Passenger Lands King-Air After Pilot Dies

[Ernie Martin]

Am I the only one who thinks the press is making too big a deal of this? (If you haven't seen it, go to http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/04/14/pla...ncy/index.html). Maybe I'm getting cranky with age, but the "passenger" is a pilot. Yeah, single engine, so what? To me, the fact that he's a pilot means he knows the principles (which are the same) and he's smart enough to call ATC for help with the specifics.

Ernie

[edasmus]

It's alright Ernie....let em go. It's mostly a "feel good" story. It's a lot better than a story of several people coming to grief in "one of those little airplanes." )

[rhurt]

Well it's one of those overplayed scenarios: You're sitting in the back of a Delta flight and the guys in the cockpit pass out because they both ate the chicken terriyaki, so you, the 172 driver, have to land the plane..and it turns out O.K.

But as a guy who flies into Naples a couple of times a year, the press is surely overhyping the 'friendly' and 'helpful' Fort Myers controllers. Those guys usually seem mad they've got to deal with the GA throng going to and from Naples.

One year on a soupy Sunday after Thanksgiving I had to wait 3 hours for an IFR clearance out of Naples because RSW was limiting the departures. I am glad to hear those guys can be helpful in an emergency.