MSNBC: A CAL captain just died in flight. Plane making an emergency landing

[filejw]

After 30 years of flying I think my body will want me to give it up. I don't fly long-haul but I can imagine what that does to your body over time.

RIP to the deceased pilot.

Tell you what, its a lot easier than making 5/6 approaches a day and dragging my bags from gate to gate by a long shot...

 

[Secret Squirrel]

I sure would hate to be the PR guy/gal for CAL over the last year.

 

[Flopgut]

and how can CO say he died from natural causes?

CAL mgt propaganda. They've been shortening the lives of their pilots for decades and they know it. This wasn't "natural causes", this was contractural causes! Period. Fourth such on-duty event (second inflight death) at CAL in the last 3 years. Better contract work rules at CAL is now, most certainly, a matter of life or death.

 

[wms]

What if the flight with a deceased captain had been on an RJ with a 200 hour FO right off OE? Could've been a different outcome.

 

[Whataburger]

What if the flight with a deceased captain had been an RJ with a 200 hour FO right off OE? Could've been a different outcome.

Exactly. What year at the commuters do they let the FO's start landing? Especially when they dont even have a Commercial License.

 

[densoo]

Does anyone use captains as IROs anymore?

If so, who are they?

 

[relief tube]

condolences.....but if the fella had just called it quits he woulda died with his family. I know thats callous and stupid, but its true.

Ya work to 65, ya got 5 less years with your family and friends full time. No thanks

 

[~~~^~~~]

RIP - if he's a good guy he would not want us to be all mopey eyed about this. He did what he wanted to do, right up until nature hung up the phone on crew scheduling.

 

[79%N1]

Some people need to work due to the loss of pension money and the wiping out of their retirement funds! I hope those of us younger don't have to face the same decisions, but in this world, some (many) close to retirement have to!

 

[Flopgut]

Some people need to work due to the loss of pension money and the wiping out of their retirement funds! I hope those of us younger don't have to face the same decisions, but in this world, some (many) close to retirement have to!

This guy's A plan was frozen at about 700 grand. He still had a lump sum that paid 100% thanks to his fellow workers who sacraficed to make sure he didn't lose everything. He could have left on an early out that would have paid as much as 100K and included bridge medical. Once again, a result of his coworkers sacrafices.

Yeah, some people lost everything, not this guy. He left a lot on the table.

 

[OO pilot]

It would be interesting to know the average airline pilot life expectancy compared to the national average.
And even better to have a breakdown on Cargo/Passenger flying, red-eyes etc...

 

[GogglesPisano]

Yes, we DH the IRO over on East bounds under 8.0 flights, then he/she operates the flight back. If there is a delay, or abnormal ops on the way over that person can be activated as a flying crew member.

What's the advantage of doing this? Do you guys get paid less for DH?

 

[filejw]

This guy's A plan was frozen at about 700 grand. He still had a lump sum that paid 100% thanks to his fellow workers who sacraficed to make sure he didn't lose everything. He could have left on an early out that would have paid as much as 100K and included bridge medical. Once again, a result of his coworkers sacrafices.

Yeah, some people lost everything, not this guy. He left a lot on the table.

Sounds like the work and sacrifices he made to earn that pension don't count. Good thing he had a union around to make Continental pay the money that he previously earn and was owed... RIP

 

[Lolikoka]

News Dweebs

Maybe the co-pilot can be promoted to pilot now that he proved he can land the plane!

Watching the idiots on the news made me want to barf.

As an aside, he must have gone quickly - I would have expected a diversion if he had any lengthy medical emergency that possibly could have been treated.

R.I.P.

 

[jonjuan]

RIP - He did what he wanted to do, right up until nature hung up the phone on crew scheduling.

Oh, I'm sure they've been calling and trying to reassign him all day.

 

[GogglesPisano]

Does anyone use captains as IROs anymore?

If so, who are they?

Delta (and World) both use 1 relief F/O for a 3-man crew, and 1 relief F/O and 1 relief CA for a 4-man crew.

 

[Erlanger]

Fox news reporter reports that the FAA requires all airlines to practice pilot incapacitation procedures in the sim. WTF!

 

[EWR_FO]

Some answers:

- He was a good guy who was actually a CA and not just a guy who sat in the left seat.

- Deadheading pays the same as flying. It keeps the block time down which increases productivity. When you have liars and thieves, who have flown domestically (when they couldn't duck it with an office job) their whole lives negotiating away safety, this is what you get. Initially one of the concessions was 50% deadhead, then 75%, now it's back to 100%.

- The guy had a heart attack in his seat and there was a cardiologist on board who determined there was no chance of revival. The defibrillator was used as well as medlink.

