Emergencies and military airfields
 

I had a situation the other day while flying that almost had me make an emergency landing at an AFB. While I was talking with the controllers and had declared an emergency with them, was curious if anyone had personal experience with this situation? Was there a lot of paperwork as a result? What about getting your mx's clearance to do work at the base? I was able to land at a nearby civilian airport.

Glad you are ok.

Not to sound arrogant, but who cares about paperwork? I say this because if that is in the back of your mind during the emergency, you could actually create a problem versus walking away. Be selfish: Those airfields are your tax dollars at work.

Years ago a NW crew diverted to Tehran. Not too newsworthy as all worked out.

Again, glad you are ok.

An instructor...
 

When I was a student, one of my instructors had to land at a military facility in an emergency.

(heard second hand, and a long time ago... so may not be 100% accurate)

He told me that on the approach the tower controllers were doing their up most. But once on the ground, the ground security was extremely hostile and suspicious, even delaying some medical attention while they checked out the situation.

They did give him a considerable stack of paperwork for an Unauthorized Landing. But he simply wrote on it, "Smoke in cockpit; Declared Emergency", and gave it back. I believe they accepted that.

The military understands that civil aircraft may need to use their fields in an emergency. If it's 121, the extent of your paperwork will probably just be the same IOR you would submit for any diversion and the company will handle any follow-up. It would probably take a while to coordinate PAX handling and transport, although if the base has a military pax terminal that would simplify things.

The fact that you're 121 means they won't be to concerned about who you are or why you had to land there. If you're not 121, you'll probably be answering more questions as security might be a concern.

Hostility and suspicion might be expected from the quick-response security forces (that's their job) but the duty officer should be easy to deal with. This assumes an actual emergency...if you landed their by mistake (it happens) I know of cases where they've refused to grant a take-off clearance, which means you have to hire a mechanic and a truck to disassemble and remove the aircraft.

You'll know you're in real trouble if they call the FBI..the military can't detain or prosecute a civilian so they need the FBI if they think there are grounds for that.

Understood, which is why I declared with them immediately and went direct. Engine gave me a few hiccups and cowling started shaking. When I was about 3 miles out, engine began running normal. I advised tower that I was going to continue the climb over the airfield, gain a few thousand, so i could dead stick to the civilian airport if the engine went out on me. I stayed high and circled down when over the airport. Luckily the engine ran normal after the initial shake.

I was just analyzing the situation after the fact to see if anyone had any stories. Cheers!

a Piedmont Dash lost an engine out of Hilton HEad and put down at marine Beaufort. They were nice enough to feed all the passengers at the mess hall. MX drove down with a new engine hung it there and flew it out.

Can you imagine the paperwork of putting a plane in a school yard when a military airfield was available? Heck, I'd use the parade field if I couldn't make the runway. As mentioned earlier, put "paperwork" out of your mind. It's so far down the list of considerations during an emergency....it's not on the list. ;)

Several years ago I was coming out of Abilene, TX in a older Saratoga and got smoke in the cockpit. Declared emergency, shut everything off, landed at Dyess AFB just to the west. Just cleared the runway and got out of the plane. Met with CFR and military police.
Described exactly what happened, one of the MPs wrote it all down. Didn't seem hostile or anything negative...took me inside some sort of reception area off the ramp, gave me water (July in Texas), and scrounged up probably ten mechanics who poked around, found the problem, and disabled the system so I could hop back over to ABI.
Not worth your life just to avoid a little paperwork and headaches.

Oh wow, I think I was there for that. We also had an old man in a 414 mistake the two airfields, ABI and DYS. He was leading the SPs on a wild goose chase and wouldn't stop.

A little common sense goes a long way, and when civilians find themselves on military bases when they wouldn't ordinarily, they are often surprised at the hospitality they receive after the initial checkout.

It happens. It has has happened in the past and it will happen in the future. Nearest suitable field means the closest place you can land. It doesn't matter whether it is civil or mil. Security forces are going to be more suspicious at bases with nukes and other sensitive programs.

The thing above about the base cops not being able to detain civilians is not true. They can and will, but if you comply with their instructions it shouldn't be an issue.

Poor choice of words on my part, of course they can detain people on base if they have probably cause or you are trespassing, but they cannot hold you for long or actually charge you with anything. For that they turn you over to civilian LE with jurisdiction on federal property (FBI). You have nothing to worry about unless the MiB show up.

Ah, yes, very true.

My brother diverted to Fort Knox in a warrior (ala Pu$$y Galore) because the connecting rod for the yoke broke and he had to fly with the trim wheel. He said it wasn't a big deal (late 80s) and had more help than he knew what to do with. Since it couldn't fly out until it got fixed, he didn't stay with it so I have no idea if it would've been a problem.

Anyone ever have to deal with, or have any stories of anyone who's ever had to deal w/ putting one down in the vicinity of AF1, AF2, or any TFR-warranting dignitary? I'd imagine you'd have even more questions to answer but if it came down to saving my toosh or inconviniencing some high-and-mighty guy, well I'm doin what I gotta do to live today then fight the fight tomorrow.

Yes, you would be talking to SS and FBI for sure, probably at gunpoint initially. But as long as you have a legit emergency, it should be fine.

But don't get too close if you can avoid it...they might be able to reach out and touch threat aircraft.

And if they are parked at the end of 26, line up on 18; don't head straight for the craft. I'd imagine if you communicate with tower or 121.5 (in non-accented English) ;) you'd ultimately be fine.

There are two airfields in Nevada that I can think of where it would be strongly advised to NOT land... But the airspace is all restricted anyhow, so one shouldn't be anywhere near there to begin with.

Back in happier times, I was tooling around in an F-15 near those airports, and was vectored onto a Mooney that was either lost or stupid, heading towards flying saucer world. Got near stall speed, scared the pants off the dude, and got him headed in the right direction.

If I paint my cessna with a red stripe down the side, you think they'll let me land?

Perhaps. Taking off again would be another matter. :rolleyes:

We're the only country whose military is consistently vectored out of the way of commercial and GA traffic instead of vice versa. If you have an aircraft emergency, land at any suitable airfield. If you do not have a need to be around a TFR area, stay well clear of it and there will be no issues

Hostility on the part of the military has to be because they really genuinely think a terrorist's first choice to destroy a military airbase would be a small general aviation airplane, and that tactics would involve telling the military control tower that you are coming in for a landing. While I find it hard to believe that people are really that stupid, I have to acknowledge that the TSA is built on the same hysteria and stupidity, and so are cops who shoot innocent unarmed people and dogs because they "feel threatened". Sad.

A lot of strange things have happened, and an airplane landing at a secure facility could be a diversion, carrying protestors, etc.

Keep in mind most civilian airplanes which land at military fields do NOT have a legitimate emergency, they usually made a mistake...this means they almost certainly landed without communicating first.

Try driving a small truck through the front gate of a military base without stopping...you will be shot dead, and for very good reason. A lot of US service members have been killed by truck bombs.

If you have a legit emergency everything will be fine, but security forces will initially ensure that you're not armed or hostile. They are doing their job, and everybody on the base (including civilians, family members, and kids in day care) depend on them to do that job.

I think the military does a good job with wayward civilian aircraft...none have been shot down, and no one has been shot on the ground. What are you complaining about?

Are security force types often meatheads? Of course they are...otherwise they'd get a different job. But they are properly trained and supervised meatheads, at least in the military.