Ask the Captain: Dealing with in-flight health emergencies
Question: On my last flight from Minneapolis to Las Vegas, we had a passenger develop a medical emergency. The pilot chose to divert the flight to Denver to get the passenger medical attention. How much of a challenge is it for a pilot to accommodate an unscheduled landing? Is it more challenging if the diversion airport is more prone to weather issues than the original destination, i.e. sunny California vs. a snowy Denver?
-- submitted by reader Brent in Minneapolis
Answer: It can be very challenging. There is much to do and a limited time in which to do it. Flight-management computers have to be reprogrammed, checklists accomplished and the airplane configured for the landing, all while coordinating with air traffic control, the flight attendants and the flight dispatcher.
In one example from my career, I had a passenger on a flight with a serious medical emergency. The onboard doctors said we needed to get on the ground as soon as possible. We declared an emergency due to the medical condition and landed less than 15 minutes later. It was a very busy 15 minutes. We taxied up to the gate where paramedics met us. We did all that we could for the passenger. Unfortunately the outcome was not good.
The weather at the new destination is evaluated by the crew. If the weather is an issue, the pilots set the airplane up for the necessary instrument approach. Professional pilots fly in all kinds of weather and can adjust to a different airport quickly. The answer is yes, it is slightly more challenging if the weather is an issue, but not usually a major problem.
Q: I was on a flight last year from Dallas to Brisbane and as a result of a medical emergency on board, the 16-hour flight took more than 20 hours. How does a flight crew handle the fatigue when a situation like that occurs ? It just about did me in, so I cannot imagine what it was like for the crew.
-- Terrry Cox, Charlotte, N.C.
A: There are limitations on the maximum duty-hours for a flight crew member. On very long-range flights, there may be two crews onboard. While one crew flies the airplane, other crew members rest in special rest areas. The crew members rotate positions during the flight to mitigate fatigue. A flight like you describe is challenging for everyone.
Pilots are very aware of the impact of fatigue on performance and schedule rest breaks to lessen the effects. However, fatigue is one of the most difficult aspects of a pilot's job.
John Cox is a retired airline captain with U.S. Airways and runs his own aviation safety consulting company, Safety Operating Systems.