Catastrophic Decompression; Small Place Solo

Contrary to popular opinion you may be on insulin and get a 3rd class
medical. You must only keep you A1C sugar within limits, pass a series
of medical tests and follow a test regimen during flight quarters. The
fly in the ointment is that you must have a flight physical every 90
days. This correlates with the A1C blood glucose test.
I am a difficult diabetic patient. I have not stabilized to a
significant enough degree as to be able to pass the A1c. BTW the limits
are very liberal for passing. The other problem is that the tests can
cost several thousand dollars but only have to be done once. Your
glucose is very much within tolerance and if you have no nerve or blood
circulation problems you should be able to qualify. I'm still working on it.
This program has been in effect for more than 5 years I believe.

Dave Nagel

Jerry Hall wrote:
John. It seems that once you move from oral medication to insulin as a
treatment for diabetes, that is the death knell to one's medical
certificate. Lord knows I've certainly jumped through a lot of hoops.
Several years ago the FAA medical folks as much as said, "Give it up,
turkey. You're not getting your medical reinstated." I go through a
similar line of BS in keeping my automobile driver's license. And my
glucose readings seldom go over 140. Have been hoping the newer "Sport"
license might allow me to fly again. Then there are ultralights but
that just isn't quite the same thing. To steal a line from Top Gun, I
feel the need for speed. Had a 177 RG. Jerry

John E. Carty wrote:

"Jerry Hall" wrote in message
...

When I conducted my first solo flight, it was pretty much a non-event
except that I had the plane to myself. After about thirty minutes of
dual - read that as two of us in the airplane, student (me) and the
instructor - including several landings at a controlled (has a tower)
airport, the instructor had me taxi over to the base of the tower and
shut the airplane down. He then asked for my log book and scribbled
an endorsement in the back certifying that I was qualified for solo
flight. Mind you, I had already received ten hours of flight training
up to that point plus extensive text work as well. He then told me
to keep the airplane "in the pattern", i.e. don't leave the
controlled airspace surrounding the airport: approximately a five
mile radius. I was then to perform three "touch and goes" - landings
in which you place the airplane on the runway but do not come to a
stop but rather retract the flaps while still rolling, apply power,
and takeoff again. Then I was to land with a full stop and return to
the tower. He said he would watch with the controllers. Geez, now I
had an audience. I contacted the tower via radio and was given
clearance to takeoff and stay in the pattern. I remembered I was
literally shaking, not with fear but with exhilaration. "Don't screw
this up, don't screw this up," was my mantra. I advanced the
throttle once I was positioned on the centerline of the runway and,
in my estimation, the little Cessna 152 leapt forward, unencumbered
by the weight of a second person. Reaching 50 knots, I gently pulled
back on the yoke and the plane rotated and departed the runway.
"WOW! I was flying! Really flying! I was in control! I am a pilot!"
It was all I could do to not start whistling the theme from "The High
and the Mighty." The rest is history.



Many hundreds and hundreds of flight hours (PIC or Pilot In Command)
later and innummerable aircraft, I find myself grounded due to diabetes.



Have you thought about getting a special issuance (if your diabetes is
under fairly good control) to get your medical back and start flying
again? :-)


Nothing will ever quite compare to that first solo flight. God I
miss it. Jerry


Aviation wrote:

I have two questions inspired by Hollywood movies.

In the movies (Goldfinger, Executive Decision and so on), when
pressurized aircraft suffer catastrophic decompression
at high (25000+ feet) altitude (usually when the bad guy shoots a
bullet through a window) everything not tied down gets sucked out of
the plane and the aircraft goes into an immediate, rapid nose dive
and the pilots or the good guys have to struggle to level it off or
prevent a crash. Is this an automatic "safety" feature of real,
regular aircraft? On the one hand, passengers need to get denser
air to breathe but large aircraft have oxygen masks that drop down.
(I could do some rough estimates that the average fat slob can hold
their breath for less than a minute so, without masks, the jet
would have to go from let's say 30000 feet to 5000 feet in 30-45
seconds. My ears would explode.)

I would think that a crash dive to a lower altitude could be even
more dangerous such as if it occurred in a crowded air corridor.
Maybe there are other dangers.

