Tom Maxwell
Well Known Member
Ok just for fun and education, don't hammer me. We have all read the "Never Again" stories in AOPA Pilot magazine and we have all heard the war stories about pilots getting into trouble and living to talk (or boast) about it. So here is a hypothetical story and I am interested in knowing how the FAA looks at these things and what really happens afterwards.
New low time VFR pilot takes off from ABC headed to XYZ. Weather briefing tells him that XYZ is socked in with fog which should burn off by the time VFR Pilot arrives. VFR Pilot preflights his plane and heads towards XYZ with clear skys ahead of him.
As he approaches XYZ, VFR Pilot notices that the fog has not lifted. Not being a smart guy, VFR Pilot pushes forward thinking, "Hey the weather guy said it should burn off before I get there so it will be OK. Surely there will be a break as I get nearer to XYZ." VFR Pilot pushes on and soon finds himself encased in a sea of white. He panics for a few seconds and then the few hours recently spent under the hood kicks in and he quickly consults his instruments. He finds he is doing OK and the plane is flying straight and level and on course. No need to panic. Sure doing a 180 would be the smart thing to do, but VFR Pilot does not. Soon he finds himself low on fuel and no time to get out of the mess. He is going to have to do something soon!
VFR Pilot finally decides he needs somes help and contacts the nearest control tower who quickly identifies him on radar and vectors him to an airport with limited visibility and 800 foot ceilings. In spite of everything VFR Pilot is able to land safely and taxi to the GA tie-down area.
Granted VFR Pilot made some bad decisions. But now he has a great story to tell all of his fellow pilots. But what happens next?
A) No harm no foul - VFR Pilot has a great story to tell his kids and fellow pilots.
B) The last transmission given to the Pilot was - "Call the tower at XXX-XXX-XXXX upon arrival. We want to talk to you."
C) VFR Pilot is met in the tie-down area by a representative from the FAA who lovingly requests that the VFR Pilot hand over his license.
D) Some weeks later VFR Pilot gets a nice letter from the FAA stating that VFR Pilot is hereby grounded, asking for a written description of the incident, and indicating that further legal action is pending.
E) VFR Pilot had the ____ scared out him and voluntarily terminates his flying career.
Again, I am more curious about how these situations play out more than what VFR Pilot should have done differently to keep out of trouble.
New low time VFR pilot takes off from ABC headed to XYZ. Weather briefing tells him that XYZ is socked in with fog which should burn off by the time VFR Pilot arrives. VFR Pilot preflights his plane and heads towards XYZ with clear skys ahead of him.
As he approaches XYZ, VFR Pilot notices that the fog has not lifted. Not being a smart guy, VFR Pilot pushes forward thinking, "Hey the weather guy said it should burn off before I get there so it will be OK. Surely there will be a break as I get nearer to XYZ." VFR Pilot pushes on and soon finds himself encased in a sea of white. He panics for a few seconds and then the few hours recently spent under the hood kicks in and he quickly consults his instruments. He finds he is doing OK and the plane is flying straight and level and on course. No need to panic. Sure doing a 180 would be the smart thing to do, but VFR Pilot does not. Soon he finds himself low on fuel and no time to get out of the mess. He is going to have to do something soon!
VFR Pilot finally decides he needs somes help and contacts the nearest control tower who quickly identifies him on radar and vectors him to an airport with limited visibility and 800 foot ceilings. In spite of everything VFR Pilot is able to land safely and taxi to the GA tie-down area.
Granted VFR Pilot made some bad decisions. But now he has a great story to tell all of his fellow pilots. But what happens next?
A) No harm no foul - VFR Pilot has a great story to tell his kids and fellow pilots.
B) The last transmission given to the Pilot was - "Call the tower at XXX-XXX-XXXX upon arrival. We want to talk to you."
C) VFR Pilot is met in the tie-down area by a representative from the FAA who lovingly requests that the VFR Pilot hand over his license.
D) Some weeks later VFR Pilot gets a nice letter from the FAA stating that VFR Pilot is hereby grounded, asking for a written description of the incident, and indicating that further legal action is pending.
E) VFR Pilot had the ____ scared out him and voluntarily terminates his flying career.
Again, I am more curious about how these situations play out more than what VFR Pilot should have done differently to keep out of trouble.