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passenger with no flight experience landing plane at Palm Beach Int. Airport
Original ATC Communication
Plain English Translation
ATC
Airvan 333 Lima Delta, Fort Pierce Tower.
ATC
Airvan 333 Lima Delta, this is the control tower at Fort Pierce.
PASSENGER
I've got a serious situation here. My pilot has gone incoherent. I have no idea how to fly the airplane, but I'm at 9,100.
PASSENGER
I have a major emergency here. My pilot has gone incoherent. I don't know the first thing about flying this plane, but I'm at 9,100 feet.
ATC
Number 333 Lima Delta, Roger. What's your position?
ATC
Aircraft 333 Lima Delta, I understand. Where is your current position?
PASSENGER
I have no idea. I can see the coast of Florida in front of me, but I have no idea.
PASSENGER
I have no clue. I can see the Florida coastline ahead of me, but I don't know where I am exactly.
ATC
Number 333 Lima Delta, do you know how to operate the transponder? Can you squawk 7700?
ATC
333 Lima Delta, do you know how to use the radio beacon box? Can you enter the emergency code 7700 so we can find you on radar?
PASSENGER
Standby, let me see.
PASSENGER
Hang on, let me look.
PASSENGER
Repeat that frequency to squawk.
PASSENGER
Tell me that emergency code again.
ATC
Number 333 Lima Delta, if able, input 7700 into your transponder.
ATC
333 Lima Delta, if you're able, type 7700 into that radio beacon device.
PASSENGER
7700.
PASSENGER
I'm setting the emergency signal to 7700 now.
ATC
Number 3 Lima Delta, can you say again what the situation is?
ATC
Plane 3 Lima Delta, can you repeat that? What exactly is the situation?
PASSENGER
Pilot is incoherent.
PASSENGER
The pilot isn't making any sense; he's not with it.
ATC
Number 3 Lima Delta, that came in a little broken. What was the situation with the pilot?
ATC
3 Lima Delta, your radio cut out a little. What did you say was happening with the pilot?
PASSENGER
He is incoherent. He is out.
PASSENGER
He’s not making sense. He’s completely out of it.
ATC
Number 3 Lima Delta, Roger. Try to hold the wings level and see if you can start descending for me. Push forward on the controls and descend at a very slow rate.
ATC
3 Lima Delta, I understand. Try to keep the wings flat and see if you can start heading down for me. Push forward on the steering controls and go down at a very slow rate.
PASSENGER
I'm descending right now at 550 feet a minute, passing 8,640.
PASSENGER
I’m heading down right now at 550 feet per minute, just passing 8,640 feet high.
ATC
Number 333 Lima Delta, Roger. Continue the descent and try to level off at 5,000 feet.
ATC
3 Lima Delta, I copy that. Keep heading down and try to level the plane out once you reach 5,000 feet.
PASSENGER
10-4. What heading do I need to be at? Give me a compass heading because I have no controls on my electronics, but one of the rolls.
PASSENGER
Got it. What direction do I need to fly? Give me a compass heading because I can’t control my electronic screens, except for the one showing if the plane is tilting.
ATC
Number 3 Lima Delta, maintain wings level and just try to follow the coast either north or southbound. We're trying to locate you.
ATC
Three Lima Delta, keep your wings flat and level and just try to follow the coastline either north or south. We’re trying to find your position on our radar right now.
PASSENGER
10-4, passing 8,600.
PASSENGER
Copy that, passing 8,600 feet.
ATC
Number 3 Lima Delta, if able, hit the ident button on the transponder.
ATC
Three Lima Delta, if you can, press the "ident" button on the radio box that identifies your plane on our screens.
PASSENGER
Ident what?
PASSENGER
Press the what?
ATC
On the transponder, there is a button that says "ident." Hit the ident button for me.
ATC
On that radio unit, there’s a button that actually says "ident." Just press that button for me.
PASSENGER
I... I-D-E-N-T?
PASSENGER
I... I-D-E-N-T?
PASSENGER
I'm looking for it, standby.
PASSENGER
I'm looking for it, hold on.
ATC
Number 3 Lima Delta, if able, I have a frequency for you to put into your radio: 132.15. 132.15. That's Palm Beach Approach. They may have a better idea of where you're at.
ATC
Plane 3 Lima Delta, if you're able, I have a new radio channel for you to switch to: 132.15. That’s 132.15. Those are the controllers at Palm Beach Approach, and they might have a better view of where you are on their radar.
PASSENGER
132.15?
PASSENGER
132.15?
ATC
Number 3 Lima Delta, did you copy the frequency 132.15?
ATC
Plane 3 Lima Delta, did you get that radio channel 132.15?
PASSENGER
No.
PASSENGER
No.
ATC
Number 3 Lima Delta, no problem. Just continue to stay wings level, maintain 5,000, and follow the coast. We're going to try to find you here on the radar.
ATC
3 Lima Delta, that’s no problem. Just keep the wings level so the plane flies straight, stay at 5,000 feet high, and just follow the coastline. We’re working on finding your position here on our radar screen.
PASSENGER
Have you guys located me yet? I can't even get my nav screen to turn on; it has all the information on it. Do you guys have any ideas on that?
PASSENGER
Have you guys found me yet? I can't even get my navigation screen to turn on, and that has all my flight info on it. Do you have any idea how to fix that?
