On Sat, 24 Feb 2007 05:17:59 -0800, Sam Spade
wrote:

Roger wrote:
On Fri, 23 Feb 2007 05:41:03 -0800, Sam Spade
wrote:


http://www.kvue.com/sharedcontent/Vi...2817&catId=104


Doesn't that give you a warm fuzzy feeling?

Not exactly.

Aw, come on now. Just look at all the thoughtful people involved.

You have an ATP who is willing to fly around the airport to make
things easier on the controller even though he may be about to run out
of fuel with 100 plus passenger on board. You have approach calling
the tower to inform them the pilot would like 17, but doesn't want to
worry them with the though of a low fuel "situation" and a tower
controller who guides the "troubled" plane around the airport to keep
them out of the way of regular traffic.

However: You would think the ATP would at least have a bit of self
preservation in mind.

One of our local pilots in a 172 was coming back from down south on an
IFR flight plan when the engine swallowed a slug of ice. She was
shaking badly and didn't appear to be getting better., He declared an
emergency and ATC told every one else "shoo". Airliners and all
cleared out to make way for him. He landed without incident and made
it to the FBO. After setting for a while it ran fine. The verdict was
carb ice and all concerned told him he did the right thing. The tower
guys told him "good job", kinda like when you put it where they want
at Oshkosh:-))

As others have said, you, not the tower chief or any one else owns
that airport after having said those magic words declaring an
emergency.

If it's me "up there" and something goes wrong, I'm not too proud to
holler for help. We'll sort out the paper work later if there is any.
In the case of the 172 above, he didn't have to fill out anything.
Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com