FA helps American Airlines Land

[Volasl]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/06/15/flight.attendant.landing/


(CNN) -- A flight attendant with a pilot's license ditched her normal duties and stepped in for a sick co-pilot of an American Airlines flight before the plane landed in Chicago, Illinois, airline officials said.
The first officer had become sick with 'flulike' symptoms yesterday, according to Tim Wagner, a spokesman for American Airlines. "He went back into the passenger cabin," he said. "That's when the captain began to solicit help from any passengers with a pilot's license."
One of the five flight attendants on board flight 1612 from San Francisco, California, told the captain that she is a commercial pilot, and she immediately took over the first officer's responsibilities, Wagner said.
"She called things out, and read through the pre-landing checklist," he said, adding that it was a very smooth transition.
The plane, carrying 225 passengers and seven crew members, landed safely at O'Hare International Airport, at 4:24 p.m. Monday. No one was hurt.
The first officer, who is based in Chicago, was immediately taken to the hospital by paramedics waiting on the ground. He was treated and released and was resting Tuesday, Wagner said.
"The entire incident was handled very well on all accounts," Wagner said." He was not able to elaborate on the flight attendant's background or provide any details into her piloting experience. The flight attendant is based in San Francisco, the captain in St. Louis, Missouri.

 

[Lear70]

She'll be telling that story for years... "heeeere I come to save the daaaayyy"... *snerk*

 

[General Lee]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/06/15/flight.attendant.landing/


(CNN) -- A flight attendant with a pilot's license ditched her normal duties and stepped in for a sick co-pilot of an American Airlines flight before the plane landed in Chicago, Illinois, airline officials said.
The first officer had become sick with 'flulike' symptoms yesterday, according to Tim Wagner, a spokesman for American Airlines. "He went back into the passenger cabin," he said. "That's when the captain began to solicit help from any passengers with a pilot's license."
One of the five flight attendants on board flight 1612 from San Francisco, California, told the captain that she is a commercial pilot, and she immediately took over the first officer's responsibilities, Wagner said.
"She called things out, and read through the pre-landing checklist," he said, adding that it was a very smooth transition.
The plane, carrying 225 passengers and seven crew members, landed safely at O'Hare International Airport, at 4:24 p.m. Monday. No one was hurt.
The first officer, who is based in Chicago, was immediately taken to the hospital by paramedics waiting on the ground. He was treated and released and was resting Tuesday, Wagner said.
"The entire incident was handled very well on all accounts," Wagner said." He was not able to elaborate on the flight attendant's background or provide any details into her piloting experience. The flight attendant is based in San Francisco, the captain in St. Louis, Missouri.

Hey, some guy in the back named Al Kada wanted to help out. He said he had about 30 hours in "straight and level."


Bye Bye----General Lee

 

[NoJoy]

Good one.

 

[Flying the Line]

Hey, some guy in the back named Al Kada wanted to help out. He said he had about 30 hours in "straight and level."


Bye Bye----General Lee

The most classless post ever on FI.

 

[scoreboardII]

How is this a surprise?

 

[ron burgundy]

They should make a movie about this....Oh wait..kinda already been done. She will probably be offered some kinda reality show gig.

 

[flynryan15]

OJ GOD! They already think they control the friggin plane and now this! I can't wait to hear the comments from the aisle donkey's now!

 

[jonjuan]

Sounds like she should be added to the SCAB list. Damn, if she is to take flying away from pilots on the AMR seniority list.....

 

[General Lee]

The most classless post ever on FI.

Whatever you idiot. You have zero sense of humor. You are a ZERO. Maybe once you were a hero, but now you are a ZERO. Why would the Captain get on the PA and ask for anyone with flying time? You think he would ask the stews first maybe, not just do a full PA. Regardless, you are still a big ZERO.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[ozpilot]

Wow - whats with you guys? Sounds like she did a great job! Why not ask the Captain?

 

[Raoul Duke]

would that leg get paid at FO rate or FA rate?

 

[GuppyWN]

Sorry but I'm not letting the general public in my cockpit inflight.

I'll take a stew and give her a checklist but Joe Public will meet my Leetle Friend if he steps into my office.

Good job by the Flight Attendant. She'll make great bar talk.

Gup

 

[crashpad]

Sorry but I'm not letting the general public in my cockpit inflight.

I'll take a stew and give her a checklist but Joe Public will meet my Leetle Friend if he steps into my office.

Good job by the Flight Attendant. She'll make great bar talk.

Gup

Agreed, I can single pilot if necessary (did it once already in similar situation), but no pax in the flight deck. If it's an emergency requiring extra hands, I'd take another crew member without thinking twice.

Good Job FA.

 

[bgaviator]

Does anyone know at what point in the flight this occurred? Was it just prior to landing, or did it happen more enroute? I would just think that if it was still enroute, it would have been more practical to land at a nearest suitable, remove the f/o, and go from there. Must have been pretty sick to not be able to continue duties....not trying to put down what happened, it just raises some more questions for me.

 

[Lear70]

Hey, some guy in the back named Al Kada wanted to help out. He said he had about 30 hours in "straight and level."


Bye Bye----General Lee

I'm assuming you're being snide to point out the fact that it would have been a terrible security breach and an epic case of bad judgment to let an unknown passenger up into the flight deck in this day and age...

If that's not what you meant, then yes, the post was in poor taste. If that IS what you meant, then never mind, I got the sarcasm, but it took me a read or two (and several years of reading your posts) to get it. Internet humor/sarcasm doesn't come across very well unless you explain it or somewhat know the poster's writing style.

 

[inline]

The FA said "she's a commercial pilot." I'll bet that she has a commercial certificate but she doesn't fly planes for a commercial operator, there's a difference. When you read AOPA magazine, everybody and their dog is a " commercial pilot."

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

It is not uncommon for airlines to bring a non-employee up in the cockpit when 1 pilot is incapacitated...In the last few years at US airlines, AF guys, civilian pilots, etc. have helped out up front. When it is an emergency you should do whatever it is that will help improve the chances of a positive outcome.

cliff
LFW

 

[bgaviator]

I agree....but "flu-like symptoms" doesn't quite sound like an emergency to me....I think I could technically still keep flying if I was feeling flu like symptoms...unless I was heaving my guts out maybe.....if it was a heart attack, then definitely an emergency. So does anyone know if this occurred as they were already starting the arrival or approach into Chicago, or did this happen more en-route?

Hi!

It is not uncommon for airlines to bring a non-employee up in the cockpit when 1 pilot is incapacitated...In the last few years at US airlines, AF guys, civilian pilots, etc. have helped out up front. When it is an emergency you should do whatever it is that will help improve the chances of a positive outcome.

cliff
LFW

 

[Lear70]

Hi!

It is not uncommon for airlines to bring a non-employee up in the cockpit when 1 pilot is incapacitated...In the last few years at US airlines, AF guys, civilian pilots, etc. have helped out up front. When it is an emergency you should do whatever it is that will help improve the chances of a positive outcome.

cliff
LFW

You can. I won't. Not in this day and age, no way, no how, not a chance in hell...

Someone I knew? Sure. Have an extra F/A to run the radios? A commuting or deadheading pilot that works for your airline or someone that's been CASS verified? Sure.

Otherwise, a complete stranger? I can fly the plane just fine on my own with an incapacitated pilot and would prefer that over the risk of an unknown in the flight deck with me.

YMMV