Originally Posted by
Jonty
Of course it's the "other aircrafts problem". If I'm expecting to land at an airport and someone has just declared a MAYDAY I can at least expect my landing to be delayed, if not a diversion to an alternate. My situational awareness has just been greatly improved by knowing that there's an aircraft out there in trouble. I also know to shut up and await instructions.
Approximately one million years ago, when I learned how to fly at a big ten university institute of aviation, I was invited (with my instructor) into the directors office (ex USAF WW2 bird colonel) to explain some anomaly relating to a C-130 up from Scott AFB who felt he got cut out in the pattern (in which there were 10-15 single engine aircraft at the time). In any event, he ranted and raved, and then said that we did the right thing by keeping the pattern tight, and maintaining SA….
Nobody died, everybody got what they needed, and safety wasn’t compromised.