We should teach F.O.s how to fly

[Hotel Tango]

In light of the on board death of a Captain on a Continental flight recently, it has been brought to my attention by CNN and other credible news sources the inherent dangers of flying in commercial airliner where only one Pilot and a co-pilot is on board.

It was only by sure, luck that the two co-pilots on board the Continental flight happend to also hold pilots licenses and were somehow able to land the airplane successfully. Almost certainly having been talked down by an air traffic controller.

Additionally, it was brought up that they should have notified the passengers of the Captains death so that it would give the passengers time to say good bye and possbly make last minute phone calls to loved ones, in the highly likely chance that the co-pilots were unable to land the aircraft successfully.

Any Thoughts?

[loopa]

Haha touche

[Rotten Apple #1]

Any Thoughts?

Probably the same as yours.

[mark_]

Good one Hotel...too funny.

Mark

[Liquid Charlie]

That's why it's only the captain that turns off the seatbelt sign -- lmfao

[Widow]

Well, certainly the general public would be more than pleased to pay the extra safety cost involved in having a couple of extra back-up, just-in-case pilots for every flight.

I'm surprised you didn't mention the age thing. The pilot was 61 for goodness sake! 61!!!! I thought everyone knew that by the time you reach 55 (Capt. Sully the only exception) you will invariably have cataracts and senile dementia, not to mention angina and a host of other health issues. If pilots are going to be flying past age 55, there should be mandatory medical examinations before every flight. Duh!

As for notifying the passengers, quite right they should have been! What kind of news story does it make when the passengers aren't panicking?

Disclaimer: The opinions noted above are not guaranteed to be free of sarcasm.

[crazy_aviator]

I like your sense of humour Widow !

[atpl53]

Yes...I also have been subjected to the fact that I'm not a 'commercial pilot' because I don't fly the big iron ( or aluminum or carbon fibre or composite or what ever else they make those things out of these days). I'm never a pilot when I sit on the right side and one minute after midnight on the 1st day of the seventh month, when my medical expires, I am struck with old timers disease and forget how to pilot an aircraft (as long as I'm not sitting on the right side in which case I don't know how to do that anyway). On the 1st day of the 13th month I forget how to power up my type rated aircraft and on the 1st day of the 25th month my license evaporates unless some willing inspector chooses to risk his life in the simulator (at which time I am required to fly the plane from the right side).

Well, certainly the general public would be more than pleased to pay the extra safety cost involved in having a couple of extra back-up, just-in-case pilots for every flight.

Widow. Trying to do the quick math, given the $16,000.USD that Continental pays there F/O's, based on numbers of hours flown divided by numbers of legs divided by numbers of fare paying passengers, I would think the a $0.10 increase in passenger fares would not appear too much of a burden. The public has a right to know that their safety is paramount to the airlines. (Of course the problem with that logic is that an entire planeload of F/O's still wouldn't be able to land the plane)

[yycflyguy]

How about this. Instead of making fun of FO responsibilities and lack of respect, how about presenting to the general public that the wages of a FO should be equal to that of a Captain and that is why there will be a 40% increase in their ticket prices. I am only sort of kidding. Let them know that FO's handle every other leg (yes, under the supervision of a 4 striper with cataracts and angina).

[flying4dollars]

In light of the on board death of a Captain on a Continental flight recently, it has been brought to my attention by CNN and other credible news sources the inherent dangers of flying in commercial airliner where only one Pilot and a co-pilot is on board.

It was only by sure, luck that the two co-pilots on board the Continental flight happend to also hold pilots licenses and were somehow able to land the airplane successfully. Almost certainly having been talked down by an air traffic controller.

Additionally, it was brought up that they should have notified the passengers of the Captains death so that it would give the passengers time to say good bye and possbly make last minute phone calls to loved ones, in the highly likely chance that the co-pilots were unable to land the aircraft successfully.

Any Thoughts?

Numerous times I have been asked "If something happened to the captain, would you be able to land your airplane?", to which I answered "No, I only know how to operate the radios". I then go on explaining how f/o's are only there for moral support and cannot actually control the aircraft because it's too heavy without the mighty captain there to hold on to the control wheel himself.

