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Passenger with “no idea how to fly” lands plane after pilot incapacitated

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11–20 of 491 posts

Re: Passenger with “no idea how to fly” lands plane after pilot incapacitated

#11

>air traffic controllers were able to locate the plane on radar and walk the passenger through how to land the small plane Are ATCOs actually trained for this kind of situation?

Yes, in most cases, but also modern aircraft over the last 50 years has become very safe. The plane practically flies itself.

I don't know if I'd call Cessna 208 particularly modern, it is 40 year old model

Re: Passenger with “no idea how to fly” lands plane after pilot incapacitated

#12

bravo! any idea how hard or easy this is? did the passenger land on an airstrip or where? all details lacking

Im not familiar with this plane, but the Airbus a320 has an auto-landing autopilot. I wonder how often that's used though.

Re: Passenger with “no idea how to fly” lands plane after pilot incapacitated

#13
Pilot here. I'm floored that a person with no flying experience could put this airplane down without a scratch.

Air traffic controllers are not necessarily pilots, but luckily, this one was a pilot and certified instructor. ATC and passenger worked through a stressful situation to produce an amazing outcome. Bravo!

Re: Passenger with “no idea how to fly” lands plane after pilot incapacitated

#14

>air traffic controllers were able to locate the plane on radar and walk the passenger through how to land the small plane Are ATCOs actually trained for this kind of situation?

Yes, in most cases, but also modern aircraft over the last 50 years has become very safe. The plane practically flies itself.

Yeah but I thought takeoff and landing were the two parts that still required mostly manual control?

Re: Passenger with “no idea how to fly” lands plane after pilot incapacitated

#16

bravo! any idea how hard or easy this is? did the passenger land on an airstrip or where? all details lacking

They landed at an airport. I think the CNN article has a bit more context:

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/florida-passenger-lands-p...

> Morgan learned the passenger on the line had never flown a plane -- but had been around aviation and seen other pilots fly.

If they've been around planes like this before, I don't think it'd be that difficult to land in one piece with guidance (and the ATC seemed to be a CFI as well). But what do I know, I'm still working on my PPL.

Hopefully the passenger got his logbook signed for his first solo

Re: Passenger with “no idea how to fly” lands plane after pilot incapacitated

#17

>air traffic controllers were able to locate the plane on radar and walk the passenger through how to land the small plane Are ATCOs actually trained for this kind of situation?

Yes, in most cases, but also modern aircraft over the last 50 years has become very safe. The plane practically flies itself.

A Cessna Caravan airplane does not land itself. It's a thoroughly manual process. As a pilot, I'm in awe of the controller and passenger for being able to pull this off.

Re: Passenger with “no idea how to fly” lands plane after pilot incapacitated

#18

bravo! any idea how hard or easy this is? did the passenger land on an airstrip or where? all details lacking

Im not familiar with this plane, but the Airbus a320 has an auto-landing autopilot. I wonder how often that's used though.

A Cessna 208 is definitely not in that category of aircraft; this is a small (<10 pax), single-engined turboprop.

Re: Passenger with “no idea how to fly” lands plane after pilot incapacitated

#19
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, in most cases, but also modern aircraft over the last 50 years has become very safe. The plane practically flies itself.

Yeah but I thought takeoff and landing were the two parts that still required mostly manual control?

Autoland has been a (mostly emergency) feature for years https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autoland It might have been installed on the plane

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-ruFmgTpqA

https://www.easa.europa.eu/community/topics/emergency-autola...

Re: Passenger with “no idea how to fly” lands plane after pilot incapacitated

#20

>air traffic controllers were able to locate the plane on radar and walk the passenger through how to land the small plane Are ATCOs actually trained for this kind of situation?

I think more typically (if there is such thing for these scenarios) atc tries get hold of some instructor or even a pilot it no instructor is found instead of instructing themselves.
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