Paul Riley wrote:
"Dudley Henriques" wrote in message
news
Each pilot in other words, is being encouraged and REMINDED, to be in a
constant state of self evaluation as to the ability to perform at any
given time and place.
It ain't much......but it helps!

--
Dudley Henriques

Dudley,

You are exactly right.

I flew a zero-zero GCA, at night, in a UHIB, at the An Khe airfield in late
1965. No other place to go. We were on mortar patrol, had just been relieved
on station by our replacement aircraft. Ground fog had moved in, even the
replacement aircraft was not aware of it. No one expected it. I had an
instrument rating, my copilot did not. Our other option was to go crash in
the jungle someplace (with the bad guys, but where it was clear). Since we
did not have enough fuel to divert to a safe landing area--more than 45
minutes away (hey, this was Nam) we decided it was our only option.
Obviously, we made it, believe it or not, no damage to aircraft or crew. The
GCA Controller got three quarts of Johnny Walker Red the next morning. G

Goes to show, you CAN handle a bad situation, IF you remember your training.

Regards,
Paul
PS Sorry about the misplaced thanks!!



Reminds me of that great line from Fate Is The Hunter by Ernie Gann.
With engines going out one by one on their DC6 on the GCA into Thule I
think it was, the pilot (Rod Taylor) is happily singing away with "Blue
Moon". It's 0-0 and the co-pilot, realizing that they only will have one
shot at the landing is REALLY getting worried. Finally he can't stand it
any longer and interrupts Taylor's singing;
"How the hell can you be so damn calm?"
"Don't worry" says Taylor, "The runway will be there".
"Suppose we screw up the approach. Suppose the radar is off a degree or
two. Suppose the controller is tired. How the HELL are you so certain
the damn runway will actually be there?"
Taylor stops singing just as the number 3 goes dry on fuel. He looks
over laughing at the Co-Pilot and says quietly with a smile,
"Because it HAS to be there, that's why!".
Then they break out and make the landing.
You have to love this story. Gann could really put a flying yarn
together sitting on that mountaintop home of his.
D

--
Dudley Henriques