This is your flight attendant speaking, I'm about to land your plane: Hostess steps in as pilot falls ill

By Mail Foreign Service
Last updated at 8:48 AM on 18th June 2010

Second in charge: Patti DeLuna helped land an American Airlines plane after a co-pilot fell ill

A flight attendant stepped in to help land a passenger plane after a pilot became ill.

Patti DeLuna has her pilot's licence but last flew more than 20 years ago - and even then it was a light aircraft.

But she voluteered without a second thought after the first officer of an American Airlines flight to Chicago developed flu-like symptoms.

When Captain Jim Hunter deemed his co-pilot to ill to fly, and realised no off-duty pilots were on board, he called on Mrs DeLuna to help land the Boeing 767.

She kept her cool and the plane, carrying 225 passengers and seven crew members, landed safely at O'Hare International Airport at 4.24pm on Monday.

Despite the feat, Mrs DeLuna said she 'didn't feel like a hero.'

'This was not heroic by any means. I was just trying to be part of a team,' the 61-year-old said.

'I was the best available (back-up pilot) they had on the plane,' DeLuna told the Chicago Tribune. 'I spent a lot of time in the cockpit looking at the flight deck panel and asking questions. My first question to the captain was, "Where are the brakes?"

Asked about the moment she was chosen, Mrs DeLuna said: 'That doesn’t mean I’m a hot shot pilot, it only means I was the best they had — I was the best candidate for the job at the time.

'I felt terrible for the first officer,' she went on. 'But I was so excited. It was way more fun than serving meals from the galley.'

Happy ending: American Airlines said the incident was handled well by staff (file photo)

Success story: The American Airlines flight was landed without incident at O'Hare International Airport, pictured, thanks to Mrs DeLuna's help

'I was thinking about survival. I was thinking about getting it down the best I could. I don’t feel like a hero. When you work on an airplane, you work as a team. You do whatever you can do to help.'

The flight attendant, from California, received a commercial pilot's license in 1970 and has logged about 300 flight hours on a Cessna, according to American Airlines spokeswoman Andrea Huguely.

She said Captain Hunter was 'exemplary' and 'so collected and so together.'

'He did everything by himself pretty much,' she said. 'I watched for traffic and listened for information from air traffic control just as a backup for him.'

An American Airlines man said the ill pilot was treated at a local hospital and released. His condition was not serious.

'The entire incident was handled very well on all accounts,' said American Airlines spokesman Tim Wagner.

Mrs DeLuna said she was thrilled to be back in the cockpit.

'The view is much better,' she said.

'It's exciting and it's fun and this was a real opportunity for me.'

No announcement was made to the passengers about the change of pilots, DeLuna said. The plane landed normally.

One pilot is fully capable of flying a 767. The plane is equipped with an array of computers which means it can fly and even land by itself.

Source from Dailymail

MAS to fly youngest fleet

By WONG SAI WAN

FOR the past five years, the story of Malaysia Airlines has largely been about turning in better profits and coming out with an effective business plan. These days, that is no longer the case. In fact, the airline is on an expansion path both in terms of raising frequency of flights to existing routes as well as offering new routes.

This growth phase, which comes on the back of its two business turnaround plans and two global economic crises, will be powered by 56 new aircraft that will change the capacity as well as the range of the airline.

MAS chief executive office and managing director Tengku Azmil Zaharuddin, speaking on the sidelines of the International Air Transport Association AGM in Berlin, says the new aircraft are from firm orders of three type of aircraft including the delayed A380 (six units).

The other two are the new generation Boeing 737-800 (35 units) and the new variant Airbus A330-300 (15 units). This will bring the total number of aircraft in MAS’ fleet to over 100 and not include the option of 20 B737-800 and 10 A330-300 that it could exercise in the next five years. By 2015, the MAS fleet will total more than 110 aircraft excluding the options to obtain more.

