Pilot with Hypoxia talking with ATC - this ends well

[son_of_flubber]

The pilot is compromised by hypoxia but still able to declare an emergency and talk to ATC. He descends to 11,000 MSL and regains control.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=b97_1409965702

Listening to this refreshed my awareness that the effects of hypoxia can often be incremental and progressive, that some function may be retained temporarily, and that descending to a lower altitude may restore a pilot's function quickly. Basic facts of course, but good to review and keep in mind at the start of wave season.

So if you hear someone talking like this on the radio, how do you respond?

[Dave Nadler]

On Tuesday, September 9, 2014 7:44:53 AM UTC-4, son_of_flubber wrote:
> So if you hear someone talking like this on the radio, how do you respond?

I'd sat "Please be quiet SOF".

[Dan Marotta]

I looked up Kalitta Air and find they're a Part 121 cargo carrier flying
B-747s. It's hard to imagine they'd not notice the loss of cabin
pressure and don their masks and begin descent all the while declaring
an emergency and contacting ATC. And what was that incessant "whoop
whoop" horn blaring in the background?

I never flew a 747 and I don't recall the warning given to loss of cabin
pressure in a 727 (been 34 years since I flew one). Still, I was
impressed by the pilot's lucidity, even through his slurred speech. He
knew he had a problem but had no idea what it was. It's a very good
thing they were able to complete a safe descent!

Dan Marotta

On 9/9/2014 6:46 AM, Dave Nadler wrote:
> On Tuesday, September 9, 2014 7:44:53 AM UTC-4, son_of_flubber wrote:
>> So if you hear someone talking like this on the radio, how do you respond?
> I'd sat "Please be quiet SOF".

[kirk.stant]

On Tuesday, September 9, 2014 6:44:53 AM UTC-5, son_of_flubber wrote:
> The pilot is compromised by hypoxia but still able to declare an emergency and talk to ATC. He descends to 11,000 MSL and regains control.
>
>
>
> http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=b97_1409965702
>
>
>
> Listening to this refreshed my awareness that the effects of hypoxia can often be incremental and progressive, that some function may be retained temporarily, and that descending to a lower altitude may restore a pilot's function quickly. Basic facts of course, but good to review and keep in mind at the start of wave season.
>
>
>
> So if you hear someone talking like this on the radio, how do you respond?

If he is declaring an emergency, you have no business responding, other than to get out of his way. It's ATC's job to help the aircraft having an emergency.

If it's a glider buddy not on a center freq, then suggest that he descend immediately because he sounds hypoxic. It will probably take some convincing....

Of course, you could be a dick and just tell him to "Shut up and die like a man!"

Kirk
66

[[email protected]]

The 47s that Kalitta uses have either two or three cockpit crew. What happened to the others -- and was the speaker identified as P1?



On Tuesday, September 9, 2014 5:44:53 AM UTC-6, son_of_flubber wrote:
> The pilot is compromised by hypoxia but still able to declare an emergency and talk to ATC. He descends to 11,000 MSL and regains control.
>
>
>
> http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=b97_1409965702
>
>
>
> Listening to this refreshed my awareness that the effects of hypoxia can often be incremental and progressive, that some function may be retained temporarily, and that descending to a lower altitude may restore a pilot's function quickly. Basic facts of course, but good to review and keep in mind at the start of wave season.
>
>
>
> So if you hear someone talking like this on the radio, how do you respond?

[Greg Delp]

On Tuesday, September 9, 2014 1:53:03 PM UTC-4, wrote:
> The 47s that Kalitta uses have either two or three cockpit crew. What happened to the others -- and was the speaker identified as P1?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Tuesday, September 9, 2014 5:44:53 AM UTC-6, son_of_flubber wrote:
>
> > The pilot is compromised by hypoxia but still able to declare an emergency and talk to ATC. He descends to 11,000 MSL and regains control.
>
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> >
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> > http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=b97_1409965702
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> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > Listening to this refreshed my awareness that the effects of hypoxia can often be incremental and progressive, that some function may be retained temporarily, and that descending to a lower altitude may restore a pilot's function quickly. Basic facts of course, but good to review and keep in mind at the start of wave season.
>
> >
>
> >
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> > So if you hear someone talking like this on the radio, how do you respond?

This was a Kalitta Charter Lear 25 not a 747.

http://avherald.com/h?article=428a428b

[Mark628CA]

I am a dealer for Mountain High Oxygen systems at Moriarty. A few years ago, a visiting pilot asked for a simple system to use while flying in the high desert air we enjoy in New Mexico. I set him up with the basic, manually adjustable MH system, which requires the pilot to match his altitude with the O2 system flowmeter to ensure proper O2 delivery.

The pilot, who we will just call "ND" (Not Disclosed) was heard on the radio singing, "Thiss is Noooovemmmmber Dellllta, down here at Carrrrizoooozo, doin' WOOOONDERFUUULLL!"

I Immediately YELLED "November Delta! TURN UP YOUR OXYGEN FLOW! YOU SOUND TOO WONDERFUL!"

After a few tense minutes, a voice said, clearly and calmly, "This is November Delta, doing fine at Carrizozo. And whoever said that, thanks. The world is in color again."

I breathed a sigh of relief. (It was a 17,500 ft. day.)

Moral of the story: What ever Oxygen system you use, make sure you are checked out on it, and if it is a manual system, monitor it often, and don't get too concerned about reducing the flow if you start to get low. Oxygen generally won't hurt you, especially if you are accustomed to flying at lower altitudes and now you are up at a high environment flying site.

Better to waste a little brain gas than get stupid through trying to conserve just a bit of gas that is virtually free at most glider ports. Even if the fill costs $30 or $40, it is a lot cheaper than a funeral.

Just as a point of information: I got 128 hours of airtime in 2013. I was on Oxygen for 119 of those hours.

[son_of_flubber]

On Tuesday, September 9, 2014 8:46:12 AM UTC-4, Dave Nadler wrote:
> On Tuesday, September 9, 2014 7:44:53 AM UTC-4, son_of_flubber wrote:
>
> > So if you hear someone talking like this on the radio, how do you respond?
>
>
>
> I'd sat "Please be quiet SOF".

Roger, STFU SOF.

[David Kinsell[_2_]]

On Tue, 09 Sep 2014 11:48:02 -0700, Greg Delp wrote:

> On Tuesday, September 9, 2014 1:53:03 PM UTC-4,
> wrote:
>> The 47s that Kalitta uses have either two or three cockpit crew. What
>> happened to the others -- and was the speaker identified as P1?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Tuesday, September 9, 2014 5:44:53 AM UTC-6, son_of_flubber wrote:
>>
>> > The pilot is compromised by hypoxia but still able to declare an
>> > emergency and talk to ATC. He descends to 11,000 MSL and regains
>> > control.
>>
>>
>> >
>>
>> >
>>
>> >
>> > http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=b97_1409965702
>>
>>
>> >
>>
>> >
>>
>> >
>> > Listening to this refreshed my awareness that the effects of hypoxia
>> > can often be incremental and progressive, that some function may be
>> > retained temporarily, and that descending to a lower altitude may
>> > restore a pilot's function quickly. Basic facts of course, but good
>> > to review and keep in mind at the start of wave season.
>>
>>
>> >
>>
>> >
>>
>> >
>> > So if you hear someone talking like this on the radio, how do you
>> > respond?
>
> This was a Kalitta Charter Lear 25 not a 747.
>
> http://avherald.com/h?article=428a428b


A Medal of Safety for the controllers, what a hoot. I think a Nobel
Prize is in order, since doing anything of note is no longer a
requirement for that.