CV Thian 0 Report post Posted November 20, 2008 Source: AP Air Canada flight attendant helps land plane November 20, 2008 - 1:02PM An Air Canada co-pilot had a mental breakdown and had to be forcibly removed from the cockpit, restrained and sedated, and a flight attendant helped the pilot make an emergency landing, an Irish investigation concluded Wednesday. The report by the Irish Air Accident Investigation Unit into an incident in January applauded the decision-making of the pilot and the cockpit skills of the flight attendant, who stepped into the co-pilot's seat for the emergency diversion to Shannon Airport in western Ireland. None of the 146 passengers or other nine crew members on board the Boeing 767 bound from Toronto to London was injured after the 58-year-old co-pilot had to be removed by attendants and sedated by two doctors on board. The report did not identify any of the Air Canada crew by name. Nor did it specify the psychiatric diagnosis for the co-pilot, who was hospitalised for 11 days in Irish mental wards before being flown by air ambulance back to Canada. It said the co-pilot was a licensed veteran with more than 6,500 hours' flying time, about half on board Boeing 767s, and had recently passed a medical examination. But it said the pilot noticed immediately that his co-pilot was not in good professional shape on the day of the flight, arriving late to the cockpit after all the safety checks and paperwork had been completed. He reported that the co-pilot's behaviour worsened once they were airborne, and the co-pilot advised him to take a lengthy break for naps and a meal. As the aircraft reached the middle of the Atlantic, the report said, the co-pilot began talking in a "rambling and disjointed" manner, took another nap, and then refused to buckle his seat belt or observe other safety procedures when he returned to the cockpit. The pilot concluded that his colleague was now so "belligerent and uncooperative" that he couldn't do his job. The report said the pilot summoned several flight attendants to remove the co-pilot from the cockpit, and one flight attendant suffered an injured wrist in the struggle. Doctors from Britain and Canada on board determined that the co-pilot was confused and disoriented. The report did not mention how the co-pilot was restrained. Departing passengers at the time said his arms and legs had been tied up to keep him under control. The pilot then asked flight attendants to find out if any passenger was a qualified pilot. When none was found, one flight attendant admitted she held a current commercial pilot's licence but said her licence for reading cockpit instruments had expired. "The flight attendant provided useful assistance to the commander, who remarked in a statement to the investigation that she was 'not out of place' while occupying the right-hand seat," the report said. AP Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yusoff 1 Report post Posted November 20, 2008 The FA has a very brilliant future now... More: http://avherald.com/h?article=41050827&opt=0 Report: Air Canada B763 over Atlantic on Jan 28th 2008, incapacitated first officer forcibly removed from flight deck By Simon Hradecky, created Wednesday, Nov 19th 2008 15:58Z, last updated Wednesday, Nov 19th 2008 16:44Z The captain of an Air Canada Boeing 767-300, registration C-FMXC performing flight AC848 (departing Jan 27th) from Toronto Pearson (Canada) to London Heathrow,EN (UK) with 146 passengers and 9 crew, decided to declare PAN due to a medical emergency and diverted to Shannon (Ireland) after the first officer performed increasingly uncooperative and aggressive until a point, where the first officer refused to close his seat belts. The captain called the most senior cabin crew member to witness the proceedings, then declared the first officer to be incapacitated. He ordered the F/O to be removed from the flight deck. Two flight attendants pulled the first officer from his seat and brought him to a seat in the cabin, one cabin crew suffered wrist injuries in that process. Two doctors on board of the airplane took care of the first officer and indicated, that the first officer was disorientated and confused. The captain then explained to ATC, that the medical emergency affected his copilot and the Boeing was now single pilot. Subsequently he had the cabin crew run the passenger list for possible line pilots on board, which came up blank. One of the cabin crew however held a commercial pilot license with multi engine rating and non current instrument rating. The captain asked her to occupy the right hand seat and assist for the remainder of the flight. The flight attendant did provide useful services. The captain decided to divert to Shannon, which had good weather. The landing in Shannon went without further incidents. The first officer was delivered to a Shannon hospital, where he remained for the next 11 days making gradual improvements, then was flown to Canada by an Air Ambulance. The captain had noticed first indications of upcoming problems with the first officer feeling unwell enroute over the Atlantic at FL360. He sent the first officer to have a break and some rest considering, that the weather report for London Heathrow indicated a Category III instrument landing requiring the sharp skills of both pilots. The first officer took a meal and a rest of about one hour, then returned to the cockpit at about mid point over the Atlantic, but became disjoint and rambling, so that the captain suggested another break. The first officer took another extensive rest, but when he returned to the cockpit, he wouldn't fasten the seat belts, was unresponsive and aggressive, prompting the captain to initiate the procedures to get the first officer relieved from duties and removed from the flight deck. The Irish Aviation Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) carried out an investigation into the incident and concluded, that all actions by the captain and cabin crew have been in line of proper Crew Resource Management (CRM) in a difficult situation. The first officer was incapacitated due to an unknown medical condition. The AAIU found no need to issue a safety recommendation. The full AAIU report can be found at: http://www.aaiu.ie/upload/general/11139-0.pdf Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cephas 0 Report post Posted November 20, 2008 Source: AP Air Canada flight attendant helps land plane November 20, 2008 - 1:02PM The pilot then asked flight attendants to find out if any passenger was a qualified pilot. When none was found, one flight attendant admitted she held a current commercial pilot's licence but said her licence for reading cockpit instruments had expired. "The flight attendant provided useful assistance to the commander, who remarked in a statement to the investigation that she was 'not out of place' while occupying the right-hand seat," the report said. AP Didn't knew that there was a licence for reading cockpit instruments. I think the paper meant Instrument Rating. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mimiteng 0 Report post Posted November 20, 2008 wow, emergency-wise, flight attendants should be trained to control plane Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aiman 0 Report post Posted November 20, 2008 well...I think all FA should recognize this cockpit method..even this is beyond their scope...but it might useful in-case something happen.. remember flight helios.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Muhd Hisyam 5 Report post Posted November 20, 2008 why with flight helios aiman... i dont know anything about him... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aaron Goh 1 Report post Posted November 20, 2008 well...I think all FA should recognize this cockpit method..even this is beyond their scope...but it might useful in-case something happen.. remember flight helios.. Can t have all these "in case something happen". Thats why already have 2 pilots. An a/c can still be flown by one pilot. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eltan 0 Report post Posted November 20, 2008 salute the FA!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pieter C. 5 Report post Posted November 20, 2008 why with flight helios aiman... i dont know anything about him... Check this: http://www.malaysianwings.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=356 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
