Know Where To Go

My father was a mechanic for a major airline. One day he was a passenger on one of the company’s Boeing 767s on a flight from Chicago to Los Angeles. As the heavy Boeing lifted off into a low overcast at O’Hare, the right engine failed. My father later told me he could hear the change in noise and feel the deck angle, but said the crew artfully handled the failure and engine shutdown, and most passengers probably didn’t notice anything unusual had happened.

Key Takeaways:

• Pre-planning a "takeoff alternate" is a critical safety Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for all pilots, especially for IFR departures.
• This preparation removes complex decision-making during high-stress, high-workload situations immediately after takeoff, such as engine failures, equipment malfunctions, or unforecast weather.
• It involves identifying a suitable alternate airport (which may not be the departure airport), checking its weather and approach minimums, and having all necessary information ready before starting the flight.

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