EastCheats
Veteran
- Mar 12, 2012
- 1,944
- 6,141
I found this on another forum. Job well done!
West and East pilots fly together!!!
West and East pilots fly together!!!
Thats right folks, its has happened. How do I know, you ask? Cause I was there. Let me 'splain. June 29th. Flight 64 CLT to BOS. Approx. 20 minutes into the flight, the Captain got very, very sick. It was my leg so the decision was easy. I declared a medical emergency and requested a turn back to CLT and started a descent. Fortunantly, there was an east FO commuting to BOS on the jumpseat. Seats were swapped, (I stayed in the right seat, he in the left), because the FO was on the bus, was type rated and at this point, a better resource. He sits down, straps in and says, " what do you want me to do?" I continued to fly and work the radio, he got ATIS loaded the box and a few other things I cant really remember right now. I advised ATC of the situation and asked to have a medical team standing by at the gate. Long story short, I land and taxi to the gate where the paramedics where ready and attended to the Captain. He was later taken to the hospital for a reason I'll explain later. Now, Im not telling this because Im tooting my own horn, because any of you would have done the same thing. I telling this because we have a damn good system in place to deal with these kind of things. My first concern was to get on the ground and get the Captain the medical attention he so badly needed. And do it as quick and as safe as possible. Also, I feel we have an excellent training department in place because when this kinda thing does go down, its your training that makes the difference. And this went flawlessly. The east FO was very supportive and is to be commended as well. Never once was there a power struggle. It was my plane, he knew it and did everything I had asked. Hell, we even managed to get the overweight landing checklist completed. Another person to be commended was the CLT Asst. Chief Pilot. He was waiting at the gate when we pulled in and went out of his way to make sure the captain was well taken care of. From sitting with him in the hopital to taking him back to the hotel later that night, to making sure he got on the flight home the next day.
After I got home that night I did a little research and foung this article.
http://m.yahoo.com/w....US&.lang=en-US.
Sunday after the event the Captain called me to let me know that everything went well and he was doing much better. He had mentioned eating a sandwich at the hotel, the long hotel, and it had lettuce on it. Then he mentioned that the Doctor tending to him stated that there was a sporadic Listeria outbreak in the area and most likely was the cause.
Personally, Im proud of this airlines. Yeah, I know, theres a lot to #### about, but I had alot of help that day. From the FO, to ATC, the Chief Pilots both east and west and from USAPA. I got several phone calls from key union people and they were very supportive and helpful.
Now, a little horn tooting because for the first time since the merger a west and east pilot flew together and I own that!!
After I got home that night I did a little research and foung this article.
http://m.yahoo.com/w....US&.lang=en-US.
Sunday after the event the Captain called me to let me know that everything went well and he was doing much better. He had mentioned eating a sandwich at the hotel, the long hotel, and it had lettuce on it. Then he mentioned that the Doctor tending to him stated that there was a sporadic Listeria outbreak in the area and most likely was the cause.
Personally, Im proud of this airlines. Yeah, I know, theres a lot to #### about, but I had alot of help that day. From the FO, to ATC, the Chief Pilots both east and west and from USAPA. I got several phone calls from key union people and they were very supportive and helpful.
Now, a little horn tooting because for the first time since the merger a west and east pilot flew together and I own that!!
And anyway his noting: "My first concern was to get on the ground and get the Captain the medical attention he so badly needed. And do it as quick and as safe as possible." does properly impress...Heck!..that incapacitated Captain might even be me someday! Assuming my "secret identity" on these boards didn't preclude it...I'd hope for that same consideration! 
