Close Calls at Airports
- Thread starter martyd
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Rich Richardson
Member
Been a pilot and Bonanza owner for 30 years. The closest I came to having mid airs were in the traffic pattern at Replublic airport, KFRG. Usually happened when a tower trainee was on duty and his superior let him get too far behind managing the flow.
1300 hours of combat time, SIP in 4 helicopters and 5 F/W aircraft, Maintenance Test Pilot in 5 F/W, MTP Evaluator. On the civilian side, ATP (typed in a couple). They say flying is inherently dangerous, but I did love doing it. I still miss flying helicopters.
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LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
Interesting. As an 18-year old soldier I was recruited for airborne training (jump school, parachutes). We were told that the two most dangerous parts of any airplane ride were take-off and landing, so by jumping out we could avoid half the danger of the airplane ride.
That made sense to me, as an 18-year old. Why hike halfway around the world to go to war when you can ride comfortably in a nice airplane, and avoid half the danger by jumping out before the landing? Seemed to work out pretty well, other than the occasional injury to ankles, knees, hips, lumbar spine.
Still remember the large sign on the parachute shed where riggers packed the parachutes for each use, "IF IT DOESN'T WORK BRING IT BACK".
Several years later I realized that I could have avoided all the danger of the airplane ride very easily by refusing to volunteer for jump school. Lots of take-offs, very few landings.
18 years old was a long time ago.
I have a Cherokee. They are nose heavy and controls are a bit heavy but just not resetting the trim on a touch and go should not cause such an accident. Must have been other factors involved. He might have forgotten to raise the flaps before trying to take off after landing.
The trim was set at max nose up. A former factory rep said at rotation speed it would take over 100 pounds of forward pressure to prevent excessive pitch up attitude, causing aerodynamic stall. there were other factors. The US government (ATC) paid $8 million in the wrongful death suit. The flight school was only insured for $1 mil and that's what they coughed up.
windypoint
Member
I have had the good fortune to fly for private in bush planes and commercially in helicopters in Alaska. It has taken me places few have had the privilege to see. Now grounded due to eye issues, I reflect on my times spent in the air. A few times I survived bad situations, some self inflicted, some Murphy in action. I would not trade those times for anything. Life is an unsure proposition. Good training and learning from your mistakes is essential. That said, I also rarely fly commercially. Not due to safety issues as much as the mentality of today's carriers. Bad schedules, high costs and NO people concerns for comfort. The anger shown in the passengers these days is evidenced by the videos on the news. I feel fortunate to have lived in the days of fun and exciting commercial flying.
My mom worked for Eastern Airlines, So we traveled a lot on employee standby tickets, which cost $2 as I recall. Even on employee passes, we were treated like royalty. I'd have to be traveling overseas to get on an airliner now.
After working in the Airport FD...originally called crash and rescue...I don't need to see pictures of crashes. I carry them in my head every day. That said..auto accidents can be almost as bad...and more often seen!!
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That's a fine idea. A former boss packed parachutes while in the Marines. Every so often, he had to grab one that he'd packed and go jump with it.
I enjoy that channel for sure.
Abbott and Costello packing parachutes - old movie
Long long ago I saw Abbott and Costello packing army parachutes in a movie
IIRC They resorted to cutting shroud lines to speed up their production.
Bekeart
Long long ago I saw Abbott and Costello packing army parachutes in a movie
IIRC They resorted to cutting shroud lines to speed up their production.
Bekeart
Countrycuz
Member
Heard on local news this morning, two nearby airports were getting federal grants, for solar panels. Most critical need? Best use of tax dollars?
I have an A&P where I hanger the A/C and if the work has anything to do with power, air frame and associated components be it R&R or annual he flies his work before signing it off. He doesn't come cheap, but is dedicated to his profession and to top it off, he's retired USMC. He's a good friend and I appreciate his dedication.
I was on a plane that was involved in a ground collision -- with the tug! We were flying from San Diego to Dallas on American. Apparently, to save fuel, the tug was towing our plane from the gate to the taxiway. The tug stopped suddenly, but the plane didn't. The plane crunched into the roof of the tug and ripped a gash in its nose. Back to the gate we went. The pilot announced that we should all remain in our seats while they got on the phone with Boeing to determine if they could fly with a gash in the nose. I turned to Mrs swsig and said, "If they try to fly this plane with a gash in its nose, we won't be on it." We stood up, collected our carry-ons, walked past the still-seated passengers and got off. No one tried to stop us.
We looked back a the nose of the plane, and the gash was 6-8 feet long, and 2 inches wide. There was no way that plane could be flown. American was just stalling for time while they figured out what to do with the passengers. The flight was the last one of the day from San Diego to DFW, so AA was going to be on the hook for overnight accommodations for most of them. As we approached the ticket counter, we looked back to see how many others had ignored the pilot and had followed us. There was just one, pro golfer Lee Trevino. Being first off, the three of us were able to get some of the last seats on a flight to DFW out of Los Angeles. I'm guessing that most of the rest of the passengers had to spend the night in San Diego. American abandoned long-haul tug towing after that.
We looked back a the nose of the plane, and the gash was 6-8 feet long, and 2 inches wide. There was no way that plane could be flown. American was just stalling for time while they figured out what to do with the passengers. The flight was the last one of the day from San Diego to DFW, so AA was going to be on the hook for overnight accommodations for most of them. As we approached the ticket counter, we looked back to see how many others had ignored the pilot and had followed us. There was just one, pro golfer Lee Trevino. Being first off, the three of us were able to get some of the last seats on a flight to DFW out of Los Angeles. I'm guessing that most of the rest of the passengers had to spend the night in San Diego. American abandoned long-haul tug towing after that.
I soloed in 1954 at 16. Pvt. in 55 at 17. I very recently sold my 4 place plane. My 2 place old man's plane needs the annual inspection completed, then it's also gone. I'm an A&P IA and having age related difficulty with the necessary work. :-(
Insurance goes up each year and motivation goes down.
Insurance goes up each year and motivation goes down.
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The glide path of my Ford Flex is much shorter then a 747. I can call Triple A if I break down. Never flown, never will.
Nice Ercoupe.
