Hey. . . I LIKE Rosie Perez. . .

Well, I'm going to repeat here something that both of my previous flight instructors told me repeatedly:

Fly the airplane.

What drove this home for me, as a beginning flight student?

Simulated Engine Failure.


We were always told in ground school about how to plan for emergency landings-- how to judge wind direction, which way to land in plowed fields, etc. In a single-engine general aviation airplane, you have to be ready for the day your engine has problems, and you're not necessarily near an airport.

My instructor, on my 3rd flight, didn't think I was paying enough attention to the ground or where I was with relation to the airport.... so he tells me "my airplane" over the intercom... pulls my headset plug out of the radio, and starts talking to the tower.

For about 10 seconds, all I can hear is the engine thru my headset... then I hear the hiss return as he plugs me back into the intercom... he looks at me, tells me "your airplane...."

I grab the yoke, and before I can ask what he wants me to do next, he springs this on me: "You just had an engine failure." He reaches over, and cuts the throttle to idle.

"Land the airplane."

What did I do? I panicked, and I stopped thinking.

It took me about 15 seconds to... unclench, and then I started calling out checklist items.

I trimmed for best glide... looked for the wind... turned my head to pick a spot to land----- and suddenly it hit me:

I had enough altitude I could safely make it to the airport.


Now, we've seen so many accidents on the news where people (pilots/drivers/etc) just stop THINKING, and the stuff hits the fan....


And then, there's stories like UA232, where the Unthinkable occured... or the FedEx crew that got hijacked by one of their own employees riding along...


I don't plan on making myself a statistic when I finally go back and get my pilot's license (After I graduate from college... at 31... with 2 kids.)

"Controlled flight into terrain" is my favorite flight
euphemism.

"In the event of a water landing" is still my favorite airline euphemism.

Edited by author 08-01-2003 01:08 PM
http://edition.cnn.com/2003/TRAVEL/07/31/plane.drop.ap/

It's exactly the same story as the SF article, but also has a link for their premium subscribers. I'm not subscribed to it..but apparently it's the actual plane drop

http://avsp.larc.nasa.gov/images_am.html
NASA's Aviation Safety Program has links to movies of them dropping a helicopter, Lear, and an AGATE

fun..fun..fun.

http://www.charlievictorromeo.com/
If you ever get the chance, you've *got* to see the play "Charlie Victor Romeo"
It wasn't written, the script is just dialog verbatum from 6 flight recorders. The acting was great, the sound has won awards. The Air Force is using a video of the play in flight training http://www.charlievictorromeo.com/news.htm#usaf

The final act is the last 20 minutes of United Flight 232. It's one thing to read about it, seeing it performed live was an emotional experiance.

Thanks so much!

Hi Jenn,
I am not so much an Airplane crash "enthusiast", but I do think your posts are entertaining and had meant to say so. Especially after reading your were from Marine County area. (As I grew up around there too.) But now I am in Idaho

Airplane crash enthusiasts and other sickos, please weigh in!