pa38112
Well Known Member
Today I began developing an emergency check list for my wife in case I ever become incapacitated. I have encouraged her to take enough flying lessons to be able to land, but she is convinced that she can't. I think I'll be able to get her there over time, but hope to give her some options in the mean time. Here is what I have put together from memory. I plan on inserting pictures to supplement this.
Please let me know your comments; particularly what to do next...
I'm currently thinking she should fly the auto pilot to the ground and then pull the power. has anyone ever tried this or written an emergency procedure for it ? Any better ideas ? I just don't see her being able to be talked through a landing.
Pilot Incapacitated:
1. Press the AP Level Button.
2. Make sure the pilot is not touching or interfering with the control stick.
3. Tune the transponder to 7700.
4. Tune the radio to 121.5 and place this frequency in the active window.
5. If the passenger control stick is installed Press the button on the top of the
hand grip to communicate. If the Passenger control stick is not installed
you will have to put on the pilot’s headset and press the button on the
pilot’s control stick.
6. While holding the communication button in say clearly:
“Pan, Pan, Pan. This is November 1-5-3 Mike Charlie, Squawking seventy
seven hundred. I am declaring an emergency. My pilot is incapacitated.”
7. Let go of the communication button at the end of each transmission.
8. Ask the person who responds: “Are there any obstacles at my
current heading and altitude?” If the answer is “YES”; immediately
ask for a new heading or altitude, then flip this card over.
9. The controller will want the following information:
a. Type of Aircraft: Experimental Vans RV6A, Fixed Pitch.
b. Soles on board: 2
c. Fuel on board: Tell them in hours;
This is the top right number on the fuel computer.
d. Navigation Equipment: Garmin 296 GPS connected to a
Tru-Trak Vizion 380 autopilot.
Avoiding Obstacles:
1. After the AP Level button has been pushed the plane will fly itself.
2. You can over-ride the auto pilot at any time by pushing the stick harder
than the auto pilot.
3. If you are in immediate danger of hitting an obstacle pull back on the
Stick or push it left or right to turn.
When you are clear of the obstacle let go of the stick and let the auto pilot resume flying.
4. If time permits, program the auto pilot to fly a new heading or altitude:
a. To change headings: turn the auto pilot knob left or right.
It will turn 5 degrees for each click, so if the controller tells
you “Turn 30 degrees left” – turn the round knob 6 clicks left.
b. To change altitude:
i. Press the ALT button on the face of the auto pilot
ii. Rotate the knob to select the new altitude (ALT)
iii. Press the knob in once
iv. Set the vertical speed (VS) to 1,000 by turning the knob 2 clicks
v. Press the Knob in once
vi. The plane will now climb to the new altitude at 1,000fpm.
At this point you are at a safe altitude and heading, and the plane is flying itself:
You are OK !!!
Take 30 seconds to calm yourself and gather your composure. If the controller is
talking to you, ask them to “Stand By for a moment”
If the controller ever asks you to change frequencies, tell them you can not comply
and that you want to stay on this frequency through-out.
When you are ready, turn to the next page:
What Now ?
Now you are going to use the GPS and Auto Pilot to fly you to
A large airport and have the controller walk you through the landing:
The auto pilot is going to do most of the work.
Navigating to an Airport:
1. Before doing anything else, lets set your power and fuel:
a. Look at the two fuel gauges and determine which one
has more fuel.
b. The fuel selector valve is at your knees between the seats.
c. Turn the valve so that the long arrow points towards the fuller tank .
d. Look at the RPM gauge. You want to adjust this to 22.
e. RPM is set by adjusting the BLACK throttle control.
f. DO NOT touch the red knob at this time.
g. Make all adjustments slowly. Pull it out to reduce the RPM
Push it in to increase the RPM.
h. Set the RPM to 22.
i. Now look at the Fuel flow computer:
j. You want to set Fuel Flow to 8.5 GPM.
k. Turn the red knob left for lower, Right for higher.
2. Ask the control for the closest airport with a 10,000 foot or longer runway.
3. On the bottom of the GPS button panel there is a small button with a D
Press this button.
4. Use the Up/Down : Left/Right buttons to go to the “Identifier” tab.
5. Ask the controller for the Identifier for the airport, and enter it in this tab
by using the Up/Down : Left/Right buttons. (If there are only letters in
the identifier, then you will need to enter a “K” before it.
6. Press ENTER and see if the name of the airport comes up, if so, then press
Enter again.
7. Press the MODE button on the face of the auto pilot.
8. The airplane should turn towards the airport.
9. Look on the GPS and see how many miles away the airport is.
10. Look on the Fuel Computer and check the range (Top Left number).
11. Verify that you have enough gas to make it to the airport.
The plane will now fly itself to the airport.
