To cut a long story short, a flying buddy refers to the Maglite torch he keeps in his aircraft as "Old Sparky". This comes, seemingly, from an occasion when a first-time PAX occupying the front RHS completely freaked out at about 100', and started hauling back on the column with sweat pouring from him, eyes in wild and staring mode, unable to speak - you get the picture, I'm sure.
My friend is a reasonably big bloke, but so was the PAX, and unable to do more than hold the stick more or less stationery, my friend thought the only thing he could do was to knock the PAX out - he had completely frozen, and the stall was looming. Fortunately, at that point, the PAX "came to", and all was ultimately well.
So now my mate keeps "Old Sparky" handy whenever he takes newcomers up - as he says, "an elbow would probably do the job, but Sparky gives me more options!".
Even if there is an element of shaggy dog about his tale - and FWIW I think not, knowing the guy - it's an interesting scenario, and it got me wondering what I'd do in similar circumstances. I 'm not exactly small and slight, but even so, incapacitating someone in that state is not necessarily the easiest thing to do - even if your life depends upon it.
Anyone come across this, or even considered it as a possibility? Even the calmest, most laid-back individuals can freak given the right (for them) psychological cues .. you never know !
FF
