Working the Problem

From reading Hadfields autobiography An Astronauts Guide to Life on Earthand listening to various interviews online, its clear Hadfield is no stranger to unexpected problems. From a seagull strike in an F/A-18 Hornet fighter at 500 knots a mere 50 feet above the water, to temporarily going blind during his first spacewalk because of contamination in his helmet, he has faced some unique situations.

tkarmer

Friday, September 08, 2017 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Pilots must immediately and honestly communicate any difficulties (e.g., equipment failure, confusion, inexperience) to Air Traffic Control (ATC) to enable controllers to effectively assist and prevent minor issues from escalating into major hazards.
Air traffic controllers employ proactive risk management, adaptable problem-solving (including creative rule interpretation), and extensive coordination to ensure the safe resolution of flight anomalies, even under ambiguous or challenging circumstances.
The article underscores that withholding critical information, whether due to embarrassment or oversight, can lead to dangerous and potentially catastrophic outcomes, emphasizing that early disclosure is always preferable for aviation safety.

See a mistake? Contact us.

I am not much for hero-worship, but there are definitely people on—and off—this planet whom I admire. One of them is astronaut Chris Hadfield, a fighter pilot, test pilot, veteran of two Space Shuttle flights, musician, and commander of the International Space Station for six months. He’s perhaps most famous for having recorded a music video where he performs David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” aboard the ISS.

From reading Hadfield’s autobiography An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earthand listening to various interviews online, it’s clear Hadfield is no stranger to unexpected problems. From a seagull strike in an F/A-18 Hornet fighter at 500 knots a mere 50 feet above the water, to temporarily going blind during his first spacewalk because of contamination in his helmet, he has faced some unique situations.