777 Captain Dies in Flight Today.

The Pol · 06-18-2009, 04:34 PM

God be with his family and may he rest in peace. I certainly hope that the flight crew, the FO in particular get some serious counselling after this ordeal.

The ironic part of this is that this guy would NOT have been allowed to fly about a year ago. The mandatory retirement age was set at 60 years of age.

Lobbying from older pilots who lost thier pensions in the post 9-11 bankrupcies led to a change in the federal rule, extending a pilots working years to 65. This captain was 61.

Again, my thoughts are with his family and certainly with the crew that was present during his death. I can hear the lobbying to change the retirement age already beginning.

Captain "Pol"

"Lord guard and guide the men who fly
Through the great spaces of the sky;
Be with them traversing the air
In darkening storms or sunshine fair.

Thou who dost keep with tender might
The balanced birds in all thier flight,
Thou of the tempered winds be near,
That, having thee, they know no fear.

Aloft in solitudes of space,
Uphold then with thy saving grace.
Thro' the lonely ways beneath the sky. Amen"

Arkador · 06-18-2009, 05:34 PM

Crazy, just googled, and it is ALL OVER the news... at least it was a safe landing.

The Pol · 06-18-2009, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arkador

Crazy, just googled, and it is ALL OVER the news... at least it was a safe landing.

Going across the pond there are a few relief pilots. The crossing exceeds our max. flight time allowed per day.

eschatz · 06-18-2009, 05:55 PM

Wow. Sorry to hear about the bad news. I'm glad there was a safe landing at least. Gotta be safe up there Rob.

TxBrew · 06-18-2009, 05:55 PM

Pol do you still have nerves when about to fly or has it become so every day it's like driving a car.

The Pol · 06-18-2009, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TxBrew

Pol do you still have nerves when about to fly or has it become so every day it's like driving a car.

Umm, I feel safer in an aircraft in most cases. I mean when you are departing a snowy runway with near zero visibility in Nova Scotia in January, your senses are peaked and there is some level of adrenaline until you get out of about 10,000 feet.

I have spent about 7-8,000 hours flying, 5-7,000 of that in turbine aircraft, so I feel quite at home. I dont know how much time I have spent driving, but I think much less, and there are fewer things to run into at 40,000 feet

The Pol · 06-18-2009, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschatz

Wow. Sorry to hear about the bad news. I'm glad there was a safe landing at least. Gotta be safe up there Rob.

You know, I have a reputation for being pretty much by the book... when I was an FO, there was nothing I hated more than flying with 10 different captains who had 10 differentexpectations.

That being said, I also try to eat well, our occupation is not very healthy... I hope to live far past 61.

McKBrew · 06-18-2009, 06:44 PM

So what do you honestly think about a mandatory retirement age? I don't know the industry, but I'd think that maybe at 60 years of age, they might consider more frequent physicals, etc... But I would feel comfortable having a healty 60+ year old pilot behind the controls any day.

Also, I would hope that even on a shorter flight that at least one other guy in the plane was capable of landing it should the pilot kick the bucket.

The Pol · 06-18-2009, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McKBrew

So what do you honestly think about a mandatory retirement age? I don't know the industry, but I'd think that maybe at 60 years of age, they might consider more frequent physicals, etc... But I would feel comfortable having a healty 60+ year old pilot behind the controls any day.

Also, I would hope that even on a shorter flight that at least one other guy in the plane was capable of landing it should the pilot kick the bucket.

You know, I dont know what I think about the retirement age. Obviously having and earlier retirement age would cause more of a demand for pilots, thus creating jobs and security. I dont PLAN to work past 55 anyway, but if I get to that age and need more retirement money, I will want 65 to be the rule, you know? We all want our cake.

I am young enough to get ONE physical per year for my 1st class medical, when I am 40 I think it is, that goes to twice per year and I think at 45 I get an EKG with each physical.

I have seen some VERY overweight pilots, and they still get thier medical signed off. I mean some of these dudes would have a heart attack push mowing thier yard. So, I am not sure that the medical requirements are that stringent even at that age.

This all being said, FOs fly half of the legs we fly anyway, they are perfectly capable of flying and landing an a/c in all sorts of weather. Thier judgement and decision making may not be as mature as a more experienced captain, but they are safe and capable.

**shecky** · 06-18-2009, 06:53 PM

This is an incredibly sad story. I just read the AP story and thought of the one thing that most bothers me about air travel.

The flight attendants went about their business, which they should have done. But they also asked for a doctor on board and found one. He disappeared into the cockpit, but passengers were told nothing.

Now, if I'm on that plane, I'm freaking out. Shouldn't the crew tell the passengers something, maybe along the lines of 'the pilot has fallen ill but there is another pilot on board to make sure things are safe. No need to panic?'

I know I'd feel a lot better.