“This year will mark the start of our growth programme that will be facilitated by the arrival of all the new aircraft over the next five years. By then, we will have the youngest fleet in the region if not the world. The average age of our planes would be 5.2 years compared to 11.6 years at present,” he adds.

Having a younger fleet, says Azmil, has several advantages – it’s operationally more efficient as new aircraft are built to handle faster turnaround and more frequency; more cost effective as MAS, for the first time, is buying the bulk of its fleet at one go, allowing for longer planning period; better fuel efficiency as the new generation aircraft from the A380 to the B737-800 are reported to be relatively more fuel efficient by 25%-40%; and cost less to maintain as they are within the warranty period and tend to break down less.

In addition, the purchase of the B737-800 has added another dimension to the MAS fleet which will have a much longer range by some 1,400km or a total range of over 5,600km “flying on a full tank.” The 737-800 seats 162 passengers in a two-class layout, or 189 in one class, and competes with the A320.

“With the longer range, our 737 new generation single-aisle jet can take over the role that we now assign to our A330-300s.

“North Asia – China, the Korean peninsula, Japan and India – can now be served by a narrow body aircraft. This means we can look at new routes in these destinations as previously we had to use a bigger A330 to serve them,” says the MAS boss.

It is not easy to fill up a wide-body A330-300, which carries about 250 passengers, but the B737-800 will make it more attractive for MAS to explore new routes.

Azmil admits that the B737-800 makes destinations like Xian, Dakka, Cheju Island and every city in Japan a possibility.

“We will first relook all the destinations which we have rights to but have either given up or never flew to and then move towards other places. But I must admit, China and India look very attractive with the new generation 737s.

“It does not matter if the traffic is seasonal or if it picks up suddenly as the new generation aircraft allows us to increase the frequency. We can fly two or even three times a day to a new destination if traffic volume justifies it. Having such a schedule may be an attraction in itself to travellers,” he adds.

The new generation A330-300 is a longer version of the present models and are made up of modern material, hence they are lighter and more fuel efficient. These aircraft, like the B737-800, also have longer range.

“The new A330-300 will replace the way we use of B777 now. It can serve North Africa, the Middle East, whole of Asia and Australia. With about 250 passengers, we will be able to mount more frequency and be able to turn it around faster,” he says.

As for the A380, MAS will use it like all its regional counterparts. The giant in the sky will be for non-stop long haul routes with high traffic. With a capacity of 500 travellers, there are only so many destinations MAS can fly with the A380 but it ultimately depends on how the airline configures the aircraft.

Azmil also reveals that MAS is looking to introduce the premium economy class on all its aircraft to attract economy-class travellers looking for improved comfort.

“We also want to attract those who had ‘downgraded’ themselves from business class to economy.”

Will the national carrier own all the aircraft? No, says Azmil. “We will not own all the planes. We are looking at the one-third, two-third policy – either own two-third of the new aircraft and lease one-third or vice versa.

“PMB (Penerbangan Malaysia Bhd) will have the first right of refusal for to the lessor but we have others waiting in the wings. The exact formula will depend on the various economic situation,” he adds.

Based on 2008 price catalogues for aircraft, a new A330-300 can cost between US$195.9mil and US$205.7mil while a B737-300 would cost in the range of US$72.5mil to US$81mil. Meanwhile, an A380 costs between US$317mil and US$337.5mil but it could cost MAS a lot less given the delayed compensation.

Source from The Star

SPM holder, art stream student, ... are they still qualified to be a pilot?

Lots of pilot wanna be (Malaysian)... especially those school leavers are showing concern for some academic questions.

"I don't take any physic subject during school time. Can i still be a pilot?"

My answer to you is.. "O yea~! Why not?!"

"I only have SPM result. Am i qualified to be a pilot?"

My answer to you still is.. "If you're keen for it, why not?!"

Well, science is a general subject. Science during the school time divides into Physic, Chemistry and Biology. This "P" , "B" and "C" are still belong to science subject. Just that Science is general while that 3 are more detail.

