Apparently, when the capt of the 753 became ill, the acting F/O who was apparently also a captain giving UOE (upgrade operating experience) to the deceased asked if any pilots were on board. A 150 hour private pilot answered the call.

http://www.airportbusiness.com/artic...tion=3&id=9926

My thing is this...how does this scenario reconcile with the rules about not letting non-crewmembers into the flight deck? How did he know this guy wasn't a terrorist, etc? On a lighter note, there probably isn't one of us on this forum who hasn't dreamed of this very scenario.

In an emergency, the PIC can disregard any rule necessary to handle the emergency.

[QUOTE=Tinpusher007;108594]Apparently, when the capt of the 753 became ill, the acting F/O who was apparently also a captain giving UOE (upgrade operating experience) to the deceased asked if any pilots were on board. A 150 hour private pilot answered the call.

That shouldn'r be surprising.....the PP was onl 100 hrs away from being hired at a RJ operator!

I understand that, but even so in today's world thats a pretty big gamble. Im not at all saying anything bad about the capt's decision. I just think its a pretty hard call to make allowing someone in to the flight deck after 9/11. But all the crewmembers as well as the passenger in this case deserve nothing short of praise for handling this situation safely. RIP to the deceased.

What did he have to worry about? TSA screened all the passengers, right?

LOL...Thats exactly what should have made him worried!

I could more safely fly the airplane solo than I could while babysitting a PP! I'd rather have an FA up front if I needed help, but why would I? Someone to do the radios might be nice, but a new PP would probably screw up more calls than not in an IFR evironment.

And I agree the security risk is relevant. How do I know the guy is a pilot and not some freakazoid? If I let him get close enough to show me his license, it's too late.

Here is the thing, what are the odds that the captain was going to die. What are the odds the terrorist would of known it and gotten on to this flight. Furthermore what were the odds a terrorist is going to Mexico. Isn't there enough terror in Mexico?

I think the guy made a good call, again anyone can deviate from the fars in the event the emergency calls for it. I don't know what the weather was like but I am certain an extra set of ears and eyes was helpful even to handle the radio calls.

The thing I want to know is this, was the captain an MEI. How'd that be in the log book for instruction received.

He was a Check Airman. He can log it as instruction given per his ATP.

I think common sense prevails here. Same reason they have to pull your bags if you decide not to travel, but they don't if something unexpected causes you not to go. If you can't plan on something happening, you can't inculde it in some attack. Now I guess the conspericy theorists would say that maybe he poisoned the CA's drink when he wasn't looking and then sat back and waited hoping that
1. The CA died
2. The FO wanted help
3. There weren't any DH or other pilots on board with more than a PPL

Sounds a bit far fetched.

Agreed that a PPL would probably be more of a hassle than a help, but even if its just taking the radios...beets nothing.



Wonder if the guy logged it.