a corpse for long. I would think the biggest issue would be a guy slumping onto the controls. What is the first thing a FO does if the Captain dies? What would Doug or any of our other FO's do if the guy croaks - and in what order? I am sure there must be procedures for this, and if you can share, what are they?
 
Though tragic, this isn't unprecedented. This unfortunate incident has happened at least a few times before that I can remember
 
Re: CAL Captain dies in flight FLight 61

Condolences to the family of the captain, I know I would not want to die that way.

CAL just can't catch a break in '09

-Off the runway in DEN
-50 Dead in Buffalo
-Unaccompanied Minor Debacle this week
-Captain Dies over the Atlantic
 
WacoFan said:
I would imagine that with a relief pilot and cabin crew the guy wasn't sitting next to a corpse for long. I would think the biggest issue would be a guy slumping onto the controls. What is the first thing a FO does if the Captain dies? What would Doug or any of our other FO's do if the guy croaks - and in what order? I am sure there must be procedures for this, and if you can share, what are they?
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Obviously first thing is to fly the airplane. If you have to, reach over and get them off the controls. Then put on and lock their shoulder harness and move their seat as aft as you can get it to go. Then the usual stuff, brief the flight attendants, declare an emergency, and land. In case the other guy isn't dead and is just unconscious, I'm going to not waste any time. That being said my workload is going to be quite high...I'm not going to rush myself and risk the lives of 72 other people to try to save the life of one.

I'd hesitate bringing someone else up into the cockpit unless I know there was someone that was from my company or an offline jumpseater who is CASS verified. Simply not worth the risk.
 
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