This coming from someone who brags about flying in IMC induced by smoke in mountainous terrain injesting parts of trees in your engines?
Lets have a look at a classic example of the pot calling the kettle black shall we?
http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=8402&highlight=avbug
Saabslime said:
Avbug, if you don't consider declaring an emergency necessary during an engine failure, fire, etc. I would consider you more of a cowboy than a professional aviator. I understand what you're saying but if you have a problem that warrents returning to the airport immediately, its an emergency period. Just say so.
Typhoon1244 said:
I've been thinking this over, and I've decided I was too diplomatic before.
If you've got two engines installed on your airplane, and one of them isn't working, and you're in flight...THAT'S AN EMERGENCY, and you need to declare it as such.
There are certain companies who strongly discourage--to the point of termination--declaring an emergency. AirTran is one of them. They discourage this because they're worried about the "bad press" an emergency could generate. I'm sorry that this attitude about emergencies is being perpetuated.
If things are not normal, and there's even a chance that someone in or around your aircraft could get hurt, darn it, declare!
Avbug, you scare me.
njcapt said:
His advice scares me, too.
I can't imagine what kind of career experience he has that would cause him to have such a cavalier attitude towards potentially career affecting incidents. Maybe my time flying for 121 airlines has affected my feelings regarding declaring emergencies, but I believe that ANY time you have the possibility of bending the aircraft on landing or have some significant reduction in performance (engines, brakes, flaps - not just one redundant system that powers them) you declare. Jeez... at most airlines you just fill out an irregularity report and the Chief Pilot's office handles the feds.
What is the downside of declaring? Too macho to admit that you might need assistance? Afraid of drawing attention to yourself? You owe it to your passengers, the owner of the aircraft, the guy who lands behind you as you are trailing oil or parts, and the airport operators to make your situation known AND set the proper remedies in motion.
Typhoon1244 said:
Wow.
Avbug, in the V1 cut you described...let me make sure I understand. You took (I'm guessing, based on your 300' altitude) a 50% power loss, came back around in the pattern, and landed without saying a word on the radio? I'm not so sure that keeping the guys on the ground completely in the dark is a good idea, no matter how busy you are. (Were you the only guy in the airplane?)
You said over and over that in the situations you've been in, declaring would not have affected the outcome. Then why not do it? It costs you nothing...and could gain you everything. If it's not a question of macho, then what's the problem?
Yeah, I have less than 5,000 hours and haven't had a triple engine failure every month for the last five years. I've never declared an emergency for "a spot on [my] white shirt," either. I did declare for (1) a 100% power loss, (2) a left main that wouldn't extend, (2) a total hydraulic system failure, (4) two flaps-up landings, and (5) a severe turbulence encounter at 500' on base. I hate tooting my own horn, but I believe I handled each of these situations fairly well.
Please explain to me why it was somehow unprofessional of me to declare these emergencies. I'm not out to lynch anybody, I just want to understand this mind-set, because right now, I don't...and I don't see how experiencing any more emergencies is going to change my mind.
DarnNearaJet said:
Avbug:
Do you fly passengers for a 121 airline?
PS: I have declared an emergency for an engine-shutdown. I received a letter of commendation. I can guarantee you that if I had not declared, I'd be looking for another job right now and hiring a lawyer to defend my ticket.
Please stop giving poor advice to impressionable young minds.
Typhoon1244 said:

I think I'd quit that outfit too. Who are you with, the Honduran Air Force?
It doesn't sound like he does, no. I can't imagine a professional airline pilot--or
any pilot--having this warped a definition of "emergency."
I can go on and on and on but I have more important things to attend to.
If anyone is going to end up being a lawn dart it will be you.
I used to think you were some kind of aviation God or something, reading your contradictory posts over and over and over again made me realize you are nothing but a bitter, broken down know it all with way too much time on his hands.
You just couldn't leave it alone could you?
I have said nothing that would lead people to believe that I am some kind of suicidal pilot looking for a "badge of honor".
I simply fly for business and pleasure and spend considerably more time than most "non-reembursed" pilots learning as much as I can about a particular subject.
I never tried to wear the "know it all hat" like you. My posts speak for themselves, some may disagree with what I say, that's ok, I will listen and learn. The more I learn about you the more I realize how foolish I was to believe half the stuff you write.
I will stand by everything I say until proven otherwise, and I have been known to be wrong at least once.
I don't like it when people talk out of both sides of their mouths just to start an argument. It is late and I am tired but if I were you, I would be careful what you say.
You better get to bed to, you'll need your rest for that next engine failure that you worked on.
I didn't start a flame war but I sure as hell will finish it.