What REALLY happens (or is supposed to happen) in the event
of sudden decompression of real high flying aircraft? The second
Hollywood inspired question comes from Executive
Decision (1996). The main character is taking flying lessons
in a single prop 2-seater plane and lands. The plane is still
running (on the ground) and his instructor says, 'I think you're
ready to solo' and gets out. The main character starts to taxi and
then other non-flying plot developments happen. I was wondering if
taking your FIRST solo flight is that simple. The location in the
film in Washington, DC but I figure all
US flying is FAA regulated. Wouldn't the first time soloist have to
fill out some forms, file a flight plan with the airport and maybe
even do a complete pre-flight check on the aircraft? Is the
simplified movie solo flight completely bogus or could it happen
that way?


THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Jerry Hall wrote in message ...
John. It seems that once you move from oral medication to insulin as a
treatment for diabetes, that is the death knell to one's medical
certificate. Lord knows I've certainly jumped through a lot of hoops.
Several years ago the FAA medical folks as much as said, "Give it up,
turkey. You're not getting your medical reinstated." I go through a
similar line of BS in keeping my automobile driver's license. And my
glucose readings seldom go over 140. Have been hoping the newer "Sport"
license might allow me to fly again. Then there are ultralights but
that just isn't quite the same thing. To steal a line from Top Gun, I
feel the need for speed. Had a 177 RG. Jerry

Jerry,

That's how it used to be, but no more. I got mine back and I take
injections twice a day. Your blood sugars have to be between 100-300
thirty minutes prior to flight, and checked every two hours during
flight. Though I have to admit that if the Sport certification comes
through soon it'll probably be easier, and defiantely be cheaper, to
go that route.

Best of Luck,
John


John E. Carty wrote:
"Jerry Hall" wrote in message
...

When I conducted my first solo flight, it was pretty much a non-event
except that I had the plane to myself. After about thirty minutes of
dual - read that as two of us in the airplane, student (me) and the
instructor - including several landings at a controlled (has a tower)
airport, the instructor had me taxi over to the base of the tower and shut
the airplane down. He then asked for my log book and scribbled an
endorsement in the back certifying that I was qualified for solo flight.
Mind you, I had already received ten hours of flight training up to that
point plus extensive text work as well. He then told me to keep the
airplane "in the pattern", i.e. don't leave the controlled airspace
surrounding the airport: approximately a five mile radius. I was then to
perform three "touch and goes" - landings in which you place the airplane
on the runway but do not come to a stop but rather retract the flaps while
still rolling, apply power, and takeoff again. Then I was to land with a
full stop and return to the tower. He said he would watch with the
controllers. Geez, now I had an audience. I contacted the tower via
radio and was given clearance to takeoff and stay in the pattern. I
remembered I was literally shaking, not with fear but with exhilaration.
"Don't screw this up, don't screw this up," was my mantra. I advanced the
throttle once I was positioned on the centerline of the runway and, in my
estimation, the little Cessna 152 leapt forward, unencumbered by the
weight of a second person. Reaching 50 knots, I gently pulled back on the
yoke and the plane rotated and departed the runway. "WOW! I was flying!
Really flying! I was in control! I am a pilot!"
It was all I could do to not start whistling the theme from "The High and
the Mighty." The rest is history.


Many hundreds and hundreds of flight hours (PIC or Pilot In Command) later
and innummerable aircraft, I find myself grounded due to diabetes.


Have you thought about getting a special issuance (if your diabetes is under
fairly good control) to get your medical back and start flying again? :-)


Nothing will ever quite compare to that first solo flight. God I miss it.
Jerry


Aviation wrote:

I have two questions inspired by Hollywood movies.

In the movies (Goldfinger, Executive Decision and so on), when
pressurized aircraft suffer catastrophic decompression
at high (25000+ feet) altitude (usually when the bad guy shoots a bullet
through a window) everything not tied down gets sucked out of the plane
and the aircraft goes into an immediate, rapid nose dive and the pilots
or the good guys have to struggle to level it off or prevent a crash. Is
this an automatic "safety" feature of real, regular aircraft? On the one
hand, passengers need to get denser air to breathe but large aircraft
have oxygen masks that drop down. (I could do some rough estimates that
the average fat slob can hold their breath for less than a minute so,
without masks, the jet
would have to go from let's say 30000 feet to 5000 feet in 30-45 seconds.
My ears would explode.)

I would think that a crash dive to a lower altitude could be even more
dangerous such as if it occurred in a crowded air corridor. Maybe there
are other dangers.

