Continental pilot dies in flight

[Velocipede]

A damn shame to be so close to retirement and never be able to enjoy it.

I'm not so sure. The man died doing something he loved.

We had a Captain who was waxing his airplane, had a stroke, keeled over and was dead before he hit the ramp. But his sudden death was while he was still young and vibrant.

Personally, I think its better to go like that than in a nursing home, drooling, pooping in your diaper and having your family ignore you.

Vaya con Dios, Captain.

 

[Malko]

I'm not so sure. The man died doing something he loved.

We had a Captain who was waxing his airplane, had a stroke, keeled over and was dead before he hit the ramp. But his sudden death was while he was still young and vibrant.

Personally, I think its better to go like that than in a nursing home, drooling, pooping in your diaper and having your family ignore you.

Vaya con Dios, Captain.

:clap: It may be rare, but something to agree on for sure. If I am ever in a nursing home for a minute, it is a minute too long.....

 

[jhugz]

I see a lot of people trying to be macho on this thread instead of taking help. It makes me shake my head. Ever hear of single pilot resource management? Use all available resources and let anyone up that may have any incline of what is going on. Even if it is just some Jo-Shmoo Private Pilot. At least he can work the radios and pull the gear handle and such. As for the whole post 9-11 thing get over yourself. 1900 pilot's do it day in and day out with exposed cockpits.

Back to the basics ladies and gentlemen.

 

[NotCoolEnufToFly]

These reports are so annoying. I would probably be scared to fly if I didn't know better.
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[Gonzo]

I see a lot of people trying to be macho on this thread instead of taking help. It makes me shake my head. Ever hear of single pilot resource management? Use all available resources and let anyone up that may have any incline of what is going on. Even if it is just some Jo-Shmoo Private Pilot. At least he can work the radios and pull the gear handle and such. As for the whole post 9-11 thing get over yourself. 1900 pilot's do it day in and day out with exposed cockpits.

Back to the basics ladies and gentlemen.

From an airlines FM-1

The following assistance may be solicited:
a) An American Eagle carrier pilot may occupy the empty seat. Depending
on their qualification in the particular aircraft, some ad lib transition
orientation may need to be accomplished by the regularly
assigned crewmember.

b) At the discretion of the Pilot-in-Command, a pilot-passenger from
another airline, or non-airline pilot may occupy the empty seat. Caution
should be exercised in this case to preclude the person from activating
systems or moving controls except upon direct and explicit order from
the Pilot-in-Command. The best use of this individual would be to
manage check lists, provide radio assistance and assist with
cockpit-cabin communications.

 

[Qgar]

That brings up an interesting point. We were trained that if a pilot became incapacited, the "A" FA would have to go into the cockpit to help. Would it be within the pilot's authority to pass on the FA to allow a pilot (any pilot) to help?
Obviously, a deadheading/JS'ing/non-revving pilot from your airline wouldn't be an issue, but how far down the pilot food chain would be acceptable (in term of security, etc.)

 

[Qgar]

Wow, Gonzo, you responded before I even hit send! You're good! Thanks for the info.

 

[juxtapilot]

I see a lot of people trying to be macho on this thread instead of taking help. It makes me shake my head. Ever hear of single pilot resource management? Use all available resources and let anyone up that may have any incline of what is going on. Even if it is just some Jo-Shmoo Private Pilot. At least he can work the radios and pull the gear handle and such. As for the whole post 9-11 thing get over yourself. 1900 pilot's do it day in and day out with exposed cockpits.

Back to the basics ladies and gentlemen.

I'm not 121, but I agree 100% with this. I don't want to be a passenger in a plane with a macho regional FO who rocks at single pilot flying... I'm sure you'd be fine, but with me as your passenger, please use all available resources.Thx.

 

[Snoopy2]

I'm not so sure. The man died doing something he loved.

We had a Captain who was waxing his airplane, had a stroke, keeled over and was dead before he hit the ramp. But his sudden death was while he was still young and vibrant.

Personally, I think its better to go like that than in a nursing home, drooling, pooping in your diaper and having your family ignore you.

Vaya con Dios, Captain.

Velo, one can love flying (YOU are assuming this pilot did) yet be sick and tired of layover living and be looking forward to retirement. I think we would all agree that a sudden death is preferable to a long drawn out decline but you're making assumptions about this pilot when in reality you don't know jack about him or his situation. It's so unlike you!

 

[CaptBill]

Pilot who died inflight was the captain on flt 61 BRU-EWR. Pilots DOB was 7/16/1948 making him 60. He was #29 out of approx 5000 on Continental's seniority list. FO has an 87 hire date and the IRO would of been hired in the late 90s. They were an experienced crew and the two remaining pilots flying would of had NO issues operating the flight safely. Very somber tones in the Newark crew room today.

 

[Qgar]

Sorry for the loss of fellow CO CA today, Bill.

 

[Screaming_Emu]

I see a lot of people trying to be macho on this thread instead of taking help. It makes me shake my head. Ever hear of single pilot resource management? Use all available resources and let anyone up that may have any incline of what is going on. Even if it is just some Jo-Shmoo Private Pilot. At least he can work the radios and pull the gear handle and such. As for the whole post 9-11 thing get over yourself. 1900 pilot's do it day in and day out with exposed cockpits.

