nt (Gordon) wrote:


Without knowing sea state, winds and surf conditions at the time, or taking
into account the controlability issues, its very difficult to second guess
Bush's choice of silk or ditch. I would rather ditch than bale,

--cut--

I agree...we flew a lot of hours over the Atlantic, both North
and South and not a few over the Pacific as well, most of it
below 1000 feet and I can tell you that it's one uninviting
sight, especially in winter. One doesn't want to imagine trying
to survive down there in a 40-50 knot gale with a continuous
expanse of whitecaps from horizon to horizon in all directions.

I'm sure that you can easily agree Gordon. shudder

One of our crews had that possibility 'up close and personal'.

They had been planting a field of sonobuoys (about mid Atlantic)
when one stuck in it's chute halfway out. It went just far enough
to uncover the vanes which, being dragged along at ~170 Knots
spun at a great rate till the bolt holding the hub on wore off
and the vanes spun up into the a/c belly, slashed through the
skin and cut off a torque tube used to control the elevators.

This caused no end of concern to the cockpit crew who all had
suggestions ranging from "Putter in the water" to "head West"
(home) to "head for Lajes" (closest land) and several other
wildassed suggestions.

Anyway, it was decided to head (gently) for Lajes (good l o n g
runway, plus good wx etc). The crew experimented with flaps and
power to replace the function of the elevators (cautiously).

Anyway they had a nearly uneventful landing at the Azores.
(albeit with quite tired sphincters)

It was one of my squadron's aircraft and crews so luckily I
wasn't aboard.

My point is that only the crew involved has enough facts to make
the decision required about the best course to take. That's why
the buck stops at the Crew Captain's seat. It certainly doesn't
preclude the rest of the crew making suggestions nor him using
(or not) any/all of them (CRM) but the FINAL decision must be his
alone.

I've done considerable flying on 'multi-man' flight crews and
I've always thought this, I've also applauded the CRM aspect when
it started being encouraged/required just a few years ago.
--

-Gord.