How bad would this mess up your career?

[ifly4food]

When I was at the University of Illinois a few years ago, President Clinton and Vice President Al Gore came to Champaign on a publicity tour or something. Air Force One flew into/out of CMI and the local news was obviously televising the arrival and departure of the President's B707. As Air Force One was leaving the ramp, the pilot took a turn onto the taxiway a little too tight and ended up putting the right main in the mud! He applied power hoping to get himself out, but didn't have any luck - the mud was up to the rim of the wheel. They had to fly in a backup B707, transfer the President and all his staff to the new plane and departed without incident. The other plane was stuck there over night while they waited for a crane to come and lift it out of the mud.

The best part about that story... Hillary Clinton's quote "There's obviously a conspiracy under the right wing".

 

[aero99]

If the president went on a sightseeing trip in a 172 it would be Airforce 1 as long as he is on board.

 

[TWA Dude]

Speaking of the 707 at CMI...

I have an amusing addendum to the Presidential 707 stuck at CMI. I was FO in a Saab taxiing out shortly after they reopened the airport. Ground gave us instructions to Runway 22R via A and A4 or A3, our choice, onto the FBO ramp to bypass the blockage. Wanting to get a closer look at the 707 (and thinking perhaps the nine secret-service agents on board might as well), we opted for the more distant A3 turn. Being that it was now dark, we couldn't see beforehand that A3 was barricaded due to proximity to the 707's wingtip. CMI Ground had screwed us! We were trapped with insufficient room for a 180. Ground asked us if we had a problem and I told them to "stand by."

Since we were already very late due to the airport closure we didn't wish to shut down and wait for a pushback. Looking behind us I noticed a driveway perhaps 50 feet back. Too narrow for taxiing, but enough to allow our nosegear to roll onto it for a three-point turnaround. So without further adieu we beta-reversed the Saab and backed up and performed a perfect three-point turnaround! Without saying a word to Ground we continued on our way to 22R. Ground came on the radio, "we just wanted you guys to know we had about ten guys up here watching and that's about the darnest things I've seen." I replied, "Did we pass the driving test?"

 

[ShawnC]

Pinkpanther heres the exact text about the immunity from the NASA ASRS forms.

For more information visit http://asrs.arc.nasa.gov
I keep at least 2 forms in my flight bag incase something happens during the flight that I feel needs to be corrected.

The filing of a report with NASA concerning an incident or occurrence involving a violation of 49 U.S.C. Subtitle VII, or the FAR is considered by FAA to be indicative of a constructive attitude. Such an attitude will tend to prevent future violations. Accordingly, although a finding of violation may be made, neither a civil penalty nor certificate suspension will be imposed if:
the violation was inadvertent and not deliberate;
the violation did not involve a criminal offense, or accident. or action under 49 U.S.C. Section 44709 which discloses a lack of qualification or competency, which is wholly excluded from this policy;
the person has not been found in any prior FAA enforcement action to have committed a violation of 49 U.S.C. Subtitle VII, or any regulation promulgated there for a period of 5 years prior to the date of occurrence; and
the person proves that, within 10 days after the violation, he or she completed and delivered or mailed a written report of the incident or occurrence to NASA under ASRS. See paragraphs 5c and 7b.
Note: Paragraph 9 does not apply to air traffic controllers. Provisions concerning air traffic controllers involved in incidents reported under ASRS are addressed in FAA Order 7210.3.

 

[James007]

Thanks everyone for replying , I found that to be informative and humorus.

 

[Bluto]

My most humble apology!

I stand, most humbly, corrected. Thanks to all the knowledgable responders above for educating me!

 

[AeroBoy]

I believe the 707s are all retired now, as they were replaced by 757s. Beside the 757s and the two 747s, the President also has access to Gulfstream IV-SPs and GVs (though these "smaller" aircraft aren't as impressive to walk out of).

 

[Fr8DoggyStyle]

A buddy of mine driving a metro single pilot went right off the end of a taxiway at night while looking at a checklist. It just so happened to be muddy........and the plane sunk enough that the tips of the props were just a couple inches off the ground. Anyway, to make a long story not as long..... the feds came and were really cool. They said since the plane wasnt damaged and it was an uncontrolled field (class D but at night after tower was closed) that he really wasnt breaking any regs....... there isnt one that says dont get stuck in the mud. So they didnt even record the whole thing.

I guess the moral to the story is.... if ya get stuck get your a** out of the plane and asses the situation before you try to blast your way back onto pavement. If he would have tried a little harder to power out he would have gotten both props, and then he would have surely gotten in trouble.

 

[Mickey]

If the president went on a sightseeing trip in a 172 it would be Airforce 1 as long as he is on board.

This is incorrect. It would only be Air Force One if it were an Air Force C172. For Example the helicopter that flies the president around is a Marine helicopter and is therfore called Marine One.

Would they call the aircraft Cessna One, Skyhawk One, or maybe General Aviation One?

Lets have fun with this one boys ang girls.

 

[aero99]

"It would only be Air Force One if it were an Air Force C172"

This is what I meant. I don't believe the president would fly in anything not military related.

 

[SF3CAP]

Re: Career mired in mud

I remember that several years ago some American captain drove his airplane off a taxiway in OKC. One of the mains landed in the mud. I recall in that incident this captain was a short-timer, only a few days away from retirement. [/B][/QUOTE]


I think that was an American Eagle EMB-145 up in OKC last winter. All surfaces were icy, and I don't think he got in trouble for it. I remember I was in MEM on an overnight once, when I saw a blurb on the news about an AE EMB-145 that had turned off the rwy too fast and missed the highspeed. Got stuck in the mud. It was the aircraft we were to take out later in the day. They pulled it out, cleaned it up, MX checked it out OK, and we were out on time! I think the CA had to go to "focus training" for that one.

 

[bobbysamd]

OKC AA driven off taxiway

You're talking about a different incident. The one I'm talking about happened about 1987-'88. Don't remember the type of aircraft, but it was definitely mainline AA.