Flight attendant helps land plane at O'Hare
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Embrace this...recent incidents highlight inherent incompetencies in flight deck crew anyway. Maybe she was more current on recent technologies than the cockpit team anyhow.
Respect to her and her role in this incident. Having someone comfortable with nav and comms makes for a much less stressful approach and landing than without.
A job well done and a good example of CRM ( Cabin Resource Management).
Respect to her and her role in this incident. Having someone comfortable with nav and comms makes for a much less stressful approach and landing than without.
A job well done and a good example of CRM ( Cabin Resource Management).
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I didn't know Karen Black was still alive.
Mr BOAC - you asked, and I answered. 
No knicker twisting.
im·ply
Pronunciation: \im-ˈplī\
Function: transitive verb
To involve or indicate by inference, association, or necessary consequence rather than by direct statement.
Perhaps English isn't your first tongue?
Yes, I made it up. It's called "setting forth an argument". 
No knicker twisting.
d) Nowhere did it actually say you don't need any pilots
Pronunciation: \im-ˈplī\
Function: transitive verb
To involve or indicate by inference, association, or necessary consequence rather than by direct statement.
Perhaps English isn't your first tongue?
e) "The quote would imply that it is possible for the aircraft to be instructed to land with an empty cockpit." - I think you made that bit up?
I wonder if anyone has thought out the reason why AA did that. Seems obvious to me... if one pilot got sick, the other might follow rapidly, and the airplane will NOT land itself by any stretch. Good decision on AA's part.
AA did what?
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Isn't that story a bit blown out of proportion? I mean, OK, it's a nice media story for the general public, but what exactly has she done in the cockpit? read the checklists, tune in radio and nav? I think that would be all. I'm glad she said she didn't feel like a hero.
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Somehow, in amongst all of the supposed wit and wisdom displayed so far on this thread there doesn't appear to have been anybody prepared to offer congratulations to both the operating pilot and the FA for following procedure correctly and landing the aircraft safely.
I'm aware that there may have been no immediate 'danger' but it was certainly an abnormal circumstance, and surely deserves some degree of recognition, or indeed, anything more adult than some of the above?
I'm aware that there may have been no immediate 'danger' but it was certainly an abnormal circumstance, and surely deserves some degree of recognition, or indeed, anything more adult than some of the above?
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"but what exactly has she done in the cockpit?"
We don't know, but as a current CPL, even if she only flies Piper and Cessna singles, she would be perfectly capable of setting the flaps and lowering the gear at the PF's command, handling all comm with approach and local controls, and being an extra set of eyes. Which in fact much of what the PNF does anyway.
We don't know, but as a current CPL, even if she only flies Piper and Cessna singles, she would be perfectly capable of setting the flaps and lowering the gear at the PF's command, handling all comm with approach and local controls, and being an extra set of eyes. Which in fact much of what the PNF does anyway.
There are airlines that give the CC training in helping out when a pilot is disabled plus CRM so that the pilots know how to make use of CC if that's the best available.
Yes, the beasts will fly just fine with just one pilot, but an extra pair of eyes and ears plus help with workload going into ORD improves the operation.
Sounds to me like the SOPs were followed
Yes, the beasts will fly just fine with just one pilot, but an extra pair of eyes and ears plus help with workload going into ORD improves the operation.
Sounds to me like the SOPs were followed
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I'm aware that there may have been no immediate 'danger' but it was certainly an abnormal circumstance, and surely deserves some degree of recognition, or indeed, anything more adult than some of the above?
Now off to JB with the whole thing then !
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At both airlines I worked for in the U.S. it was written into the manual as SOP that in the event of 1 pilot in a 2-pilot crew being incapacitated, time permitting, an F/A would be placed in the jump seat, don a headset, and serve as an extra set of eyes, ears, and read checklists as instructed. The F/A is also there to help immobilize/calm the incapacitated pilot (if he can't be removed from the seat, or wakes up incoherent) and administer whatever first aid can be rendered, allowing the other pilot to concentrate on flying the airplane.
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I'm aware that there may have been no immediate 'danger' but it was certainly an abnormal circumstance, and surely deserves some degree of recognition, or indeed, anything more adult than some of the above?
First of all don't call me Shirley.
Secondly this was a wise decision in the event that another situation had occured at the same time. The potential for multiple problems cascading all at once is the biggest risk. This was a wise decision.
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should she be given a pilot job?no
No. There are tens of thousands of pilots who are more qualified than she is. 300 hours , 20 years ago isn't much as we all know.
I do think it would be quite nice of American Airlines to pay off her mortgage, or do something ''nice'' for her. Even offer her a free type rating on top of the mortgage thing.
Did the captain do right? Sure.
The big question is, why did the copilot get sick? Was he sick before the trip and was afraid to call in sick?
I know one bizare situation in which the female captain, just under 6 months pregnant, did one more flight...and ended up on the cabin floor with dozens of blankets and being rushed to a hospital on landing...baby related of course. She was about one day from the cutoff for pregnant pilots being grounded.
A deadheading captain came up to the cockpit...though it brings another interesting question...who was in command? Legally, I would think the FO was, the captain being incapacitated...but one could argue that the other captain took over...but I digress.
This is a non event and shouldn't have found its way into the national headlines.
She didn't have her hand on the wheel for landing, did she?
I do think it would be quite nice of American Airlines to pay off her mortgage, or do something ''nice'' for her. Even offer her a free type rating on top of the mortgage thing.
Did the captain do right? Sure.
The big question is, why did the copilot get sick? Was he sick before the trip and was afraid to call in sick?
I know one bizare situation in which the female captain, just under 6 months pregnant, did one more flight...and ended up on the cabin floor with dozens of blankets and being rushed to a hospital on landing...baby related of course. She was about one day from the cutoff for pregnant pilots being grounded.
A deadheading captain came up to the cockpit...though it brings another interesting question...who was in command? Legally, I would think the FO was, the captain being incapacitated...but one could argue that the other captain took over...but I digress.
This is a non event and shouldn't have found its way into the national headlines.
She didn't have her hand on the wheel for landing, did she?
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I bet the captain simply gave her a short briefing, told her to put on the headset and then said "touch nothing".
Having her upfront could have prevented a disaster if another unforseen event had occured at about the same time. (ie the swiss cheese analogy). If something else had happened she could have handled communications, navigation, read emergency checklists, etc.
It was a wonderful example of CRM but there's hardly any heroism involved. It's just a great example of a professional flight crew doing what needed to be done given the situation.
It's nice to see these examples surface in the media but is was probably pretty uneventful up front.
Having her upfront could have prevented a disaster if another unforseen event had occured at about the same time. (ie the swiss cheese analogy). If something else had happened she could have handled communications, navigation, read emergency checklists, etc.
It was a wonderful example of CRM but there's hardly any heroism involved. It's just a great example of a professional flight crew doing what needed to be done given the situation.
It's nice to see these examples surface in the media but is was probably pretty uneventful up front.