"I've got a serious situation here," the unidentified passenger said in the audio. "My pilot has gone incoherent, and I have no idea how to fly the airplane."
video + ATC here: https://www.wpbf.com/article/florida-pbia-lands-safe-passenger-pilot-private-plane/39957179#

Edited May 11, 20224 yr by CYXR

A simmer's wildest dream 😂

Joking aside, I'm glad they landed safely.

And what's more, the guy who landed the plane also had NO Sim experience either!

See. How hard can it be? 🤣

It's been done before.

He didn't know how to turn on the screen. During touchdown he asked how to slow the plane down.

This entire story sounds like a publicity stunt. Hard to believe that the passenger did not know how to at least the basics.

I know that a CFI helped him, but I'd love to hear the entire ATC/CFI and passenger interaction to get the entire picture.

21 minutes ago, DJJose said:

This entire story sounds like a publicity stunt. Hard to believe that the passenger did not know how to at least the basics.

I know that a CFI helped him, but I'd love to hear the entire ATC/CFI and passenger interaction to get the entire picture.

If you listen to the beginning of the controller talking to him, he knew where the vertical speed indicator was and how to read it. Not something that someone with no knowledge would be able to identify. I was a little suspicious too but maybe that's just the cynic in me.

When I saw it, I was also a bit incredulous. But that was based on the fact that it took me about six attempts to land a Cessna 150 when I did my PPL. But then, maybe he was just a natural.😀

On 5/12/2022 at 2:01 AM, mwilk said:

If you listen to the beginning of the controller talking to him, he knew where the vertical speed indicator was and how to read it. Not something that someone with no knowledge would be able to identify. I was a little suspicious too but maybe that's just the cynic in me.

To be fair the Vertical speed indicator has a fairly obvious function in the Caravan. Most of the instruments have a fairly obvious function although their significance might be a mystery to a novice, nothing a quick explaination can't sort out though.

Some people find this kind of activity relatively easy.
I come from a background where I have understanding of Engineering principles, basic physics and mechanics. I have good hand eye coordination, good spatial awareness. I have good understanding of verbal instructions.

I always found flying on a sim easy. I probably wouldn't find the real thing quite so easy though. I think flying is easy.....but....understanding all the tech and regs  is another story.

When I took up sailing years ago I found the basics of making a boat go where I wanted quite simple and straightforward. The RYA senior instructor we had thought I was a ringer from the RYA assessing his instructing. He couldn't understand how I picked it up so quick.

I am not unique. This guy had an aptitude and he was in a "no choice" situation. No choice, life threatening situations will make a hero of all of us.

One thing I am also aware of is that in many fields of endeavour folk have an emotional interest in making that endeavour sound difficult. The use of Jargon when jargon isn't necessary is an attempt to do just that. Solicitors do it, Sailors do it, Pilots do it. Hell, I've even done it.

 Whoever does it (whatever) wants others to be impressed and wants respect. Some do it more than others though. This is a natural human trait. Flying while not extremely easy is not as very difficult as some would have you believe.

Edited May 13, 20224 yr by GaryK