Terrific article about what to do in the event of an alternator failure (“When The Sparks Stop,” May 2010), right up to the part where the author says, “if you dont feel like its an absolute emergency, dont declare one.” He then goes on to say ATC will realize the seriousness of your situation, and provide extra help. No. They. Wont. 288
Will They? Or Wont They?
Terrific article about what to do in the event of an alternator failure ("When The Sparks Stop," May 2010), right up to the part where the author says, "if you dont feel like its an absolute emergency, dont declare one." He then goes on to say ATC will realize the seriousness of your situation, and provide extra help.
Key Takeaways:
- Pilots should immediately declare an emergency in the event of an alternator failure, contrary to advice suggesting otherwise, as Air Traffic Control (ATC) may not fully grasp the severity of the situation without explicit notification.
- Declaring an emergency ensures ATC provides essential assistance, such as clearing traffic and stopping conflicting departures, which is otherwise not guaranteed in a standard "first come, first served" system.
- Pilots should not fear enforcement action for declaring an emergency; it costs nothing, is a justifiable safety measure (especially in IMC), and can prevent more severe consequences or regulatory follow-up compared to silently managing a critical battery failure.
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