Comair FO leaves hospital for rehab

[Northern Lights]

Comair co-pilot leaves hospital for rehabilitation

LEXINGTON, Ky.

The lone survivor of the crash of Comair Flight 5191, co-pilot James Polehinke, was released yesterday from University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital to begin his rehabilitation, according to the hospital.



Polehinke was upgraded to fair condition Monday after showing progress, according to the hospital.

Citing their wish for privacy, family members declined to say where Polehinke will undergo rehabilitation.

In a phone interview with The Associated Press, Polehinke's mother, Honey Jackson, said she thought it was too soon for him to be released but that he was eager to leave the hospital.

"I want my son to walk out of Kentucky," Jackson said. "I don't want him in a wheelchair. Got to stay strong. Got to believe in miracles."

Jackson said Polehinke has no memory of the crash or the day before.

Polehinke, of Margate, Fla., was seriously injured in the Aug. 27 crash that killed 49 people upon takeoff from Lexington's Blue Grass Airport.

His left leg was amputated and he has undergone several surgeries for bone fractures

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061004/NEWS01/610040592/1008/NEWS01

 

[Rally]

The sadest thing would be if he does'nt get back on the horse. Do what the FO from the ASA brasilia did and continue to fly.

 

[glasspilot]

The sadest thing would be if he does'nt get back on the horse. Do what the FO from the ASA brasilia did and continue to fly.

Dude, he's missing his leg! Also, I believe the FO from ASA retired after his crash.

 

[Plug]

I believe the FO from ASA retired after his crash.

He's still flying at ASA, quite a senior FO with a summer place in California.

 

[WSurf]

That dude worked hard to get his medical back! Can he not hold a 1st Class? He was at FSI right when I got there, then hired on by ASA!
Discover Channel had a show on that Flight, those guys were in a no win situation!! They did one helluva job trying to land that POS!!!!

 

[snap145]

im not trying to be crude here or speculate but does anyone think hed be able to get a medical and return to 121 ops with a prosthetic leg?

 

[Northern Lights]

It's possible. There was a former Mesaba pilot that had a prosthetic leg. I think that a 757 rolled over him while he was working the ramp years ago. The MSP paper did a big story on him back around 1999 or so.

 

[AuburnRedneck9]

Dude, he's missing his leg! Also, I believe the FO from ASA retired after his crash.

He certainly did not retire, he flys half of the year.

 

[C425Driver]

im not trying to be crude here or speculate but does anyone think hed be able to get a medical and return to 121 ops with a prosthetic leg?

Comair has a pilot there now with a prosthetic leg.

 

[BlackPilot628]

Let's pray that he will be able to come back if he chooses to do so.

 

[Crzipilot]

The Kallita crew that rolled one and landing in Gitmo a few years back. I believe the capt. lost his leg, went through it and got his medical back.....Think he continued as capt as well....

 

[14RF SUX]

I hear that the FO from the Brasilia ASA crash is a frikin stud.

14RF SUX

 

[LowlyPropCapt]

Dude, he's missing his leg! Also, I believe the FO from ASA retired after his crash.

I met an Eagle CA not so long ago who lost his leg in a motorcycle accident. He was back in the saddle... Kudos to him.

The Comair FO's problem may be that the company won't be able, insurance wise, to allow him to return to the line. Would love to see it happen, but this poor guy has a tough row to hoe.

 

[WSurf]

Yo... Prop!!! S.H. passed his checkride!! I know he really thanks you for not bidding back EWN!!!


Hows the new home????

 

[EMB170Pilot]

I think the problem is Boomer2 is that everyone is sugar coating this and your not. Your being direct.

He wont be able to fly due to crew negligence. Insurance would have a fit. I hope he continues to fly. I dunno about 135 maybe. I'm sure this accident will go on his record and being pilot error, I dunno if he will ever be able to get a job. What insurance company for whatever 135/121 company would hire someone with that on his record. Maybe I'll be wrong. Its extremely unfortunate! I hope he has a speedy recovery

I feel awful for everyone. Wished this never happened!

 

[SennaP1]

Double Post. Edit

 

[SennaP1]

And why would this guy want to get back in an airplane? Yeah mistakes happen but come ON. I wager he will never be back in an airplane.

Its got nothing to do with him flying the airplane you or your family will fly on.

 

[pianoman]

Sad thing is this guy would probably now be the most by-the-book, double-check guy at Comair.

 

[ATR-DRIVR]

The Kallita crew that rolled one and landing in Gitmo a few years back. I believe the capt. lost his leg, went through it and got his medical back.....Think he continued as capt as well....

Are you referring to the DC-8 at Gitmo? I beleve that was Buffalo Airways if I am not mistaken. The FO was - or is a POI at ASA. Was in the brief on my type-ride on the RJ.

 

[ballsdeep123]

pilots are such tools, settle down dorks

 

[TheRaven]

im not trying to be crude here or speculate but does anyone think hed be able to get a medical and return to 121 ops with a prosthetic leg?

