Andes accident

Jose Auil, a pilot flying a Discus BT out of the Vitacura airport in
Santiago, Chile, went missing over the Andes on Sunday afternoon. An
intensive search was carried out for three days and this morning the
wreck was found in the mountains, with the cabin intact. There was a
note saying: "I'm fine. I'm going down river". He has been found
this morning in good shape! Missing Chileans, whether miners or
glider pilots are quite lucky...

http://www.latercera.com/noticia/por...radas-de.shtml

He was lucky! Sounds like he should consider buying a PLB, just in
case.

-John

On Nov 24, 10:02 am, Juanman wrote:
Jose Auil, a pilot flying a Discus BT out of the Vitacura airport in
Santiago, Chile, went missing over the Andes on Sunday afternoon. An
intensive search was carried out for three days and this morning the
wreck was found in the mountains, with the cabin intact. There was a
note saying: "I'm fine. I'm going down river". He has been found
this morning in good shape! Missing Chileans, whether miners or
glider pilots are quite lucky...

http://www.latercera.com/noticia/por...9947-9-encuent...

On Nov 24, 8:09*am, jcarlyle wrote:
He was lucky! Sounds like he should consider buying a PLB, just in
case.

-John

On Nov 24, 10:02 am, Juanman wrote:

Jose Auil, a pilot flying a Discus BT out of the Vitacura airport in
Santiago, Chile, went missing over the Andes on Sunday afternoon. * An
intensive search was carried out for three days and this morning the
wreck was found in the mountains, with the cabin intact. *There was a
note saying: "I'm fine. *I'm going down river". *He has been found
this morning in good shape! *Missing Chileans, whether miners or
glider pilots are quite lucky...

http://www.latercera.com/noticia/por...9947-9-encuent...

Courtesy of Google Translate:

The Air Rescue Service Air Force of Chile, along with firefighters and
police found alive Auil José Petermann (46), glider pilot who
disappeared in the Putaendo streams, emerging from the Glider Club
Vitacura close to 13.00 Sunday

The information was confirmed by the air force commander, Rodrigo
Ceballos and now José Auil Petermann was transferred to the Clínica
Las Condes. The aircraft was located 60 km north of the hill the
Copin, sector Los Pelambres. Auil, is a pilot with nine years
experience and 730 hours of flight.

Through his twitter account, the Vice President, Rodrigo Hinzpeter,
said: "We found alive José Auil, glider pilot missing since Sunday.
Congratulations to Joseph for his rescuers and resistance!".

Yep, sounds like a good avert for SPOT or a similar device.

Mike

So how is it he went down?

Mark

Too early to tell, but the Andes are tricky terrain to fly. You have
to fly close to the mountains to stay in lift.


On Nov 24, 10:51*am, Mark Jardini wrote:
So how is it he went down?

Mark

On Nov 24, 7:51*am, Mark Jardini wrote:
So how is it he went down?

Mark

read "the beautiful mountain and her sinister trap" by Harry Combs.

Brad

Latest news:

José Auil Petermann (46), the pilot of plane that was found this
morning is "in excellent condition," according to director of medical
services at Clinica Las Condes, May Chomalí. Petermann Auil came to
the facilities this morning and was visited by a delegation from the
Chilean Air Force.

"He is in excellent condition, it is clear that his physical condition
helped him survive these days that he was alone, he walked a lot and
is very emotionally affected by what happened, no traumatic injuries,
made a good landing and we're seeing that these days with no food, no
shelter, could have affected his metabolic status, "said Chomalí.

Last night the pilot was able to eat food when he met two horsemen. He
drank water. "He knows how to survive adversity by virtue of his being
a well-trained pilot," said the professional.

RESCUE
The one who made contact with Auil Petermann was a former officer of
the air force working in a private helicopter he was piloting. At
10.00 he saw the aircraft, 10.30 he landed, saw the note saying he was
downstream and 15 minutes later they were able to track him as he
walked in the Argentine sector, specifically between Cerro negro on
the Chilean side and the Mercedario river in Argentina.

Through his twitter account, the Vice President, Rodrigo Hinzpeter,
said: "We found José Auil alive, the glider pilot missing since
Sunday. Congratulations to the rescuers and Jose for his resistance!".

Another news piece on the Chilean pilot. In the photo the Discus BT
has the engine extended. I wonder if it didn't start... Or the
downdrafts were too strong for the engine.

http://diario.latercera.com/2010/11/...traviado.shtml

FORMER CLASSMATE RESCUES LOST GLIDER PILOT

José Auil Petermann walked 15 km. and spent 48 hours without food
after an emergency landing.

"He was walking. There was no place to land and I had to lift him with
the helicopter, 'barely'. I placed a ski on the ground and he
jumped." That's how former Air Force officer Eduardo Boisset Fach
(47) yesterday remembered the moment when he rescued the glider pilot
who was missing since Sunday afternoon in the precordillera area of
Putaendo.

The rescuer was not there by chance. He had been a classmate of the
missing pilot, Jose Auil Petermann (46), at the Craighouse School, and
joined the search on Monday for the aircraft, after a mutual friend
asked him to support the searches.

So at 9:30am yesterday,(Wednesday) Boisset and two volunteer firemen
took off in a civilian helicopter from the town of Putaendo to the
lake Copin sector, where the last contact with the pilot had been
registered. While flying over the area, another aircraft that
supported the search informed them that they had seen the Schempp-
Hirth, Discus BT glider, 60 km north of Cerro El Copin, in the Los
Pelambres sector. It was 10:00am and the rescue leaders Boisset told
him to move to the area and descend.

"He was first located by a plane that was flying over and gave me the
position. He obviously couldn't land there. I landed, I saw the
glider, but didn't find the pilot," recalls the former officer. The
glider was between Cerro Negro and Cerro del Mercedario, besides the
river of the same name. It showed damage to the tail, but the cabin
was intact, but empty.

According to the rescuer, he overflew the sector for a while and then
descended again to inspect the ship. "I started down the river to look
for him but couldn't find him. And I started wondering. I returned by
helicopter and began look at the glider, to see if he had left a
note," recalled Boisset.

Then, in the ship's fuselage, next to the cabin, he found a message
written by Auil. It said: "I'm OK. I fell at 16.30pm. I'm going
downstream. I left at 18.15pm." (Sunday)

Boisset decided to board the helicopter and fly downstream (in that
area, the river flows east). After 10 kilometers, already in Argentine
territory, he spotted the dentist walking in a rocky area. Since he
couldn't land in that area, Boisset chose to bring the helicopter as
close as possible so that Auil could jump inside.

The pilot reported the rescue and then proceeded to drop off the
firefighters in Putaendo. From there he flew to the Las Condes
clinic, so that Auil could undergo a checkup. At that time, his wife,
Maite Rodriguez, already knew he was safe and sound.

BREAD, WATER AND ONION

Auil had been 48 hours without eating and walked 15 kilometers.

After being rescued he said that the weather conditions he faced on
Sunday forced the experienced glider pilot from the Vitacura glider
club into an emergency landing in the Andean foothills. He then
followed the aviation protocols: leave a message and go seek help.

He had food and water for at least 24 hours and along the way he met
with two farm workers who gave him food and water. According to his
wife, Maite Rodriguez, Auil "has plenty of survival experience and
used all the tools he had available. He consumed bread, water and
onion." (the farm workers gave him water and onion).

In the clinic, Auil told medical staff that as the hours passed and no
help came, he faced moments of weakness. "He fought against evil
thoughts. He sang and recited, and I think he has given us a very good
example of what the struggle for survival can be," said Dr. May
Chomalí, Director of Medical Services at the Clinica Las Condes.

Isabel, Auil's sister, said "people's energy and God's help,"
accompanied the pilot.

On Nov 24, 7:09*am, jcarlyle wrote:
He was lucky! Sounds like he should consider buying a PLB, just in
case.

-John

On Nov 24, 10:02 am, Juanman wrote:



Jose Auil, a pilot flying a Discus BT out of the Vitacura airport in
Santiago, Chile, went missing over the Andes on Sunday afternoon. * An
intensive search was carried out for three days and this morning the
wreck was found in the mountains, with the cabin intact. *There was a
note saying: "I'm fine. *I'm going down river". *He has been found
this morning in good shape! *Missing Chileans, whether miners or
glider pilots are quite lucky...

http://www.latercera.com/noticia/por...-9-encuent...- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Glad they found the pilot well and alive. I am curious how much his
rescue cost vs the $150 cost of a Spot and who is going to pay the
bill. Not to mention the risk invloved in a rescue operation. Couple
more days and it would have been his life vs a $150 Spot. I am puzzled
that anyone still flies XC without a Spot or a PLB. Enough said.

Ramy

On Nov 29, 2:52*am, Ramy wrote:
On Nov 24, 7:09*am, jcarlyle wrote:





He was lucky! Sounds like he should consider buying a PLB, just in
case.

-John

On Nov 24, 10:02 am, Juanman wrote:

Jose Auil, a pilot flying a Discus BT out of the Vitacura airport in
Santiago, Chile, went missing over the Andes on Sunday afternoon. * An
intensive search was carried out for three days and this morning the
wreck was found in the mountains, with the cabin intact. *There was a
note saying: "I'm fine. *I'm going down river". *He has been found
this morning in good shape! *Missing Chileans, whether miners or
glider pilots are quite lucky...

http://www.latercera.com/noticia/por...ncuent....Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Glad they found the pilot well and alive. I am curious how much his
rescue cost vs the $150 cost of a Spot and who is going to pay the
bill. Not to mention the risk invloved in a rescue operation. Couple
more days and it would have been his life vs a $150 Spot. I am puzzled
that anyone still flies XC without a Spot or a PLB. Enough said.

Ramy

Just curious, how could the spot have prevented the cost of the
rescue? Wouldnt they have sent rescue crew anyway?

Thanks
Tom