Jet Blue Landing in LA

The film of that was on telly just now (I'm too embarrassed to name the programme!). The pilot did really well to keep the nose up as long as he did, and then keep it straight once the nose was lowered. I'm just glad it wasn't me that signed off the fitting/testing of the nose undercarriage!

Tony

Somewhat contrary to common-sense, I'm sure I heard on the news that the people IN the plane were also able to watch it live on their head-rest screens.
Did anyone else hear this, or am I imagining it?

I would not think the opportunity to broadcast TV was something a plane's in-flight system was equipped to do (why bother? mainly), but if so surely it was far from wise?

Bit of a frightener anyway, although apparently the plane was undamaged apart from the faulty front wheel, and this has to be a very competant pilot.

Quite a few airlines are fitting their aircraft with 2 external cameras, with images available to the passengers. One cam faces vertically down, the other faces the nose u/c from a position further down the fuselage. Might be fun watching frozen illegal immigrants fall out!

Tony

Video here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4270134.stm

Tony

BBC Radio news said the passengers were able to watch the landing a local TV station was broadcasting the event - I guess the signal was transmitted by satellite to the plane.

The TV co did have 3 hours to set up the pogram while they dumped/used up fuel over the Pacific

I have had the pleasure of the emergency vehicles running alongside of the plane as we landed. "Just in case" as the pilot said.

Strangely enough I have never flown that route again - I always drive it now.

At least the airline didn't get upto these sort of antics:

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/WeirdNews/2005/09/21/1229462-ap.html

Crikey.

Tony

compliments to the pilot and crew, and also in a wierd way testament to the build quality of the plane (that the undercarriage didnt collapse...)

Check these out
http://www.alexisparkinn.com/aviation_videos.htm
espesh the base jumping one, the extreme landing and the oh my god - enjoy (or be scared)
Martin

quote:

Might be fun watching frozen illegal immigrants fall out!

Tony

Jet Blue offers live TV through satellite feeds in many of it's aircraft. The passengers were watching the live TV news of themselves circling to burn off fuel but the pilots turned the system off around 30 minutes before they landed.

According to TV interviews the passengers were relatively calm and the pilot did a stellar job of keeping them informed about what was going on.

He did an amazing job.

Jim

I read somewhere that airline pilots earn so much because, averaged out, each pilot will experience forty seconds during their career in which making the right choice at the right moment will be critical - and in which a mistake will cost many lives.

He'll be taking the rest of the week off now I suspect...