ATC
Number 3 Lima Delta, Palm Beach is instructing me that you're about 20 miles east of Boca Raton. Just continue northbound over the beach and we'll try to get you some further instructions. Continue to maintain 5,000 northbound over the beach.
ATC
3 Lima Delta, the Palm Beach controllers are telling me you're about 20 miles east of Boca Raton. Just keep flying north along the beach and we'll get you more instructions. Stay at 5,000 feet and keep heading north over the shoreline.
PASSENGER
I've got the coast in my headlights. I'm at 7,280. Do I need to get lower?
PASSENGER
I can see the coast right in front of me. I'm at 7,280 feet. Do I need to fly lower?
ATC
Number 3 Lima Delta, you're at 7,280 for altitude?
ATC
Plane 3 Lima Delta, are you showing a height of 7,280 feet right now?
PASSENGER
Yeah, descending at 600.
PASSENGER
Yeah, we’re heading down at about 600 feet per minute.
ATC
Number 3 Lima Delta, Roger. Just continue the slow descent until you get to 5,000 feet. Continue northbound over the beach and we'll get you further instructions toward an airport.
ATC
Plane 3 Lima Delta, understood. Just keep drifting down slowly until you reach 5,000 feet. Keep flying north along the shoreline and we’ll give you more directions toward an airport.
PASSENGER
Go northbound over the beach.
PASSENGER
Fly north along the beach.
ATC
Number 3 Lima Delta, do you have a cell phone with you?
ATC
Plane 3 Lima Delta, do you have a cell phone with you there?
PASSENGER
Yes, we do.
PASSENGER
Yes, we have one.
ATC
Number 3 Lima Delta, if you have a cell phone number, give me the phone number and we're going to try to get you in contact with somebody that can help you.
ATC
Plane 3 Lima Delta, give me that cell phone number. We’re going to try to get you on the line with someone who can help talk you through this.
ATC
Number 3 Lima Delta, you still with me?
ATC
Plane 3 Lima Delta, are you still on the radio with me?
ATC
Number 3 Lima Delta, say again.
ATC
Aircraft 3 Lima Delta, please repeat what you just said.
PASSENGER
I've got one off the nose, looks like a little bit to the southwest.
PASSENGER
I see another plane right in front of me, maybe a little bit toward the southwest.
ATC
Number 333 Lima Delta, having trouble hearing you. I heard you say something about southwest. Can you say again your cell phone number?
ATC
Aircraft 333 Lima Delta, I’m having a hard time hearing you. I caught the part about southwest. Could you repeat your cell phone number for me?
PASSENGER
I have no idea how to stop the airplane. I don't know how to do anything.
PASSENGER
I have no idea how to stop this plane. I don't know how to do anything at all!
ATC
Lifeguard 321, Roger. Standby, I've got an emergency situation going on.
ATC
Medical flight 321, I hear you. Please wait, I'm dealing with an emergency situation right now.
ATC
Number 333 Lima Delta, if you can hear me, I have a phone number for you. Give that phone number a call on your cell phone if able.
ATC
Aircraft 333 Lima Delta, if you can hear me, I have a phone number for you. Call that number on your cell phone if you’re able to.
ATC
Number 333 Lima Delta, did you hear the transmission?
ATC
Aircraft 333 Lima Delta, did you hear that last message?
ATC
Number 333 Lima Delta, Fort Pierce Tower, can you hear me?
ATC
Aircraft 333 Lima Delta, this is the Fort Pierce control tower, can you hear me?
PASSENGER
Loud and clear.
PASSENGER
I can hear you perfectly.
ATC
Number 3 Lima Delta, did you hear the phone number I gave you? If you could give that a call, they're going to get you in touch with someone that can help you maneuver that plane.
ATC
Plane 3 Lima Delta, did you catch that phone number I mentioned? If you can call it, they'll connect you with an expert who can walk you through how to fly the aircraft.
ATC
Number 3 Lima Delta, Roger. Continue following the coast. Can you confirm that you got that phone number?
ATC
Understood, 3 Lima Delta. Just keep flying along the coastline for now. Can you let me know for sure if you have that phone number written down?
ATC
Number 3 Lima Delta, Roger. If you can, on your cell phone, give that phone number a call. They're going to get you in touch with someone that can help you maneuver that plane.
ATC
Copy that, 3 Lima Delta. If you're able, use your cell phone to call that number. They have someone ready to talk you through how to control the plane.
ATC
Number 3 Lima Delta, while you're making that call, just remain on this frequency. Is the pilot unconscious?
ATC
3 Lima Delta, keep listening to me on this radio channel while you make that call. Is the pilot passed out?
ATC
Number 3 Lima Delta, can you tell me how many personnel are on the plane with you?
ATC
3 Lima Delta, can you tell me exactly how many people are on the aircraft with you?
PASSENGER
I'm the only one on board.
PASSENGER
It’s just me on here.
ATC
Number 3 Lima Delta, Palm Beach Approach is going to talk to you. They're going to direct you to the Palm Beach Airport. You should hear them on this frequency momentarily.
ATC
3 Lima Delta, the controllers at Palm Beach are going to take over talking to you now. They’ll guide you toward the Palm Beach Airport. You’ll hear their voices on this same radio channel in just a moment.
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