Qatar Airways Captain Dies in Flight

[Foreigner]

Qatar Airways captain dies on Manila-Doha flight - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

 

[samh004]

And that, Ryanair owner (forget his name as he’s not that important) is why you need a co-pilot

 

[markis10]

Thats sad, I am surprised it does not happen more often.

 

[Leumas]

And that, Ryanair owner (forget his name as he’s not that important) is why you need a co-pilot

Michael O'Leary or is it Alan Joyce...? I get confused sometimes...

 

[docjames]

Thats sad, I am surprised it does not happen more often.

The theory would be that the routine medical clearance pilots require, along with relatively frequent ECG etc prevents a great number. But there will alway be some who defy the odds.

Sad and no doubt very very stressful for the copilot and cabin crew involved.

 

[NM]

Very sad for the Captain's family. The report says he was 43 so a good chance he has a young family left behind.

Its an example that we are all vulnerable and life can end without warning.

 

[markis10]

The theory would be that the routine medical clearance pilots require, along with relatively frequent ECG etc prevents a great number. But there will alway be some who defy the odds.

Sad and no doubt very very stressful for the copilot and cabin crew involved.

I know the theory, having held an aviation medical both class 1 & 3, at least in Australia, sadly those standards are not universal, locally ECGs are required at the first renewal after the 25th, 30th, 32nd, 34th, 36th, 38th and 40th birthdays, and annually thereafter. By comparison in the US is on the 35 and annual after 40, which is what Qatar follow. How many things can cause you to leave this mortal coil that cannot be forseen by a regular medical examination?

Ironically it was only in the last week or so that I caught Mythbusters on TV when they cover the case of a passenger being directed on how to fly following pilot incapacitation, which has never been required in the case of dual crew apparently where the passengers were not similarly affected (such as a pressurisation link - a la Payne Stewart )

 

[docjames]

How many things can cause you to leave this mortal coil that cannot be forseen by a regular medical examination?

Plenty, which is why the medicals reduce the risk, but not to zero. :-|

 

[markis10]

Plenty, which is why the medicals reduce the risk, but not to zero. :-|

Which is why I am surprised it does not happen more often!

 

[docjames]

Which is why I am surprised it does not happen more often!

Sheesh, we're being pedantic. We also disagree in our surprise or lack thereof.

My point is - it is relatively rare for a pax to die in-flight, and the risk for pilots is significantly less. Now given the pax will outnumber the pilots by over 100:1, I am NOT surprised it doesnt happen very often to pilots, due to the combination of overall risk of death on a flight, plus the relative ratios of pax to pilots, plus the screening medical tests (which may not be annual, but are more frequent than most of the pax!) which further reduce the risl (but not to zero!).


Phew!

 

[NM]

Ironically it was only in the last week or so that I caught Mythbusters on TV when they cover the case of a passenger being directed on how to fly following pilot incapacitation, which has never been required in the case of dual crew apparently where the passengers were not similarly affected (such as a pressurisation link - a la Payne Stewart )

A British work colleague of mine was once working at LHR installing a new radar system (many years ago) and was asked if he would like to fly Concorde. Of course he said yes, expecting they were taking one out for a test flight. He was escorted to a Concorde simulator where the exact scenario examined by Mythbusters was tested. A Concorde Captain was asked to talk him through landing the simulator. The end result was that nobody was injured and the aircraft would likely have been able to fly again after inspections following a hard, fast landing that overheated the breaks. This would have been in the late 1980s or maybe very early 1990s given what I know of this colleague's age and work history.

 

[jb747]

Good story, but I wonder how he found the transmit button.

Back in the days when we could have coughpit visitors this question came up pretty regularly. First problem is the simple one of 'how do you talk on the radio'. So, I used to give people a chance to have a look around, and then after they were happy that they'd found the right button we'd push it for them. Without exception, they all got the autopilot disconnect button. So, first button push, and you're all dead....

 

[markis10]

Sheesh, we're being pedantic. We also disagree in our surprise or lack thereof.

My point is - it is relatively rare for a pax to die in-flight, and the risk for pilots is significantly less. Now given the pax will outnumber the pilots by over 100:1, I am NOT surprised it doesnt happen very often to pilots, due to the combination of overall risk of death on a flight, plus the relative ratios of pax to pilots, plus the screening medical tests (which may not be annual, but are more frequent than most of the pax!) which further reduce the risl (but not to zero!).


Phew!

Not trying to be pedantic, just stating my surprise at the lack of incidence (or perhaps the lack of publicity - rightly or wrongly), did some digging around and came across an interesting research report:

http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf&AD=ADA428688

Around 100 passengers a year die in flight based on the data presented in this course ( CCAT - Clinical Considerations in Aeromedical Transport) , its good to know that the incidence of pilot incapacitation is certainly rare by comparison.

 

[k_sheep]

Good story, but I wonder how he found the transmit button.

Back in the days when we could have coughpit visitors this question came up pretty regularly. First problem is the simple one of 'how do you talk on the radio'. So, I used to give people a chance to have a look around, and then after they were happy that they'd found the right button we'd push it for them. Without exception, they all got the autopilot disconnect button. So, first button push, and you're all dead....

Hilarious! So now I know if I'm ever in that position, I'm going to push my second choice button and steer clear of my first choice!!