PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - American Airlines 777 Pilot Heart Attack - Divert to LAS
Old 31st Jul 2001, 21:01
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safety_worker
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Arabian Gulf
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An Autoland is my advise (if possible - ILS), on the longest suitable runway at the nearest suitable airport. Reading a checklist is easy. The PF (F/o or Capt) will apppreciate the help and the presence of someone in the flight deck. When was the last time (generealising) you landed an aircraft, 'alone'. It can be 'psychologically' demanding, what, with throwing in a little weather, traffic, the airport itself (terrain/stars/etc), experience, blah, blah. Don't underestimate or count out a cabin crew member. Some seniors have an idea about an autoland, in case both crew members are incapacitated. In our airline, pilots in general encourage questions about such matters, and crew are actually taught to help the 'lone ranger' in the flight deck. Regarding whether the seat shgould be occupied by a CC (incap pilot removed) is debatable. If the F/o is the PF, stay in the seat, don't taxi, the emergency, intentions declared earlier on will/should help emergency paramedics/doctor get the incap pilot off. More to that the F/o is qualified only for the right seat and the change in seat prior to landing will add to the unfamiliar/uncertainty/thought processes, etc. All this is IMHO anyway. The variables are many. All the best to anyone who encounters it, and congrats to all who have ahndled it. It shouldn't be a real big problem provided, you have an idea, preparation and calmness being exhuberated.
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