You never know when it will happen.
It could be your first solo.
It could be after 42 years of flying.
As Captain Gann titled a book: Fate is the Hunter.
Best be ready.
BA Captain Chris Henkey was.
The press has praised his ‘split-second’ skills in aborting the takeoff on the runway. But I think the more praiseworthy airmanship is measured in long seconds not fractional millisomethings. All airline pilots practice rejecting takeoffs, and there is little decision making ‘process’ when an engine quits. Good stick and (lots of) rudder skills to decelerate straight ahead. But what was telling was the 15 seconds after they radioed,
“Speedbird 2276 heavy stopping.”
There was silence on the radio. Nothing seemed to be happening while the flames and smoke really started to build. I guess they were running a checklist. Engine fire or failure on ground or somesuch. Methodically doing the right thing. Then,
“Speedbird Mayday Mayday. Speedbird 2276 request fire services.”
And then another 30 seconds goes by. THIRTY SECONDS. I’m guessing now they are on the evacuation checklist.
“Speedbird 2276 heavy, we are evacuating on the runway. We have a fire, repeat, we are evacuating.”
It’s easy to go too fast, to rush, to hurry, to expedite, to panic. There’s a fire! That’s very bad. Seen it in the simulator. The right way is slowly and carefully. And then, engines shut down, flight attendants prepared, give the evacuation signal.
The display of master airmanship here wasn’t a split-second decision. It was the opposite. It was taking the time not to rush while under intense pressure. It was running the checklists, talking to the crew, assessing the situation, and methodically calling for the evacuation.
That cleared up, we can go back to making fun of the passengers jumping down slides with their bags …
Very well said Dave. Much like a crosswind landing on a short, slippery runway the general public’s criteria for judging performance is often skewed in situations like these.