Deadstick: The Movie

Get ready to star in this adventure by positioning your aircraft on Runway 24 at Muskegon County (KMKG) in Michigan. Pick whatever aircraft best resembles an aircraft you fly. If you have the option for retractable gear, you might want to use it as that adds a variable to this exercise and makes it more, um, fun. But the choice of the airplane is really up to you. If you fly a twin, slum it for this sim challenge and go back to the high-performance single you probably traded in for your first twin.

jwanwest

Sunday, July 28, 2019 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The article presents a flight simulator challenge for pilots to practice "deadstick" (engine-out) landings in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC).
It emphasizes the pilot's emergency authority (FAR 91.3(b)) to deviate from standard rules when facing an in-flight emergency requiring immediate action.
The simulation at Muskegon County (KMKG) prompts pilots to critically evaluate and strategize various landing techniques, including straight-in or ILS approaches, considering factors like wind, glide speed, and runway choice.
The exercise encourages reflection on real-world decision-making during an engine failure, including optimal glide performance, instrument use, and even the unexpected insurance implications of a perfectly executed emergency landing.

See a mistake? Contact us.

The old HBO series Deadwood told the tale of a lawless town where the rules were what you made them. Our aviation version is the Wild West town of FAR 91.3 (b): “In an in-flight emergency requiring immediate action, the pilot in command may deviate from any rule of this part to the extent required to meet that emergency.”

Welcome to Deadstick, the place where losing an engine in IMC grants you the authority to ignore those pesky course reversals, crossing altitudes, and ATC instructions. This plane is coming down and the only one who can make that happen on a runway is you. Welcome to what’ll probably be the only sim challenge that doesn’t contain a single missed approach.