12. Tell the controller that when you get to the airport you are going to
descend and fly the approach using the auto pilot.
Please let me know your comments; particularly what to do next...
I'm currently thinking she should fly the auto pilot to the ground and then pull the power. has anyone ever tried this or written an emergency procedure for it ? Any better ideas ? I just don't see her being able to be talked through a landing.
Pilot Incapacitated:
1. Press the AP Level Button.
2. Make sure the pilot is not touching or interfering with the control stick.
3. Tune the transponder to 7700.
4. Tune the radio to 121.5 and place this frequency in the active window.
5. If the passenger control stick is installed Press the button on the top of the
hand grip to communicate. If the Passenger control stick is not installed
you will have to put on the pilot’s headset and press the button on the
pilot’s control stick.
6. While holding the communication button in say clearly:
“Pan, Pan, Pan. This is November 1-5-3 Mike Charlie, Squawking seventy
seven hundred. I am declaring an emergency. My pilot is incapacitated.”
7. Let go of the communication button at the end of each transmission.
8. Ask the person who responds: “Are there any obstacles at my
current heading and altitude?” If the answer is “YES”; immediately
ask for a new heading or altitude, then flip this card over.
9. The controller will want the following information:
a. Type of Aircraft: Experimental Vans RV6A, Fixed Pitch.
b. Soles on board: 2
c. Fuel on board: Tell them in hours;
This is the top right number on the fuel computer.
d. Navigation Equipment: Garmin 296 GPS connected to a
Tru-Trak Vizion 380 autopilot.
Avoiding Obstacles:
1. After the AP Level button has been pushed the plane will fly itself.
2. You can over-ride the auto pilot at any time by pushing the stick harder
than the auto pilot.
3. If you are in immediate danger of hitting an obstacle pull back on the
Stick or push it left or right to turn.
When you are clear of the obstacle let go of the stick and let the auto pilot resume flying.
4. If time permits, program the auto pilot to fly a new heading or altitude:
a. To change headings: turn the auto pilot knob left or right.
It will turn 5 degrees for each click, so if the controller tells
you “Turn 30 degrees left” – turn the round knob 6 clicks left.
b. To change altitude:
i. Press the ALT button on the face of the auto pilot
ii. Rotate the knob to select the new altitude (ALT)
iii. Press the knob in once
iv. Set the vertical speed (VS) to 1,000 by turning the knob 2 clicks
v. Press the Knob in once
vi. The plane will now climb to the new altitude at 1,000fpm.
At this point you are at a safe altitude and heading, and the plane is flying itself:
You are OK !!!
Take 30 seconds to calm yourself and gather your composure. If the controller is
talking to you, ask them to “Stand By for a moment”
If the controller ever asks you to change frequencies, tell them you can not comply
and that you want to stay on this frequency through-out.
When you are ready, turn to the next page:
What Now ?
Now you are going to use the GPS and Auto Pilot to fly you to
A large airport and have the controller walk you through the landing:
The auto pilot is going to do most of the work.
Navigating to an Airport:
1. Before doing anything else, lets set your power and fuel:
a. Look at the two fuel gauges and determine which one
has more fuel.
b. The fuel selector valve is at your knees between the seats.
c. Turn the valve so that the long arrow points towards the fuller tank .
d. Look at the RPM gauge. You want to adjust this to 22.
e. RPM is set by adjusting the BLACK throttle control.
f. DO NOT touch the red knob at this time.
g. Make all adjustments slowly. Pull it out to reduce the RPM
Push it in to increase the RPM.
h. Set the RPM to 22.
i. Now look at the Fuel flow computer:
j. You want to set Fuel Flow to 8.5 GPM.
k. Turn the red knob left for lower, Right for higher.
2. Ask the control for the closest airport with a 10,000 foot or longer runway.
3. On the bottom of the GPS button panel there is a small button with a D
Press this button.
4. Use the Up/Down : Left/Right buttons to go to the “Identifier” tab.
5. Ask the controller for the Identifier for the airport, and enter it in this tab
by using the Up/Down : Left/Right buttons. (If there are only letters in
the identifier, then you will need to enter a “K” before it.
6. Press ENTER and see if the name of the airport comes up, if so, then press
Enter again.
7. Press the MODE button on the face of the auto pilot.
8. The airplane should turn towards the airport.
9. Look on the GPS and see how many miles away the airport is.
10. Look on the Fuel Computer and check the range (Top Left number).
11. Verify that you have enough gas to make it to the airport.
The plane will now fly itself to the airport.
12. Tell the controller that when you get to the airport you are going to
descend and fly the approach using the auto pilot.
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