Back to the basics ladies and gentlemen.

Its hardly about being "macho". I have been trained to deal with this situation by myself. Some help from a qualified pilot would greatly increase safety. But there's only one way I can verify that someone is actually a pilot and not some nutjob taking advantage of a situation to gain access to the cockpit. And that's through CASS. To me that is the true reason why pilots who are jumpseating yet given a seat in the back should check in up front during boarding.

Having two people up front is much safer than doing it alone. But having an unknown person in the flight deck to me is riskier in this day and age. And this is from someone who is the last one to say "OMG, the terrorists are gonna get us!"

There are plenty of things I can do to reduce my workload. Fly slower, use automation, configure early, declare an emergency and ask them to keep conversation to me to a minimum, etc. Its all about risk management.

 

[E_Dawg]

I see a lot of people trying to be macho on this thread instead of taking help. It makes me shake my head. Ever hear of single pilot resource management? Use all available resources and let anyone up that may have any incline of what is going on. Even if it is just some Jo-Shmoo Private Pilot. At least he can work the radios and pull the gear handle and such. As for the whole post 9-11 thing get over yourself. 1900 pilot's do it day in and day out with exposed cockpits.

Back to the basics ladies and gentlemen.

Those who do the job day in and day out know how easy these things are to fly and land (assuming the systems all work), even for just an FO (I kid :crazy But take somebody who's not familiar with the plane, and their first reaction is usually something along the lines of, 'woah'. A j/s'ing airline/corp pilot who you KNOW is in the back is a different story.

 

[Qgar]

Are you "allowed" to do it alone--or must you have another crewmember up there with you? I thought all airlines had the same rules on that, but I'm not sure.

 

[CaptBill]

Sorry for the loss of fellow CO CA today, Bill.

Just proves we never know when it's our time to go. I am sure that when he put his uniform on this morning in Brussels, he never imagined that he would never again have the opportunity to tell loved ones how much he loved them or to do those things he had been putting off until later. Certainly gives me something to think about......

 

[Qgar]

It gives ALL of us something to think about! 3407 is a constant reminder of that and will be for the rest of my days.

 

[mjg407]

Its hardly about being "macho". I have been trained to deal with this situation by myself. Some help from a qualified pilot would greatly increase safety. But there's only one way I can verify that someone is actually a pilot and not some nutjob taking advantage of a situation to gain access to the cockpit. And that's through CASS. To me that is the true reason why pilots who are jumpseating yet given a seat in the back should check in up front during boarding.

Having two people up front is much safer than doing it alone. But having an unknown person in the flight deck to me is riskier in this day and age. And this is from someone who is the last one to say "OMG, the terrorists are gonna get us!"

There are plenty of things I can do to reduce my workload. Fly slower, use automation, configure early, declare an emergency and ask them to keep conversation to me to a minimum, etc. Its all about risk management.

What about a military pilot? The funny thing is that all of our pilots go through a federal background check, but are not in CASS.

 

[jhugz]

Its hardly about being "macho". I have been trained to deal with this situation by myself. Some help from a qualified pilot would greatly increase safety. But there's only one way I can verify that someone is actually a pilot and not some nutjob taking advantage of a situation to gain access to the cockpit. And that's through CASS. To me that is the true reason why pilots who are jumpseating yet given a seat in the back should check in up front during boarding.

Having two people up front is much safer than doing it alone. But having an unknown person in the flight deck to me is riskier in this day and age. And this is from someone who is the last one to say "OMG, the terrorists are gonna get us!"

There are plenty of things I can do to reduce my workload. Fly slower, use automation, configure early, declare an emergency and ask them to keep conversation to me to a minimum, etc. Its all about risk management.

All the things you said make sense but if the resource is there it is just one more tool in the bag. Use it. Evaluate the situation and the risk of getting the airplane on the ground outweighs the risk of a possible takeover.

 

[Screaming_Emu]

What about a military pilot? The funny thing is that all of our pilots go through a federal background check, but are not in CASS.

Honestly, I dunno. I guess I'd play that one by ear. Again, I have no doubt any corporate or military pilot would be of great help in the flight deck. But to me that means nothing unless I can verify who they are. If they were in uniform and had an ID, I'd probably be apt to welcome them up front. But otherwise I doubt it. All it takes is for that door to be open for a second.

 

[mjg407]

Just proves we never know when it's our time to go. I am sure that when he put his uniform on this morning in Brussels, he never imagined that he would never again have the opportunity to tell loved ones how much he loved them or to do those things he had been putting off until later. Certainly gives me something to think about......

Sorry for your loss calcapt.

 

[Velocipede]

Let me put it to you this way, guys. If the same thing happened to me, I'd accept ANY one with a pilot's license on the flight deck. They can at least operate the radios and read a checklist.

 

[tonyw]

At least he can work the radios and pull the gear handle and such. As for the whole post 9-11 thing get over yourself. 1900 pilot's do it day in and day out with exposed cockpits.

It's the pilot in command's decision, and if he decides that he doesn't want someone up there he doesn't know, then it's his call. You can judge it later if you want, but if he lands the plane at its destination safely, then wasn't the outcome the desired one?