Yup--I know 2 guys at my airline with em....you should see the TSA looks when they take off the whole leg when it sets of the metal detector....I guess they have a letter explaining it too, but the one guy says its easier to just take it off and let it get x-rayed

 

[phishn@daves]

pilots are such tools, settle down dorks

Hey Balls, I agree with you 100%.

I think the problem here relates to many things:

1. Do we feel bad for the FO? Yes.

2. Do you want to fly with him? Maybe. (later)

3. Can he fly the plane to the best of his abilities?

ANSWERS: (well mine)

1. It is a very tragic situation to deal with. Can you imagine being the ONLY survivor?

2. Both pilots should have the A/P diagram out when taxying. Does this ever happen? Rarely. Although, someone should know which runway you are on.

3. If there is an engine failure, can he actually get the rudder in the right position with the prostetic (sp) leg. I'm not saying he can't, I'm just talking about the feel of it.

CONCLUSION:

As this relates to most pilots, I think we all now need to better follow directions, and realize where the Fuc% we are. But we cannot dismiss the rules of CRM as we have all been taught,..........DO NOT TRUST YOUR CAPT.

If you do not think it's right, ask.

Fly safe all!

 

[aa73]

Yo... Prop!!! S.H. passed his checkride!! I know he really thanks you for not bidding back EWN!!!


Hows the new home????

Yo, Surf!! Prop is getting hit on by Latina cashiers here at the store in NY...

Anyways, we're taking real good care of him up here. He will be a changed man, in so many wrong ways, when he gets back to EWN. :nuts:

73

 

[dollacrackho]

i thought there was an eagle guy with two prosthetic legs. i remember seeing something on the discovery channel about this alaskan bush pilot who crashed in the mountains and didnt get rescued for three or four days. he got really bad frostbite and lost one or both legs and i remember him saying he was flying for eagle now.

 

[Moustache]

Let's pray that he will be able to come back if he chooses to do so.

Does anyone rewmember the gross negligence that that crew displayed---keep him out of the cockpit, it is apparently no place for him----A LOT of people are DEAD in part because of him!!!!!!!!!!!
Enough with the feel good comments, this guy is dangerous and has been proven!!!!!

 

[DGdaPilot]

Does anyone rewmember the gross negligence that that crew displayed---keep him out of the cockpit, it is apparently no place for him----A LOT of people are DEAD in part because of him!!!!!!!!!!!
Enough with the feel good comments, this guy is dangerous and has been proven!!!!!

Boy, I hope you never make a mistake. I'll remember your post when you do.

 

[Mountain Troll]

Well, since some of you are sooo interested... and more of you are sooo misguided... I suggest you pick up a copy of "REACH FOR THE SKY" written by Paul Brickhill published by the Naval Institute Press. It is the complete story of Douglas Bader who became a double leg amputee in an air crash, was dismissed by the RAF, then fought to get back into the cockpit of a Spitfire only to become one of the great heroes in the Battle of Britain.

It may have been 75 years ago, but the human spirit is a powereful thing, then and now. Maybe the young man will want to get back to the sky, maybe he will want to venture to other paths , but, tell all of us oh wise ones, what would your spirit drive you to do???

 

[Terry Hunter]

Does anyone rewmember the gross negligence that that crew displayed---keep him out of the cockpit, it is apparently no place for him----A LOT of people are DEAD in part because of him!!!!!!!!!!!
Enough with the feel good comments, this guy is dangerous and has been proven!!!!!

Pride before the fall

 

[dollacrackho]

Does anyone rewmember the gross negligence that that crew displayed---keep him out of the cockpit, it is apparently no place for him----A LOT of people are DEAD in part because of him!!!!!!!!!!!
Enough with the feel good comments, this guy is dangerous and has been proven!!!!!

what happened was horrendous and a gross act of negligence and i cant imagine what those families are going through. the f/o however will be going through hell on earth for the rest of his days . his crippling injuries will be a daily reminder of the crash and the people he was partly responsible for killing. i dont know how he will find the will to go on, i dont know if i could. the last thing this guy needs is people like you throwing stuff like this in his face all the time. so i think its alright if people throw him a few "feel good" comments from time to time.

 

[WSurf]

Does anyone rewmember the gross negligence that that crew displayed---keep him out of the cockpit, it is apparently no place for him----A LOT of people are DEAD in part because of him!!!!!!!!!!!
Enough with the feel good comments, this guy is dangerous and has been proven!!!!!

The guy dangerous? No, He passed every checkride that he needed! Making a mistake and being dangerous are way different.

Everyone of us have done dumb sh$t in our aviaiton careers.. Most are lucky enough to live and learn from them.

This wasn't the only aircraft to have done that in LEX!
For you to come on here and say he is dangerous shows your a idiot!!

They made a mistake....... They weren't dangerous.