tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post1943785214505847658..comments2024-03-13T09:47:40.487+00:00Comments on Cockpit Conversation: Emergency DescentAviatrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13634111275860140084noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-84496845251745254982008-10-18T17:27:00.000+00:002008-10-18T17:27:00.000+00:00The media actually listen in on aviation radio fre...The media actually listen in on aviation radio frequencys. They are always on scene as I mentioned on my site http://www.flyinganxiety.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-56702763593980165552008-10-03T20:55:00.000+00:002008-10-03T20:55:00.000+00:00One aspect that you forgot is that the media is no...One aspect that you forgot is that the media is not to educate or inform people. Their job is to sell advertising which requires the media to exaggerate every event, and given their lack of in-depth knowledge of any one event, they tend to make stuff up to sell more advertising.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-48387290690989370652008-10-02T23:16:00.000+00:002008-10-02T23:16:00.000+00:00scrambling the trucks isn't always a good thing.th...scrambling the trucks isn't always a good thing.<BR/><BR/>the fire brigade at MNI had an exercise that ended in the airport being shut for a fortnight.<BR/>they came careening out of their little shed onto the runway, with one water tank empty, and rolled the truck over. had to wait for a new fire tender to be brought from ANU on the cargo ship.<BR/><BR/>granted this is a tiny Caribbean island so it's not that much of a surprise when bizzare things like that happen!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11063502623583544405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-13328839844175518552008-10-02T22:56:00.000+00:002008-10-02T22:56:00.000+00:00Actually Aviatrix, the odd UNSAR (for non aviation...Actually Aviatrix, the odd UNSAR (for non aviation people that's an Emergency Location Transmitter activation when no emergency exists) isn't a big deal, especially if <A HREF="http://www.casara.ca/" REL="nofollow">CASARA</A> is called out to deal with it instead of our scarce military resources. We like the exercise too. Its when someone quietly turns off the ELT without reporting the activation, leaving searchers wondering what happened; or when the pilot is tracked down and says he will go turn it off as soon as he finishes the round of golf that people get upset (yes that has happened).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-24922183746730355412008-10-02T14:36:00.000+00:002008-10-02T14:36:00.000+00:00You're absolutely right, David. When I've apologiz...You're absolutely right, David. When I've apologized to firefighters for the unnecessary call that's what they say. They appreciate the exercise. It's not like causing an UNSAR. Once when it was a community fire department and not an on-airport one I gave them a little tour of things like where the fuel lines run in a Cessna, and how to shut off the fuel and electrical.Aviatrixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13634111275860140084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-12469759189864099912008-10-02T10:46:00.000+00:002008-10-02T10:46:00.000+00:00I think that the emergency teams at the airport pr...I think that the emergency teams at the airport probably need to scramble every once in a while just to keep cobwebs and squirrels out of their trucks.davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15194758376900990105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-81248030297111470152008-10-02T10:10:00.000+00:002008-10-02T10:10:00.000+00:00Yes, first version of my comment had a paragraph a...Yes, first version of my comment had a paragraph about how common it is for them to roll the equipment when there's any slight problem with a flight, even if there's no real risk of an accident on landing. I cut it before posting but perhaps shouldn't have; it's a point well worth making.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-43794779032726781392008-10-02T04:59:00.000+00:002008-10-02T04:59:00.000+00:00I admit I snuck the "equipment" into that entry wi...I admit I snuck the "equipment" into that entry without explaining for those who knew what I meant. It isn't something you want to tell the journalists because then they think it's more serious than it is. I've had firetrucks waiting for me because my electrical was out. I telephoned the tower for a landing clearance and they took it upon themselves to scramble trucks. It was not an emergency.<BR/><BR/>And I hooted out loud at your "faster than light" reports. They REALLY have no idea. Warp five, captain!Aviatrixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13634111275860140084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-45761612170010625752008-10-02T03:02:00.000+00:002008-10-02T03:02:00.000+00:00The general purpose media is so universally awful ...The general purpose media is so universally awful these days that expecting quality reporting from them--on any topic--is like expecting a pig to sing.