IFR/Flight Following -- ATC Preferences?

Judah wrote:
"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote in
ink.net:


The point is those things are unrelated to flight following.


The original point was that had he had flight following, he might have
survived. You are assuming that the OP meant that a controller would have
alerted him. I interpret it that had he been listening to the frequency, he
might have been more aware of his surroundings and situation and taken
appropriate action.

I don't think this is true at all. If anything, listening to the
frequency would have detracted from his concentration on flying the
airplane, a task that in retrospect he wasn't capable of performing in
the prevailing conditions. I don't think adding to his mental workload
would have contributed to better flying.


Matt

Matt Whiting wrote in
:

Judah wrote:
"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote in
ink.net:


The point is those things are unrelated to flight following.


The original point was that had he had flight following, he might
have survived. You are assuming that the OP meant that a controller
would have alerted him. I interpret it that had he been listening to
the frequency, he might have been more aware of his surroundings and
situation and taken appropriate action.

I don't think this is true at all. If anything, listening to the
frequency would have detracted from his concentration on flying the
airplane, a task that in retrospect he wasn't capable of performing
in
the prevailing conditions. I don't think adding to his mental
workload would have contributed to better flying.


Matt


Perhaps if he were listening to the frequency, he would have been given
the correct altimeter setting in a handoff and realized that he was
about to descend into the water.

Or perhaps the controller could have advised him that the weather at
the
airport was below Night VFR minimums and he would have diverted safely
to another airport that was safe.

Or perhaps his wife sitting next to him would have stopped bitching at
him for being late for their wedding plans long enough to let him
listen
to the frequency and fly the plane.

Or perhaps talk on the frequency would have woken him up from his
"zoning out" because he was tired and on medication.

Or perhaps he was suicidal and the whole thing would was done on
purpose.

Who knows what the conditions were or what situations might have
improved it. Your guess is as good as mine. But that's kinda the point,
isn't it...

"Judah" wrote in message
. ..

Perhaps if he were listening to the frequency, he would have been given
the correct altimeter setting in a handoff and realized that he was
about to descend into the water.


On what basis do you assume he had the wrong altimeter setting?



Or perhaps the controller could have advised him that the weather at
the airport was below Night VFR minimums and he would have diverted safely
to another airport that was safe.


The weather was well above VFR minimums.



Or perhaps his wife sitting next to him would have stopped bitching at
him for being late for their wedding plans long enough to let him
listen to the frequency and fly the plane.

Or perhaps talk on the frequency would have woken him up from his
"zoning out" because he was tired and on medication.


Why would the chatter on the frequency wake him if his wife's bitching could
not?



Or perhaps he was suicidal and the whole thing would was done on
purpose.


Do you have the evidence that he was suicidal?



Who knows what the conditions were or what situations might have
improved it. Your guess is as good as mine. But that's kinda the point,
isn't it...


Actually, your guesses aren't very good at all. While other's guesses are
based on logic and probability yours are based on your own whims.

On what basis do you assume he had the wrong altimeter setting?

Giving an altimeter setting is sometimes a way to tactfully say "check
your altitude". It does not imply that the pilot actually has the wrong
setting. There is plausible deniability.

Jose
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"Jose" wrote in message
m...

Giving an altimeter setting is sometimes a way to tactfully say "check
your altitude".

Yes, if ATC observes the pilot at the wrong altitude. But he wasn't
receiving any ATC services.



It does not imply that the pilot actually has the wrong setting. There is
plausible deniability.


Judah assumed he was at the wrong altitude.