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Sky Kings: Declaring an Emergency

In an emergency, remember the steps to take: aviate, navigate, and then communicate. Getty Images
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Key Takeaways:

  • A flight crew successfully managed an in-flight engine shutdown due to low oil pressure from a faulty O-ring by strictly adhering to checklists and prioritizing cockpit tasks before communicating extensively with Air Traffic Control (ATC).
  • The pilots strategically delayed declaring an emergency until priority landing was necessary, emphasizing the importance of managing ATC communications to minimize distractions during critical emergency phases.
  • Declaring the emergency ultimately secured crucial priority handling for landing, affirming its value despite the initial distraction of repeated questions from concerned controllers.
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The light on the panel read “OIL1.” It was telling us we had low oil pressure in the left engine. We didn’t believe it. In 14 years of flying our old Falcon 10, we had never seen an oil light come on. We looked down at the oil-pressure gauge to reassure ourselves that there was nothing wrong with the engine.

John King

John King started King Schools Inc., with his wife, Martha, in a spare bedroom of their home. Today, the school operates out of a dedicated complex in San Diego, California, that includes a video and software production facility. John and Martha have shared flying and teaching aviation for more than 50 years.

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