Airline pilot is stricken after takeoff, dies
 

McALLEN, Texas (AP) -- The pilot of a Continental Airlines flight became ill after takeoff and was later pronounced dead after the plane made an emergency landing, a company spokeswoman said.

The 210 passengers on the flight, which departed from Houston, were never in danger and the co-pilot landed the plane safely, Continental spokeswoman Macky Osorio said.

The airline said only that the pilot suffered a "serious medical problem." Continental believes the pilot died of natural causes, Osorio said. The pilot's name was not released.

The flight, bound for Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, took off from Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Texas and was diverted to McAllen-Miller International Airport. The flight continued to Mexico with a new crew, Osorio said.

does he get to log that as PIC?






just kidding but good to hear that he got it down with no problems

Its not funny the Captain Died! Not Cool.:rolleyes:

That's the most idiotic post I've read in a long time.

A fellow pilot dies and you find it funny.:confused:

You're right, it's not funny. Moving up in seniority is never a laughing matter. :eek:

Yes because that wason the FOs mind.

That comment about PIC time is disgusting. That is like a parent dying, you finding out, then asking about who gets the life insurance. Pitiful.

Stupid remark, but the FO was a Captain/Check Airman giving IOE. I'm sure he was not worried about PIC time. Any FO at CAL doesn't worry about PIC time, because they are not trying to get anywhere and they already have PIC time- that's how they got to CAL. I have three times more PIC than SIC and I'm an FO. Every FO can fly the aircraft and every FO has a type rating in the aircraft they are flying. The problem would be taxiing, as the tiller is on the left side.

I do not know the Captain who died, but I'm sure an annoucement will be made as to what loved ones he left behind (Wife? Kids? Grandkids?). My thoughts and prayers are for them.

Thats too bad, just think of what its gonna do for the age 60 rule :eek:

You're not going to try to taxi the jet into a gate. You're going to get off the runway, out of the way and stop until help arrives. Any F/O can do that with the rudder pedals.

Wouldn't it be difficult to make 90° or more turns with only the pedals? As far as I know, one can only move the nose wheel up to 7° to each side with the rudder pedals in a Boeing. A high-speed should be possible but what if there isn't one? And doesn't the 757/767 have Tillers on both sides?

God bless the captain and his family. I hope he is in a better place now.

CAL 757/767's do not have two tillers. You can take a high speed taxiway with rudder only. I'm sure the checkairman did everything he could. He may have been in the left seat for the landing and taxi for all we know. Removing the CA from his seat (with help from the crew) and doing CPR or something to help him would be a smart move. CAL has defibrillators onboard.

I know that I would taxi as close to services as possible if it could be done safely... That might not be possible in this situation, given that the remaining pilot was on the FO side, but had it been the right seater that was incapacitated, I see no reason to taxi into the gate...

Unless you're in a CRJ or something with built in airstairs (727), help is going to arrive a lot faster at a jetbridge than out on the taxiway.

NO WAY MAN,, then you will have to wait for a jet bridge driver,, and we know how reliable they are!!!:cool:

Not to mention a marshaller to get you into the gate...

hahaha, marshallers. they make me laugh when its cold outside, they have their heads facing straight down and are waving us in!!

sux to hear, can see the effects of it on the age 60 rule already...that one might end up in stone...again.

And to the comment about getting "PIC time" i'm not going to jump on your case, cause it's a joke that's been made about every day in the flying community, only difference is here it actually took place...although, i thought i'd keep it to myself, maybe you shoulda done the same. eh, i dunno.

Best wishes and regards to the family and friends of that fellow aviator.

What if this was a Pinnacle flight with a 280 wonder or a Jet University guy? Think the outcome would have been the same?

My condolences to the immediate family and the co-pilot.

When I was flying (in undesirable weather) as a private pilot, a woman came on the unicom and announced that her husband died (pilot) and she didn't know how to fly the plane. She did not survive the crash. Obviously she wasn't trained as the CAL co-pilot (airline check), but she and her family suffered a great loss. Training and experience is priceless.

No doubt a terrible loss for the [CAL pilot's] family, but keep in mind the co-pilot that was with him. I am sure he is going through a difficult time right now. I can bet he wishes he could have done anything to avoid the outcome.

My prayers are with all that this death has touched which is all of us.

In sympathy,

PaintCan

Why wouldn't it be? Landing an aircraft isn't exactly rocket science, and you do it a bunch of times in the sim before you ever get out to the line (not to mention in the 600 hrs leading up to hire)... it might not be pretty but I have no doubt that the flight would make it to the ground...

Without a doubt, yes. It may not have been pretty, but it would be safe. The big difference between a veteran and a new-hire at a regional would be evident in how the situation would be handled with regards to the company procedures and such. For example, would a pilot new to the airline environment remember to notify dispatch for an ammended release? Maybe... but maybe not. But the same person would do just fine getting the aircraft down on the ground safely. By the time a new hire gets to IOE, they have some idea of what's going on - certainly enough to handle the situation.

yeah, cause pinnacle is the only one who hires 280 wonders,, i am sure there are a couple at your place of employment.

This is a point that has been argued many times at many airlines... personally I think its wrong that 280 hour wonders are doing anything but CFI'ing and I would have some serious doubts as to whether or not a 280 hour wonder could handle this type of situation and I know I wouldn't want myself or my family in the back of an airplane that would now be down to a 280 hr wonder at the helm..... It's not just the being able to physically fly the plane there is also a lot of coordination, decision making and judgement that goes into a situation like this. On a side note I have said it before and I will say it again I view it highly unethical and to a stretch immoral that airlines are willing to go along with this preferential highing BULL $HIT... :mad: If somebody wants to go to an academy and get their CFI and learn in a structured program good for them but I say one hiring standard for all..... academy or not..

I won't argue that 280 hrs. is low for an airline environment. I'm sure most people have heard the saying, "I got my Private in 50 hrs. but I didn't learn to fly until I had 500 or 1000." However, even a "280 hr. wonder" could land the aircraft at a somewhat suitable airport. Some of the other decisions would most likely be overlooked but I doubt anyone would be injured.

well thats not really all that true, I have been in airplanes with pilots well over 280hrs and there landing was anything but safe, now picture a 50k lb jet:eek:

very true. Landing a seminole, and landing a plane that can carry the weight of a seminole(max weight) in its cargo bin are way different. I am not completely sold that someone with 280 hours could do it in a safe manner. if you were to take off in a crj from mem to bos, you are at about 53000lbs. if that were to happen after take off and you had to return, not only would you be over max landing weight, but your vref speed would be around 157. that could turn into one INTERSTING landing.

Come on people, its amazing how quickly something like this can bring the politics of a completely unrelated issue into the fold. A fellow pilot is gone because of something out of his control.....have some respect and dont interject politics when its not even remotely appropriate....

What a Fuddy Bucker....:mad:

I think what i am finding most amazing is that there are no news stories on this happening. I have been looking through all the major news sources, MSNBC being my primary source for aviation news, and not a peep about what happened.

Odd how they choose not to cover issues like this, but beat the heck out of every other negative event.

Very good observation, A few people have asked me about it, but I have not heard anything on the news myself.

Hahahaha, you've obviously never watched a mediocre pilot with a mediocre background and barely enough time in type to figure out the seatbelt try and land and 50,000lb aluminum tube! I guarantee you I would be wishing I had on the brown underwear if I was riding in the back:D

James Bond was able to land any flying thing....without any training:rolleyes: