The PIC Isn’t Always the Pilot Who Took Off

ByAnne Pargeter

You are at cruising altitude and your flight is going just as planned. All of that can change, sometimes without much warning, and you, the non-pilot, are now in charge. Would you know what to do?

This was a scary thought for me until I attended a seminar developed for the non-flyer at a Cirrus Owners Pilot Association (COPA) fly-in. Cirrus is the only small plane with a parachute as standard, so I thought all I had to do in an emergency was pull the chute. It’s a little more complicated than that!
I learned the vast majority of pilot incapacitation happens when the plane is at cruising altitude, so there is time to find a solution.

anne-pargeter-picture

I was taught ten basic steps to follow to bring the plane safely to the ground.

  • First attempt to revive the pilot. If he is choking, it is possible to do a Heimlich maneuver from the side. This may dislodge whatever is blocking his airway and solve the problem. If he is experiencing hypoxia, turn off the heat, open all vents, and, if you have on board oxygen, use it. Also, if you can, get instructions on how to descend to a lower altitude. If the pilot is unconscious due to a heart attack or other medical emergency, there are still things you can do from the right seat.
  • Engage the autopilot if it isn’t already on and move the pilot off the controls. *
  • Ensure you are connected to the radio. If you hear ATC or other pilots, you are.
  • Send an electronic trouble message. Set the transponder to 7-7-0-0 to identify your plane to ATC. This will cause your plane to be highlighted on ATC radar screens.
  • ATC will most likely contact you asking what is your emergency. If this does not happen, you will need to transmit a Mayday call. All non-pilot passengers should know how to use the radio to get help, if they know nothing else.
  • With help from ATC, decide where you want to go.
  • Use the autopilot to fly in the direction suggested by ATC. I was taught that ultimately the choice of where to deploy the parachute is up to me because I am now the PIC, pilot in command.
  • Ensure that seat belts are secure and the emergency hammer is between your legs (so you have it to break a window to escape if needed).
  • Pull the parachute handle.
  • On the way down, shut down the engine and brace for impact.
  • After landing, move away from the plane, into the wind. Stay nearby and wait for help.

The seminar covered specific procedures to accomplish these basic steps, what to do if you don’t get a response from ATC, what to say in a Mayday transmission, how to fly a heading, how to check fuel levels, shut down the engine, etc. After the seminar, I felt much more comfortable about what to do if my pilot suddenly lost consciousness.

I was also told to practice what I had learned to avoid panicking in an emergency situation. There are so many things the person in the right seat can do under normal circumstances to practice. Learn how to set heading bugs, learn where the plane’s Electronic Locator Transmitter (ELT) is located and how to activate it. This will help rescuers locate the airplane. Learn how to assess your fuel levels. Practice making routine radio transmissions. Observe what your pilot does and ask questions if you don’t understand something.

Knowing what to do in an emergency situation will give you a sense of control over what will happen to you, your pilot, and any passengers on board your plane. If you have never considered taking a lesson or two for the non-pilot, find yourself an instructor, and learn what you need to know for your plane. Hopefully you will never have to use it, but if you do, you will be ready to be the PIC who lands the plane.

Anne and her husband Stephen are the proud owners of a Cirrus SR20. They plan to put the airplane to better use once Stephen retires. Anne has a background in desktop publishing and writing.

Similar Posts

  • Air Traffic Control Privatization

    ByHank Gibson

    There was a bill introduced in Congress recently to take control of Air Traffic Control away from the FAA and give it to a private, for profit, corporation.  The initial reaction of pilots is “Ahhh!  User fees!” which we are all adamantly opposed to.  There are a myriad of reasons why this is a bad idea (the “Flying” article makes a comparison to giving NASA to Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos) and we as pilots should be against it.

    Read the “Flying” Magazine full article here.

    Air Traffic Control

  • Using the ICARUS Device to Simulate IFR Conditions

    ByHank Gibson

    Most of us who have been through instrument training are familiar with the traditional view limiting devices. There is the original hood, which does a decent job of blocking a pilot’s view of outside, but there are still gaps that allow “peeking”, though that peeking doesn’t really help a pilot fly an approach. It does help them figure out which way is up, so it’s not a true simulation.