- The union, company, and FAA met the flight and from all reports the remaining crew were treated well.

 

[lookin4better]

First , condolences to the Captain and his family.

Second, It was horribly embarassing to listen to this on Foxnews ( EVERY news channel was reporting this horibbly! ) on XM radio today .... the PILOT died... the COPILOT is now in contro!!!

Its ignorant that people think the Captain flies all day long and the FO's just sit there hoping to maybe fly the plane one day! Why , when those " pilots " that call in to Fox,CNN etc , dont they explain that FO's are the PILOT too? They just simply arent in charge of the plane.... These two PILOTS did a great job, but Im sure it wasnt that big a deal since they DO fly the plane on a regular basis.

Hats off to the Captain and his family! Full term'er or not! RIP

 

[lookin4better]

Exactly. What year at the commuters do they let the FO's start landing? Especially when they dont even have a Commercial License.

Commuters! I love to call regionals that too.... they really get puffy chested when they hear you do that.... very entertaining.

Back on track.... good job to all, and congrats on a long rewarding career to the Captain.

 

[airplane wizard]

61. This never would have happened if he had retired when he was supposed to... (Yes. I realize this is callous, but it had to be said as the issue was brought up ad nauseum during the Age 60 fight. They said it would never happen... Condolences to his family.)

Fox News reported that ALL air traffic inbound to the NY/NJ area will be diverted/sent "FAR, FAR away" so that this plane, with its "backup crew" will not "risk running into another aircraft".

Proud to be an F/O on a day like this. "Am I your pilot? Uh no ma'am. I just sit up there to make sure the other guy isn't dead or dying. Should be a smooth ride out to Denver today."

A few years ago, one of my friends was 36, in great health, always ate right and exercised and never smoked. Dropped dead of a brain annyurisim.

 

[Flopgut]

Sounds like the work and sacrifices he made to earn that pension don't count.

I realize you're trying to mouth off, but what could your point possibly be?! He died at the controls. He had NO retirement time. His survivors get NO lump sum. It was pretty darn selfish, was it not?

BTW, if CAL ALPA membership had known age 65 would be coming we would have allowed the company to scuttle his whole A plan. We have stopped negotiating increase for these guys completely. This better be a wake up call for the rest of the guys we [CAL] have working past 60. If you perish at the controls, or lose more retirement money, too bad! We're going to press on, land the plane, taxi to the gate, and make our commute flight home. We have appropriate regard for you (more than you deserve for certain), but we are done messing with you.

 

[Metro752]

He was a scab?

 

[OrionFE]

Very sorry to hear a fellow pilot died. Is anyone really surprised he was over 60? Before I left the clown show(aviation) I had to take over the aircraft and return to land. The captain after having his circadian rythm flipped on the third day totaly zoned out, I mean bye, bye, lights are on and nobody's home. You just can't deal with these schedules at an older age. Great guy though and a better pilot than me when well rested. Let's face it switching to 65 had nothing to do with safety.

I don't think that is very accurate. The cargo industry has FE's flying well into their 70's, doing 20 day laps around the globe. Not a real issue, because nobody wants those jobs.

 

[regionaltard]

Gotta love the media when it comes to aviation reporting.

 

[FlyingPieceOfSt]

Some people need to work due to the loss of pension money and the wiping out of their retirement funds! I hope those of us younger don't have to face the same decisions, but in this world, some (many) close to retirement have to!

Very Good
(+)1

 

[Flopgut]

What if the flight with a deceased captain had been on an RJ with a 200 hour FO right off OE? Could've been a different outcome.

That day is coming just like today was. Wait until it's the random 40ish old who dies and the captain is 64.5. Say whatever you want about age 60; It was as close to a perfect rule as there ever was. 40+ years and never an issue. Now look where we are.

 

[ultrarunner]

What if the flight with a deceased captain had been on an RJ with a 200 hour FO right off OE? Could've been a different outcome.

Well, not good....but not too many 60 or 65 year old career RJ captains. Most of those guys will medical-out by their 50's! Too rough a schedule.

However, with age 65, and at some point, age 70, cuts in domestic service, and scope issues, most of the RJ drivers today will still be RJ driver in 20 and 30 years from now, so it will bound to happen.

But again, until that senators wife and daughter get buy it....

 

[DoinTime]

Lenell, Craig A CAL 83 dob 7/16/48, SSN 2392, 0525A

One more I can mark dead on my scab list. He won't come off the list though, not even in death. Never forgive.

 

[TransMach]

A few years ago, one of my friends was 36, in great health, always ate right and exercised and never smoked. Dropped dead of a brain annyurisim.

"annyurisim" ... I would have had to use a dictionary ...

Excellent!

TransMach