DIY Safety Pilot Course
My brother has expressed an interest in some more trips with me over the summer after a spectacular trip from Derby to Caernarfon last summer. But as a generally nervous passenger in anything mechnical, he has asked what happens to him, if anything happens to me?!
Having thought about this I am inclided to give him a home-grown safety pilot course. So I have set about thinking what would be the minimum he would have to do to stand a good chance of surviving any incapacitation on my part.
I think I could training him on how to:
1. How to make a MAYDAY call. (Listen out / PTT)
He doesn't know the phonetic alphabet so I will suggest his call is
"MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY, Callsign unknown , {Aircraft Type} with Incapacitated Pilot, request immediate assistance"
(I'll write this down for him on his sick-bag before we set off so he knows the aircraft type)
2. How to change frequency on the active radio to 121.5, if he gets no replies after three calls.
3. What and where are the vital instruments he might be asked about; i.e.
ASI, RPM, Altimeter + Subscale, Fuel Guages, DI/Compass
4. Controls he might need to operate:
Brakes, Carb Heat, Throttle
5. Instructions to fly up and down a line feature while calling for help
He has some flight time as an Air Cadet and could probably manage straight & level, and gentle turns. Anything else would have to be explained to him over the radio.
Has anyone else considered this scenario and come up with their own 'Pinch-hitter' course or advice?
I realise I cannot let him use the radio during this 'training'.
The hope is that if he can call for help, he can be located, a shepperd aircraft can be sent for him to follow to an airfield with fire cover (+ ambulance for me!) and he can be talked down. We only fly in low performance single-engined aircraft.