The North Dakota badlands had fascinated John and me for a long time, and we couldn’t think of a better way to enjoy them than from our Comanche 250. In retrospect, we certainly could have chosen a better day.
Sky Kings: When Not to Talk to ATC
Don’t drop the airplane to fly the microphone.
Key Takeaways:
- During an emergency flight involving severe icing and engine issues, the pilots executed an instrument approach without obtaining an ATC clearance, ultimately landing safely.
- The experience highlights the critical "Aviate, Navigate, Communicate" principle, suggesting that prioritizing immediate aircraft control and navigation over communication can be life-saving in an emergency.
- Under FAR 91.3, pilots are legally permitted to deviate from operating rules in an inflight emergency, even without declaring it, to ensure safety.
- The article discusses the tension between this "fly the plane first" philosophy and both natural human social instincts and ATC's expectation of communication during problems.
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