<BR/><BR/>The only consistently good source for high-quality reporting on aviation incidents is pprune.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-77331853034716845652008-10-02T01:00:00.000+00:002008-10-02T01:00:00.000+00:00If anyone ever reports something like "the crew to...If anyone ever reports something like "the crew took only a few minutes to descend to an altitude where the oxygen masks were not required" (instead of "the airliner suddenly dropped over 26 thousand feet"), the reporter should be congratulated enthusiastically.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-21069517436964188312008-10-01T22:56:00.000+00:002008-10-01T22:56:00.000+00:00I can see how someone not familiar with aircraft c...I can see how someone not familiar with aircraft can become a bit panicked in the middle of an incident like that, particularly if others around them are panicked. But, people who know a little about aviation should know better. Frequent fliers should know about the emergency procedures (granted most <I>don't</I>).<BR/><BR/>But, for the reporters, it is an entirely different matter. They are safely on the ground when this is going on. They have the internet and other resources to research the matter. For them to <I>still</I> mis-report the story is inexcusable. Of course, I have dealt with the press on more than one occasion for astronomy topics, and I find them to be mostly inexcusable.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-81919984142161210502008-10-01T21:20:00.000+00:002008-10-01T21:20:00.000+00:00Good article, but...people who've been around avia...Good article, but...people who've been around aviation for a while will know what <I>had equipment waiting</I> means - fire trucks and ambulances at the end of the runway. Unfortunately, that's the sort of "in" terminology which might well cause further confusion with the sort of journalists who screw up stories like this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-37250370905574792722008-10-01T21:13:00.000+00:002008-10-01T21:13:00.000+00:00Hey JB: Remember the CNN coverage of the breakup o...Hey JB: Remember the CNN coverage of the breakup of Space Shuttle Columbia? They reported, both in the lower third and the voiceover, that the shuttle was traveling at "18 times the speed of light" during re-entry. CNN: Not rocket scientists. :)<BR/><BR/>Aviatrix, I don't know what all the fuss is about. I've been through two rapid descents from the FL2xxes, one as a pilot and one as a passenger, and they were both really exhilarating rides! :)Scott Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18076313660049246875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-38745706854732897522008-10-01T20:54:00.000+00:002008-10-01T20:54:00.000+00:00Hi Aviatrix,Forget about trying to get even a dece...Hi Aviatrix,<BR/><BR/>Forget about trying to get even a decent media coverage as far as an aviation incident is concerned...<BR/><BR/>Here in Spain, the recent sonic boom incident with two spanish fighter planes was described by one of the main Spanish newspapers as "two military jets surpassing the <I>speed of light...</I>"<BR/><BR/>Wonderful!<BR/><BR/>Regards,<BR/>jbAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-6120013339783023182008-10-01T20:45:00.000+00:002008-10-01T20:45:00.000+00:00Perhaps this blog ought to be made available to al...Perhaps this blog ought to be made available to all aeroplane passengers?Lord Huttonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10243668575631936439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-53886511946412249192008-10-01T19:00:00.000+00:002008-10-01T19:00:00.000+00:00I wonder if the screaming would keep the eustachia...I wonder if the screaming would keep the eustachian tubes open, preventing an eardrum rupture?<BR/><BR/>That particular article originated with the AP, but FOX' live coverage of aviation incidents is hillarious.<BR/><BR/>I remember catching a report of an Airbus that was about to land with its nose gear stuck 90 degrees off-center. Man, did they hype it. Several "experts" they did phone interviews with said it would be a non-event. They kept hyping it.<BR/><BR/>Now I'm watching just to see if anyone will mention, after the landing, that perhaps they made too much of this. No chance. They just replayed the landing for a half hour. Amazing. No wonder people freak out over minor things.dpiercehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03397601206317363858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-15057790690115406382008-10-01T18:12:00.000+00:002008-10-01T18:12:00.000+00:00Small plane passengers wouldn't have a problem -- ...Small plane passengers wouldn't have a problem -- they're used to spiraling rapid descents out of cruise from 10,000 ft over an airport because someone has to go NOW!<BR/><BR/>(My family's never made me do that, but I know lots of pilots who've had the experience.)davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15194758376900990105noreply@blogger.com