On that note, I'm also not a real pilot because I fly a turboprop. I'm apparently still training to get my license, while getting paid to fly people and cargo around. I tell them I practice stalls and engine failures on take-off in the airplane when we have passengers on board. You would be surprised at how many people thought I was serious.

Ahh perceptions perceptions

[atpl53]

On that note, I'm also not a real pilot because I fly a turboprop.

Good one. I had forgotten bout that.

Good luck on your training!!!

[Liquid Charlie]

I remember a dude once asked me "what would happen if you dropped dead" - I answered him and said I would be past caring --

[atpl53]

...so that it would give the passengers time to say good bye and possibly make last minute phone calls to loved ones...

I really have to talk to my cell phone provider about this. My phone never works after we're up above 2.000' AGL. I mean...I have all this time sitting on the right side, not knowing how to fly, and if something were to go wrong, I would have all this spare time in which I could be making phone calls. And then there is the whole issue about roaming fees. I mean how many towers could I lock out at FL 410?

I remember a dude once asked me "what would happen if you dropped dead" - I answered him and said I would be past caring --

I have passengers ask me if I get scared trying to land when the weather is bad or it's night time or... I always tell them "When it gets really bad I just close me eyes".

[Lurch]

I first heard of this incident on CNN but was only able to watch for thirty seconds. One of the commentators made the following comment and I had to change the channel.

The First Officers had to commandeer the aircraft

Good thing the Captain was dead, it made commandeering the plane easy because TSA took the F/O's nail clippers before they boarded.

Lurch

[Cat Driver]

One thing my passengers never have to worry about is me dissappearing when the rapture takes place.

[Rockie]

The solution seems glaringly obvious to me and I'm shocked it hasn't been required equipment on airliners decades ago. Of course it would mean changing the certification requirements and amending the CAR's as well as the MEL, but you can't compromise on safety.

A fourth stripe encased in glass by the cockpit door with a little hammer attached to it on a chain.

Problem solved.

[atpl53]

A fourth stripe encased in glass by the cockpit door with a little hammer attached to it on a chain.

Problem solved.

LMAO

[Hotel Tango]

You can't give the pilots access to a hammer, this is after all post 9/11 world we're living in.
And imagine all those sharp peices of glass that he could use to take control of the airplane from himself with.

Favourite questions:
Do you ever plan on getting your commercial pilots license?
Does the captain ever let you fly?

And of course being introduced by the flight nurse as the pilot and the other guy.

[atpl53]

You're right. I guess then we have no choice...

Otto.jpg (38.91 KiB) Viewed 4397 times

[atpl53]

Sorry...just realized my error. Otto only wears THREE WIDE ones!!!!!!!!!!!! Damn...well never get this thing on the ground.

[ez4u2say]

I think it is time to bring back the navigator, radio operator, S/O, F/E so that the F/O and Capt have enough people around them to help out ....just in case...

[Jaques Strappe]

I hope the F/O at least sent an ACARS message to Crew Sked stating the time of death so he could get paid Captain wages for the remainder of the flight.

[jigger79]

"ladies and gentlemen the capt has informed me that our flight time will be 1hr and 45 mins". I call bullshit, because I do the flight planning and tell the fa the flight time! but i'm JUST the COPILOT!

boils my blood.

[Moon The Loon]

Every one who has contributed to this thread has shown an unbelievable lack of compassion for the pilot who died.

The remaining flightcrew members were more than qualified to continue the flight. I have many contacts at Continental. This was an incident. They happen.

You should all be ashamed for being part of this industry. One day, it might be you being held to ridicule.

[flying4dollars]

Every one who has contributed to this thread has shown an unbelievable lack of compassion for the pilot who died.

The remaining flightcrew members were more than qualified to continue the flight. I have many contacts at Continental. This was an incident. They happen.

You should all be ashamed for being part of this industry. One day, it might be you being held to ridicule.

Umm, lol.....I think you're totally missing the direction and point of this thread...try again...