What REALLY happens (or is supposed to happen) in the event
of sudden decompression of real high flying aircraft? The second
Hollywood inspired question comes from Executive
Decision (1996). The main character is taking flying lessons
in a single prop 2-seater plane and lands. The plane is still
running (on the ground) and his instructor says, 'I think you're ready to
solo' and gets out. The main character starts to taxi and then other
non-flying plot developments happen. I was wondering if taking your
FIRST solo flight is that simple. The location in the film in
Washington, DC but I figure all
US flying is FAA regulated. Wouldn't the first time soloist have to fill
out some forms, file a flight plan with the airport and maybe even do a
complete pre-flight check on the aircraft? Is the simplified movie solo
flight completely bogus or could it happen that way?


THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

"John E. Carty" wrote

Many hundreds and hundreds of flight hours (PIC or Pilot In Command)
later
and innummerable aircraft, I find myself grounded due to diabetes.

Have you thought about getting a special issuance (if your diabetes is
under
fairly good control) to get your medical back and start flying again? :-)

Nothing will ever quite compare to that first solo flight. God I miss
it.
Jerry


Get a pump, and one of those sugar checkers that records every reading, and
getting back into the air should be no big deal. Do it!
--
Jim in NC

"John E. Carty" wrote

Many hundreds and hundreds of flight hours (PIC or Pilot In Command)
later
and innummerable aircraft, I find myself grounded due to diabetes.

Have you thought about getting a special issuance (if your diabetes is
under
fairly good control) to get your medical back and start flying again? :-)

Nothing will ever quite compare to that first solo flight. God I miss
it.
Jerry


Get a pump, and one of those sugar checkers that records every reading, and
getting back into the air should be no big deal. Do it!
--
Jim in NC

Most movies use physics from an alternate universe. Bullets flash when they
hit things (even wood!). People outrun shock waves from explosions. The MAC
10 holds an infinite amount of ammo. You can poison a whole airplane by
contaminating the pressurization and/or the oxygen system. Alternatively,
the airplane pressurization will keep a plane filled with air even under
water. Small aircraft routinely outclimb and run into airliners.

As for Goldfinger, I suppose he *could* have hit the elevator and jammed it
when he was sucked out. But, really, why let the facts get in the way of a
good story?

As for solo flight, usually I just sign the student's log book and get out
of the airplane. I will have already briefed him on what I want him to do
during the solo -- three takeoffs and landings. A flight plan is not
required for VFR flight in the United States and most pilots do not file
one, especially if they are just going to remain in the local pattern. It is
only used for search and rescue, although some areas demanding extra
security since 9/11 also require a flight plan. The student would not call
the tower if there was no tower at the airport.

C J Campbell wrote in message
...
Most movies use physics from an alternate universe. Bullets flash when
they
hit things (even wood!). People outrun shock waves from explosions. The
MAC
10 holds an infinite amount of ammo. You can poison a whole airplane by
contaminating the pressurization and/or the oxygen system. Alternatively,
the airplane pressurization will keep a plane filled with air even under
water. Small aircraft routinely outclimb and run into airliners.

As for Goldfinger, I suppose he *could* have hit the elevator and jammed
it
when he was sucked out. But, really, why let the facts get in the way of a
good story?


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3039583.stm

An interesting take on the situation especially in light of the fact that
there has been a case of a cabin window being shattered by engine debris
resulting in a PAX being blown out through that window.

Paul Nixon

"khobar" wrote in message
news:%T1Jb.16822$7D3.7011@fed1read02...
C J Campbell wrote in message
...
Most movies use physics from an alternate universe. Bullets flash when
they
hit things (even wood!). People outrun shock waves from explosions. The
MAC
10 holds an infinite amount of ammo. You can poison a whole airplane by
contaminating the pressurization and/or the oxygen system.
Alternatively,
the airplane pressurization will keep a plane filled with air even under
water. Small aircraft routinely outclimb and run into airliners.

As for Goldfinger, I suppose he *could* have hit the elevator and jammed
it
when he was sucked out. But, really, why let the facts get in the way of
a
good story?


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3039583.stm

An interesting take on the situation especially in light of the fact that
there has been a case of a cabin window being shattered by engine debris
resulting in a PAX being blown out through that window.