    The other problem with a hood is the process of putting it on to begin simulating IFR conditions, then taking it off when it’s time to land. This process takes time and the instructor has to take the controls (or the autopilot flies), losing some of the realism of the simulation.

    Overall, an IFR hood is relatively comfortable. The elastic band sits under your headset, doesn’t squeeze your heard, and doesn’t press underneath your ear cups of the headset, giving you a headache. Hoods are large and somewhat unwieldy.

    Foggles are another way to simulate IFR conditions for training. Most of the time, these are safety glasses that have most of the lens blacked out or fogged out, leaving little slits at the bottom for the pilot’s eyes to see the instruments.

    Foggles aren’t quite as good as an IFR hood at blocking the outside. Due to their shape, there are often cracks that allow more “peeking” then a hood. The process of beginning to simulate IFR conditions and ending the simulated IFR conditions is easier though, since all the pilot has to do is put the foggles on or slip them off, which can often be done one handed (putting them on can be more difficult one handed since they have to fit underneath your headset). Wearing them for a long period of time can get painful as your headset is probably going to start crushing them against the side of your head.

    The best comfort and view limiting combination I have found, so far, is called the ViBAN. It’s very comfortable and does a really good job of simulating IFR by blocking a view of the outside.

    What’s the whole goal behind a view limiting device? When a pilot starts instrument training, ideally, all the training would take place in the clouds, since that is why someone get’s an instrument rating. As we all know, this isn’t possible, hence the need to simulate IFR conditions. The problem with simulating IFR is, it’s not true IFR. True IFR conditions are different then what a hood or a set of foggles can simulate. This can lead to spatial disorientation if a fresh instrument pilot enters the clouds for the first time, having done all his training in simulated conditions.

    I’ve even heard a story of a pilot who did all his IFR training with a hood, passed his check ride, went into the clouds the first time, and put the hood on because he was getting disoriented since he hadn’t ever experienced true IFR.

    What about full motion simulators? How I wish every airport had a full motion simulator for instrument training. Full motion sims are truly the best way to simulate IFR conditions. A pilot can easily get spatially disoriented in a sim if he or she isn’t careful. It’s a great way to simulate IFR conditions, but, alas, this just isn’t possible.

    Are we doomed to just do an okay job of training instrument pilots in simulated IFR conditions with a hood or foggles?

    Nope, at least not anymore.

    Enter the ICARUS Device. The ICARUS Device, which stands for Instrument Conditions Awareness Recognition and Understanding System, is an amazing piece of equipment which truly simulates IFR conditions in the training environment. The ICARUS is a plastic shield that uses a Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal film that allows the degradation of a pilot’s visibility. It clips on to a baseball cap and is attached to a battery. That battery is then bluetoothed to an iPad or iPhone App that allows the instructor to put the pilot into and take him out of simulated IFR conditions.

    Originally designed for helicopter training, it’s an excellent tool for fixed wing IFR training too. I’ve been using it for the last month and a half and I am hooked. The customer’s that I have used it with truly say that they cannot see a thing outside. Because the plastic shield turns white, it really does give the view that the pilot is in the clouds. The inner ear certainly believes it. The curve of it fits the glare shield in most planes nicely (there is some custom cutting that would have to take place for specifically rounded glare shields, but it fits Cirrus and Piper Saratogas nicely, the two planes I have used it in), and it sits away from the pilot’s face, blocking out all windows, which is what clouds do.

    The greatest thing from an instructor’s standpoint is the ICARUS Device app. The pilot puts the device on before taxi and I set the app to VMC. This completely clears the ICARUS Device so the pilot can see just fine for taxi and takeoff. Then, at about 400 AGL, I tap the <1/2 VIS button on the app, and boom, the pilot is in the clouds. I even have a time delay to slowly make the ICARUS Device opaque to simulate slowly entering the clouds. I do the same thing on an approach, except in the reverse order, simulating we are slowly exiting the clouds.

    The ICARUS Device is a game changer for IFR training. It’s comfortable, easy to use, the battery lasts for a long time (though bring a standard USB charging cord with you in the plane because the battery failure mode makes the ICARUS Device opaque instead of transparent. You don’t want that to happen at 200 AGL!), and, most important, it truly simulates IFR conditions.

    After using it, I believe all flight schools and CFII should get one of these, both in the fixed wing and helicopter world. It’s the best option for simulating IFR conditions.

    Checkout the ICARUS Device website for more information and to hear the story of the company.

    Texas Top Aviation, LLC was given an ICARUS Device by the ICARUS Device company to test. Texas Top Aviation, LLC was not paid for our above opinion on the ICARUS Device (trust me, if it was terrible, I would have told you!).

  • Learning From Other’s Mistakes:  An Overview of the 2024 Piper PA-46 Accidents

    ByHank Gibson

    The Piper PA-46 series, which includes models like the piston engine Piper Malibu and Piper Mirage, and the turboprops Piper Meridian, M500, and M600, is a popular choice for private pilots and business aviation. Known for its impressive speed, range, and pressurization, the PA-46 is a very capable single pilot aircraft. However, like all high-performance aircraft, it presents its own set of challenges and risks, especially when pilot error or adverse conditions come into play.

    The 2024 PMOPA (Piper M-Class Owner’s and Pilot’s Association) Convention was the first weekend in November and one of the sessions every year is the PA-46 Safety Review.  Sadly, in 2024, the accidents involving various PA-46 models pointed out several areas related to decision making that all pilots need to put be aware of. These accidents highlight critical issues in weather awareness, pilot training, and decision-making, and they provide valuable lessons for other pilots in any type of aircraft.

    Overview of the 2024 Piper PA-46 Accidents

    The Piper PA-46 is generally regarded as a reliable and capable aircraft, but the safe outcome of a flight often times depends on the pilot’s decision making.  There always can be mechanical malfunctions, but those still require good pilot decision making to be able to walk away from the accident.

    In 2024, multiple accidents occurred involving different variants of the PA-46, with many of the accidents occurring during critical phases of flight like takeoff or landing. Some of the key factors contributing to these accidents included:

    1. Weather Challenges: In several cases, adverse weather conditions, such as low visibility, thunderstorms, or high winds, contributed to accidents. Despite most PA-46’s being equipped with NexRad and weather radar, pilots sometimes underestimated or misjudged the weather risks.
    2. Pilot Decision-Making: A recurring theme in these accidents was pilot error—specifically, poor decision-making when faced with challenging conditions. In some cases, pilots continued flights despite deteriorating weather or failed to react appropriately to emergency situations.
    3. Mechanical Failures: As with every airplane, systems fail on a Piper PA-46.  Several accidents were due to engine power loss.  Proper training teaches pilots how to have the right mindset and skills to handle those engine power loss situations, taking a bad situation and having the best possible outcome due to good decision making and gliding skills.

    Three Key Lessons for Pilots

    The Piper PA-46 accidents of 2024 serve as valuable reminders about the importance of pilot preparation, decision-making, and risk management. Here are three critical lessons pilots can take away from these accidents:

    1. Prioritize Pre-Flight Weather Planning

    Poor weather conditions were a significant factor in some of the crashes in 2024. Pilots of high-performance aircraft must place a strong emphasis on weather pre-flight planning, especially when flying into regions prone to rapidly changing weather or severe conditions and across frontal systems. Pilots should:

    • Stay up-to-date with weather briefings before and during the flight, including calls to Flight Service Station if there is serious weather along the route.
    • Be proactive in altering flight plans or delaying departures when weather conditions become unfavorable.
    • Utilize onboard weather radar and other tools to monitor changing conditions in real time and avoid nasty looking weather systems.  ADS-B and XM Weather are delayed information.  They are not meant to be used to find holes through storm systems.
    • Finally, don’t try to shoot through holes!  They are called sucker holes for a reason.

    2. Master Emergency Procedures

    Pilots of all aircraft, not just PA-46 models, need to practice engine-out procedures multiple times a year with an instructor, not just at recurrent training.  The goal is to make emergency procedures second nature which creates the right mindset to handle the emergency, creating a much better outcome. Training should focus on:

    • Engine-out procedures immediately after takeoff, climbing out at low altitude, and at cruise.
    • Performance with the propeller feathered and unfeathered, recognizing how the feathered prop increases glide range.
    • Practicing forced landings and other emergency scenarios regularly to build confidence and competence.

    3. Always Plan for an Emergency Landing

    It is very important to know your options in the event of an emergency. When flying over mountainous or remote areas, pilots should always have a contingency plan for where to land if something goes wrong.  An emergency engine out brief should be a part of every pre-takeoff briefing to put the pilot in the right mindset. Pilots should:

    • Brief an engine failure on the runway, low altitude, and at an altitude that allows for a safe return to the airport in the event of an engine failure as part of every pre-takeoff briefing.
    • Study the flight route in detail and identify suitable emergency landing sites along the way, especially when flying in areas with limited options.
    • Consider the terrain, weather conditions, and available options in the event of an engine failure or other emergency.
    • Use terrain awareness and other onboard tools to help identify suitable landing areas in real-time, including the ForeFlight Glide Advisor.

    Conclusion

    The Piper PA-46 series, while a capable and reliable aircraft, demands a high level of skill and preparation from its pilots. The accidents in 2024 serve as a sobering reminder of the critical importance of weather awareness, emergency training, and proper flight planning. By learning from these accidents, pilots can make better decisions, have the right mindset, and reduce the risk of similar accidents in the future.

    By prioritizing weather awareness, mastering emergency procedures, and always having a contingency plan for forced landings, pilots of the Piper PA-46 can improve their ability to handle the challenges posed by these high-performance aircraft. These lessons are not just for PA-46 pilots, but for all pilots striving to fly safely and confidently.

  • The Importance of a Pre-Buy Inspection

    ByHank Gibson

    There are multiple ways to save money during the aircraft buying process. To start, since you are buying an airplane, you have some means of positive income in order to afford an airplane. Airplanes come in all different shapes and sizes and usually, an airplane can be found to fit almost any budget, whether is a $20,000 Texas Taildragger all the way up to a multi-million dollar jet.

    One way is to stay within your budget. There will always be a shinier, newer, lower time airplane that is just above where you set your budget at. Don’t reach for it! There is a reason you set your budget where you did.

    Another way is to shop around and get multiple insurance quotes. Your agent is in charge of engaging underwriters who are going to evaluate you and your airplane as risks, then price a policy accordingly. With most airplanes, you should get multiple quotes to see what fits you best. Beware though, because sometimes, you can get a lower rate, but it will require more training, so you end up shelling out more money in the long run. If you find a policy you like, but the training seems skewed or the liability isn’t high enough, you can always have your agent ask the underwriter to modify the quote. You are still in charge.

    Finally, if you evaluate your mission and see that your budget can’t afford an airplane that carries enough or goes fast enough, look into taking on a partner or two to help with costs. Be thorough in vetting your potential partners as a good partnership is worth it’s weight in gold, but a bad one is downright unpleasant and often times hard to get out of. Find pilots who have the same mindset & personality you do and treat their stuff the same way you do. Try to take a ride in their car or go to their house, then you’ll see what kind of shape they will keep the airplane in.

    The best way to cost yourself more money in the aircraft buying process?

    Don’t do a pre-buy inspection.

    A pre-buy inspection takes place after negotiations and once a Purchase Agreement is in place. You are pretty much set on the airplane, you just want a third party mechanic who is knowledgeable on that make and model of airplane (and this is a very important point) to go over it and make sure that it is sound from a mechanical standpoint. The buyer, you, want someone who has never had an association with the seller since the mechanic will be your representative in the process and you want him answering to you.

    If you have used a broker or a buyer’s agent, that person should have already gone through the logbooks for you, so you’ll have a basic idea of the history of the airplane. However, knowledgeable mechanics find things all the time that turn out to be the responsibility of the seller to repair since it happened on their watch. Without a pre-buy, you would end up having to pay for that in the not to distant future.

    Here is an example of where not doing a pre-buy can cost a lot of money.

    An owner bought a late ’70s model Citation ISP, one of the very first Citations ever made. It had been based in Florida (salt & humidity + aircraft don’t mix well) for a while. The buyer didn’t use a broker, but thankfully had someone look through the maintenance history of the airplane. Since it was so old, the logbook reviewer didn’t have time to do anything but a basic overview, but he gave the thumbs up to the buyer.

    The buyer decided he just wanted a boroscope inspection and the seller’s mechanics to look over the airplane. Remember what I said before about a third party mechanic? Well, these mechanics didn’t do a very thorough job. When the buyer took delivery of the plane, after about 10 hours of flying, he already had an $18,000-$25,000 maintenance bill.

    You may say, well that’s a jet. Jet’s have specialized maintenance and need a more extensive pre-buy inspection.

    On the contrary, in my 8 years in the training business, I have seen Cirrus, Piper PA46s, Bonanzas and several other piston engine airplanes that either didn’t have a pre-buy done or the pre-buy was done by someone who didn’t know that airframe. Lo and behold, things started breaking and adding up very quickly that would have been discovered on a good pre-buy inspection.

    Don’t skip on the pre-buy inspection. They usually run a few thousand dollars, but save tons of money in the long run.

  • The Dual Garmin G5 Glass Panel Solution

    ByHank Gibson

    What’s the most cost effective glass panel retrofit?  There are several options out there (and it seems like more coming each Sun ‘N’ Fun or Osh Kosh event), but the consensus is the Aspen EFD 1000 or 1500, right?  At $12,000 installed, it’s about $8,000-$10,000 cheaper than the Garmin G500 (though you can make the argument that when you add a second screen and SVT to the Aspen, the price is about the same).

    I am here to blow your mind.  What if you could get a glass panel retrofit that is a complete AHRS system with airspeed and altitude, plus a slaved HSI that auto slews to your GPS and a 4 hour backup battery so you can throw your steam attitude indicator away, for only $4,600, plus installation?

    I am not crazy.

    The Garmin G5 debuted last year when the FAA relaxed it’s regulations to allow more experimental avionics into certified airplanes.  The single G5 was a big hit.  The 3.5 inch screen fit nicely into the hole that the traditional attitude indicator left, giving pilots a glass attitude, airspeed and altimeter options for less than $2,500.

    In March, Garmin brought out the HSI version of the G5.  Equipped with a low cost magnetometer, the DG/HSI version is a complete replacement for the traditional DG/HSI.  The unit also displays ground speed and distance (received from the GPS information), while auto-slewing to the GPS flight plan, so the CDI needle will move on it’s own, eliminating the annoying need for the pilot to set the course on the HSI (and ridding the GPS of the message that pops up reminding the pilot to set the course).

    The dual units provide a complete backup Attitude in the case of a display failure.  The reversionary mode you get with the Garmin G1000 and the Garmin G500 is also present in the dual G5s.  This eliminates the need for a backup steam gauge attitude indicator, freeing up panel space for an engine monitor or some other toy.  The G5 units can also be equipped with 4 hour backup batteries in case of electrical failure.

    The price for the dual G5 setup is very reasonable at just under $4,600 plus installation (which, according to Garmin, should be pretty simple as the units act as plug and play instruments).  The AHRS unit is available stand alone for under $2,200 while the DG/HSI unit standalone runs just under $2,600.

    For more information, check out Garmin’s website.

  • AOPA Rusty Pilot Seminar in San Marcos

    ByHank Gibson

    “AOPA Rusty Pilot presented by AOPA Ambassador Pat Brown at Tempus Training Solutions”
    Topic: A Rusty Pilots Seminar
    On Saturday, July 16, 2016 at 09:00 Central Daylight Time
    Location:
    Tempus Training Solutions
    2080 Airport Dr.

    San Marcos, TX 78666

    Select Number:
    EA2769634

    Description:

    Life may have gotten in the way, but the dream of flight can be yours again. Returning to the skies is not as difficult as most rusty pilot think. We’re inviting you back in the cockpit and will help you get there. Come and participate in a FREE Rusty Pilot program with fellow lapsed pilots. We will help you understand what’s changed in aviation since you’ve last took the controls and brush up on your aviation knowledge. The Rusty Pilot program is developed by AOPA in partnership with local flight training providers in order to create the best environment for getting you back in the air and a part of the general aviation community.

    It is easier than most people think:

    • No FAA checkride or test
    • Medical may not be required

    As a Bonus, by attending, you get two to three hours of free ground instruction towards your flight review!

    Register Now!

    https://ww2.eventrebels.com/er/Registration/StepRegInfo.jsp?ActivityID=16910&StepNumber=1

    To view further details and registration information for this seminar, click here.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *