Mythbusters: could a passenger land a plane?

[Brett_Henderson]

With modern radios.. and the fact that the FAA/FCC try assign VOR frequencies far enough apart (geographically and numerically) to avoid confusion...I've often wondered what the chances are that you'd hear anything other than the expected, Morse Code.. while tuned to to a specific frequency and are getting a predictable reading on the OBS/CDI..

[Fly2e]

Saw it last night from my DVR.
What I thought was real interesting his how the guy talking each through the landing was sooo nervous. Tapping his foot, sweating.... It was a real life simulation on both ends of the "Simulator". He was sweating ans really involved also!

Dave

[C]

With modern radios.. and the fact that the FAA/FCC try assign VOR frequencies far enough apart (geographically and numerically) to avoid confusion...I've often wondered what the chances are that you'd hear anything other than the expected, Morse Code.. while tuned to to a specific frequency

Quite often though, not hearing what you expect (or nothing at all) will alert you to the fact that you've managed to mis-read the frequency, or mis-dialled it into the box.

[Brett_Henderson]

Quite often though, not hearing what you expect (or nothing at all) will alert you to the fact that you've managed to mis-read the frequency, or mis-dialled it into the box.

Agreed.. though again.. what are the chances that you'd be getting reception at all, let alone predicable deflection, if you mis-dailed the frequency ?

I still check (most of the time.. if I have time).. mainly in case I missed a NOTAM and the VOR can't be counted on for accuracy ..

[C]

Quite often though, not hearing what you expect (or nothing at all) will alert you to the fact that you've managed to mis-read the frequency, or mis-dialled it into the box.

Agreed.. though again.. what are the chances that you'd be getting reception at all, let alone predicable deflection, if you mis-dailed the frequency ?

Vitually zero.

[FLYING_TRUCKER]

Good evening folks...

Morse Code is a wonderful topic and perhaps Brett you could touch on it with your lessons in the future as I for one find them exceptionally interesting and informative.  I am sure there are a number of members that are a bucket full of information on this topic.

I would like to expand a little on Dave's (Fly2e) post if I might.

We were plodding along on a VFR winter day in the Douglas DC3 in Northern Ontario when number one picked up a PAN...PAN...PAN.  
There were no VORs, just NDBs and of course we monitored the emergency frequency 121.5 and we heard a voice transmission.

It was a Private Pilot enroute to the same location we were going to, we were on a scheduled run and he was on his first time away from a Southern Ontario Airport with two friends in a Cessna 172.
The weather was fine, VFR, however it was January and the lakes were all frozen over, the land and the water almost looked the same.   No clouds, just a wondeful VFR flying day.
I believe he had about sixty hours total time (dual and solo) in his log book with no instrument time and was considered a good pilot and flying club member.  He had rented the aircraft to build up time towards his Commercial License.
How did a fella like this get into a problem only fifty nantical miles from his destination in VFR weather in a perfectly good airplane with lots of fuel and what has this got to do with Fly2e's post? :-?

Variables and yes a licensed pilot.

(1)  no ADF training experience
(2)  map reading "navigational skills"...the water (lakes) look just like the land especially where there
     are no trees, hamlets, villages, towns, roads, railroad tracks, hydro lines etc. in the winter time
(3)  over confidence...he did not ask for advice about flying in the local area even though he stayed the
     night at the local motel recommended by the airport

So having said all that did he have anything going for himself?

Sure did, he knew enough to pick up the microphone and ask for help.

NORAD and us picked him up, we were visual to him within minutes (not sure how many...but we (the crew and I) sweated it out together.
They were three happy fellas to see a DC3 pull one hundred feet alongside and say follow us.

I had a great number one, he worked them like a card shark getting fuel amounts and data.  

Stress, not for the three fellas in the Cessna 172, to them they were saved, for us and all those concerned we still had to make sure they got on the ground safely and then the report afterwards.

Me, I had them sit through an hours debreifing with my crew, no brow beating, no threats but I know by his hand shake that young pilot had a better understanding of aviating when we parted.

Hope you all get the drift.  :)

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

[Brett_Henderson]

Excellent story, Doug. My absolute favorite reading in the world, is aviation, short stories. I used to buy Flying Magazine, just for the, "I Learned About Flying From" section

[Saitek]

I haven't had time to read the whole thread. So sorry if this has already been posted, but does anyone remember this lad in the news?
http://www.emcsol.com/news8.html
Ok, it wasn't a 747, but that was alone, he was 14 and he didn't have any help. "Got it out of a book".

[FLYING_TRUCKER]

Good morning Saitek...

Interesting read.
I myself would have made the little bugger stand in front of Ozzy for a hour.

[Fly2e]

Let em' try this in Honduras!!

[FLYING_TRUCKER]

Good afternoon all...
Some good video there Dave, I watched four of them, I do remember seeing the Jet Blue one before.  ;)

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

[ozzy72]

Doug are you trying to say I'm some sort of scary discipline freak? Err 'cos I am

[Chris_F]

So let me invision this scenario.  You're flying from NYC to LAX and about two hours in to your six or seven hour flight the stewardess comes on the PA and asks "can anyone fly a plane".  You volunteer and are led to the cockpit where you sit down.  You key the mic and say "umm, help" and ATC says "okay, we understand your situation.  We could direct you pretty much anywhere in the country to land and we want you to land in zero visibility.  But first, we're going to fire some morse code at you and need you to translate it and read it back...."  :)

[Rifleman]

I could relate my tale once again of my only landing in a light aircraft, but I doubt it everyone wants to hear me brag it up once more. Just suffice to say that someone with a bit on the ball, and a little help should be able to get on the ground safely (no injuries). I walked away and the only help I recieved was a short " you're still a little fast here" as I crossed base. This was a tail-dragger, final approach over a river with a marina immediately before the threshold, no bounce three-point before the numbers, and made the first turn-off with only a little help on the rudder once on the ground as we slowed.

[Ravang]

You can watch the episode here
http://video.discovery.com/ 8-)