Paul Nixon

The "Ballistics Profile" of the most powerful hand gun "Pales in
comparison/is infatisimal compared to that of debris from an "Uncontained
Engine Failure".
Ralph Nesbitt
Professional FD/CFR/ARFF Type

Ralph Nesbitt wrote in message
m...

"khobar" wrote in message
news:%T1Jb.16822$7D3.7011@fed1read02...
C J Campbell wrote in message
...
Most movies use physics from an alternate universe. Bullets flash when
they
hit things (even wood!). People outrun shock waves from explosions.
The
MAC
10 holds an infinite amount of ammo. You can poison a whole airplane
by
contaminating the pressurization and/or the oxygen system.
Alternatively,
the airplane pressurization will keep a plane filled with air even
under
water. Small aircraft routinely outclimb and run into airliners.

As for Goldfinger, I suppose he *could* have hit the elevator and
jammed
it
when he was sucked out. But, really, why let the facts get in the way
of
a
good story?


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3039583.stm

An interesting take on the situation especially in light of the fact
that
there has been a case of a cabin window being shattered by engine debris
resulting in a PAX being blown out through that window.

Paul Nixon

The "Ballistics Profile" of the most powerful hand gun "Pales in
comparison/is infatisimal compared to that of debris from an "Uncontained
Engine Failure".

A .22 pales in comparison to a cannonball, yet both are deadly under the
right circumstances.

What bullets, if any, possess sufficient energy to penetrate an airliner
window and would that airliner window spider or would said bullet simply
leave a small hole? We already know that an adult PAX will, apparently, fit
through a typical airliner window.

Paul Nixon

|
| What bullets, if any, possess sufficient energy to penetrate an airliner
| window and would that airliner window spider or would said bullet simply
| leave a small hole? We already know that an adult PAX will, apparently,
fit
| through a typical airliner window.
|

We do not really know any such thing. If the passenger is bigger than the
window he simply cannot be pulled through it any more than he can sucked up
through a vacuum cleaner hose.

"khobar" wrote in message
news:j1gJb.16912$7D3.7262@fed1read02...
Ralph Nesbitt wrote in message
m...

"khobar" wrote in message
news:%T1Jb.16822$7D3.7011@fed1read02...
C J Campbell wrote in message
...
Most movies use physics from an alternate universe. Bullets flash
when
they
hit things (even wood!). People outrun shock waves from explosions.
The
MAC
10 holds an infinite amount of ammo. You can poison a whole airplane
by
contaminating the pressurization and/or the oxygen system.
Alternatively,
the airplane pressurization will keep a plane filled with air even
under
water. Small aircraft routinely outclimb and run into airliners.

As for Goldfinger, I suppose he *could* have hit the elevator and
jammed
it
when he was sucked out. But, really, why let the facts get in the
way
of
a
good story?


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3039583.stm

An interesting take on the situation especially in light of the fact
that
there has been a case of a cabin window being shattered by engine
debris
resulting in a PAX being blown out through that window.

Paul Nixon

The "Ballistics Profile" of the most powerful hand gun "Pales in
comparison/is infatisimal compared to that of debris from an
"Uncontained
Engine Failure".

A .22 pales in comparison to a cannonball, yet both are deadly under the
right circumstances.

What bullets, if any, possess sufficient energy to penetrate an airliner
window and would that airliner window spider or would said bullet simply
leave a small hole? We already know that an adult PAX will, apparently,
fit
through a typical airliner window.

Paul Nixon

I have no experience with "A/C Window Bullet Impact". Have seen "Spidering
due Debris" from "uncontained engine failures. Have seen, dealt with the
aftermath of encounters between fighter type A/C & large birds such as
"Buzzards, Eagles, or other large carrion Feeders.

For some reason the "Canopy of F-4's" were subject to shatter, disappear
upon impact with a large bird. For some reason the remains of "Buzzards",
especially, tended to remain in the cockpit. Makes for a smelly tedious
situation to safety ejection seats, especially those with "Banana Links,
check crew for injuries, then safely remove them from A/C.

The "Windshields of Southern 232", a DC-9, were broken out along with
"Catastrophic Engine Damage" by hail at altitude resulting in a catastrophic
incident. Many "Hail Stones of ~3" Diameter were in the cockpit when we
arrived on scene within ~ 7 minuets of the incident. There were substantial
"Dents/Dings" in the rear cockpit bulkhead from the "Hail Stones".
Ralph Nesbitt
Professional FD/CFR/ARFF Type