Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: Jacquerie; Afterguard
<> Running out of gas is always a pilot error.<>

You don’t know wtf you are talking about.

I had a friend with whom I had flown as his co-pilot. He ran out of fuel, tried an autorotation to the sea, hit hard, aircraft broke up and everyone was killed. While on a routine training mission in Okinawa he was diverted to an outlining island for a passenger pickup. When the passenger was boarding the crew chief was heard to say, "Hurry up we are low on fuel".

Classic pilot error, right? Mostly, yes. However, the squadron commander demanded "drill team" precision and punctuality for each aircraft meeting launch and recovery times, even down to requiring the senior pilot on a multi-plane launch to do a countdown to synchronized rotor brake release. The commander's other insistence was that "You will make your 'chock time' (return to base)."

Without that command pressure, probably the pilot would have taken the delay and refueled. Yes, the pilot in command is responsible. However, the command authority has the responsibility to create an environment that promotes wise decisions on the part of the pilots.

Second incident. Another friend was possibly the last US military man killed in the Vietnam war. In 1975, during the fall of Saigon, his helicopter carrier was off-shore receiving the fleeing South Vietnamese helos full of escaping military and civilians.

The Vietnamese Hueys would land and unload their passengers. If there was time, radios and other useful component were yanked out before the Huey was shoved over the side due to insufficient deck space. My buddy was flying "plane guard", orbiting to one side of the ship to rescue anyone in a helo that did not have enough fuel to make it safely to the flight deck.

He had been flying for 12-13 hours, refueling when necessary. Night had fallen and he had tried to refuel again, only to be bumped by an incoming Huey flying on fumes. He continues to orbit, then one time, they did not come around.

Fatigue?
Disorientation at night over water?
Flame out after fuel exhaustion?

Who knows. But please, DO NOT call that "pilot error".

13 posted on 04/12/2014 6:33:20 AM PDT by BwanaNdege
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies ]


To: BwanaNdege; centurion316
I defy anyone to sit in their seats for 5+ hours under these conditions and do any better. The PC made reasonable decisions, given his situation. This crew demonstrated some superior airmanship attempting to keep their aircraft flying, considering all of the things that happened to them in flight.

I'd be asking some hard questions to the air wing commander about not having assets at KAH to recover his aircraft. Seems like a no brainer to me.

30 posted on 04/12/2014 7:44:03 AM PDT by TADSLOS (The Event Horizon has come and gone. Buckle up and hang on.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson