do they fly in a pilot (like mid-air refuel)?
Nej, det är inte riktigt möjligt!
Se svar på Kan en passagerarjet släpas till säkerheten om den bryter ner i midair?
do they leave it to the co-pilot to take care of such situations?
Ja. I både normala och akuta situationer kan medpiloten flyga flygplanet, navigera till en närliggande flygplats och landa flygplanet utan hjälp av seniorpiloten.
Från Skybrary
Here are some lines of defense:
- The remaining pilot must assume or maintain control
- Establish a safe flight profile and engage the autopilot; use all possible automation
- Obtain cabin crew assistance
- Inform ATC
- If on an extended-range twin-engine operations (ETOPS) flight, the remaining pilot or PIC must assess whether to continue the flight, return to the departure airport or divert. The decision is based on:
- Weather conditions at the destination or alternate
- Reduction of flight time if diverting
- Workload involved in single-pilot operation
- Familiarity with the alternate
- Condition of the incapacitated pilot
- Availability of medical assistance
- Overall safety of the flight
- Arrange medical assistance upon arrival
- Brief a cabin crew member to assist if required
- Complete the approach and landing using the autopilot as much as possible
- A partially incapacitated pilot should not be allowed to participate in the subsequent operation of the aircraft, as judgment may be impaired
- After landing, seek immediate medical assistance
Se även IFALPA - Pilot Incapacitation
The remaining pilot must first assume command and maintain control of the aircraft. Furthermore the position of essential controls and switches should be checked, and in nearly all cases, use of the autopilot should be made and an emergency be declared. Use of the autopilot and priority of air traffic service are two obvious and effective ways of maintaining a tolerable level of workload.
The second step is to take care of the incapacitated flight crew member. The grounds for this are not entirely humanitarian; if left unattended an incapacitated pilot can become a major problem and in any case is a major distraction to the remaining crew. Thus the incapacitated pilot must be moved out of the range of flight controls. In all cases, the advisability of removing a pilot (perhaps unconscious) from the seat must be dictated by consideration of the phase of the flight, the crew available, and the contours of the flight deck.
Note: Consideration of the restraint and care of an incapacitated pilot dictates that cabin attendants are at least familiar with the operation of harness and seat controls
Finally, and after the incapacitated flight crew member has been taken care of, the remaining flight crew should re-organise the cockpit work and prepare for landing. Details will depend on many variables including such considerations as the type of aircraft being flown, phase of flight, en route and terminal weather, and many others.
How does commercial airlines prepare themselves for these kind of situations.
Jag föreställer mig att det handlar om de vanliga åtgärderna
- få piloter att ta regelbundna medicinska tester.
- gör piloter ansvariga för rapportering av egen eller besättningssjukdom, trötthet mm
- förhindra piloter som äter samma måltider i flygning.
- skriv procedurer för pilotinsufficiens i flygning.
- utbilda flygbesättning för att utföra dessa förfaranden
- granska och revidera ovanstående baserat på erfarenheter av relevanta händelser.
Från vad jag har läst, får icke-pilotflygbesättning ofta mycket grundläggande träning så att de förstår grunderna i flygningen. Till exempel kräver Transport Canada flygledare grundläggande utbildning för att inkludera en pilot- inkapacitetsborrning, en förståelse för delar av flygplan inklusive roder, flygplan mm, principer för flyg etc etc.
Do they specifically check if there are any pilots in the passenger manifest
Jag tror att flygbolagspersonalen ofta skulle vara medveten om flygbolagens piloter ombord (t.ex. dödsbesättningen ) men inte av GA eller militära piloter som flyger som vanliga passagerare.