In Malaysia, NOW, the system is mentioning... as long as you got CREDIT for it. I've seen many people who are from art stream, they still got the approval letter from DCA to pursing their piloting course. And those art stream students who already graduated from Academy, they're doing fine. So , WHY NOT?

Personal experience:
Myself was a pure science (physic, chemistry and biology) student and thereafter a physic-chemistry student. Learning the subject initially in Malaysia language and later on in English. The notice i found is Physic does help you to understand in more detail for part of the aviation subjects. Learning it in English, make you catch up certain terminologies faster as well(because you've used to it). Compare with a general science student, I only can comment, although those general science students they know in a very general// surface stuffs compare with pure science students, but when they've the strong determination/spirit with them, FUYOH~~~ Don't underestimate them! Their willingness can anytime surpass a physic student. If the general science student can't overtake the physic student, at least, both will be about the same level, be able to compete with each other. Therefore, there's no way for saying because the SPM subject of yours was just general science, so you've no confidence//you're not qualified to be a pilot. That's applied to you're a SPM student while others are STPM/matric./degree/master/prof. ^^

For a private student, YES! You still can get your approval from DCA to pursuing your dream. But to be sponsored by the airlines, Erm... this is a bit tough. I haven't seen anyone got it without any pure science subject. (Probably have, but just I.. i mean me only, don't have//never see any buddy get it). Normally the airlines in Malaysia will state either you have a B4 //A2 in that subject. Well, don't get too depressed. Give it a try, try never bring any harm. :)

Anyway, that's just for pure science and general science. If you be able to join it as a private, there's always no such thing as... : you're a pure science student, you're smarter. OR you hold a degree while i'm just a SPM student, my study surely can't compete with your level.

For the above 2 statements, I can only say, it all depends. Who's determination is stronger? Who starts to get slacked off? Who is more keen? Who...?

In Mandarin, a proverb say "人比人，气死人". (human competes with human, at the end one may die in such competition). It's used to describe when 2 buddies are competing, 1 of the buddies will definitely keep getting unhappy, depressed, angry, and etc. just because he/she has lost in the competition and because he/she would like to win the competition in whatever way he/she owns. At the end, he/she may win the competition but he/she may die in his/her inner exhausted. Worth it?
If it's a positive competition, hell yea..Go for it! If it's a negative competition from the inner self of you, Stop it man! Don't hurt yourself and just do the best for your part/what you're supposed to do.

An instructor said to me before, If you never choose to trust your own ability, how the hell are you going to expect people can trust on your capability in doing it? The simplest example to give... your sponsor may not dare to give you such a lump sum if you don't have the capability in achieving it.

If you're a SPM student while they're degree/master holder (provided you're really keen to be a pilot), go for it! There's nothing to fear with. If your English language isn't good enough compare with others (provided you're really keen to be a pilot), go for it! From time to time, you will learn. Don't feel upset and down for yourself with your own qualification. Just do the best of yours and you will still be able to create your own path one day!

**No offense to those other than SPM holders ya. :)

This post is created when I was talking to a person who're sad for his academic result. It also reminds me some of my friends by talking , they wish to be a pilot but then telling me they're afraid with their English speaking, science knowledge and etc. At the end they chose to give up in joining this aviation field instead of this aviation field give up on them. =(

If you be able to let go of your dream, I can't comment much. That's your decision.

I only know I'm the type of, If it's my dream, I will do my best to make my dream comes true and make my dream be recognized by the people whom I wanted to. If it's hard for me to achieve it, I'll keep striking hard on it till i make it. No matter how, there's no way for me to let go my dream and ask me to keep my dream forever as a dream. Bring the dream to reality and stay with it. That's what I can describe part of my character.

Determination . Motivation . Passion . Sincerity .

Good luck to my friends & blog readers who still keen to be a pilot. =)