Posted on 08/14/2024 8:10:19 PM PDT by logi_cal869
Passengers aboard an Alaska Airlines flight bound for Jackson Hole, Wyoming, were miffed last week after the pilot explained over the intercom that he could not land the plane at their destination. Instead, the flight was diverted to Salt Lake City.
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“Hey, I’m really sorry folks, but due to me not having the proper qualification to land in Jackson Hole, we need to divert to Salt Lake City, Utah. We’ll keep you posted on the next steps,” the pilot explained.
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After the flight diversion to Salt Lake, the Reddit poster said the pilot offered no further explanation and simply left the plane.
“[T]he pilot got off the plane (in a walk of shame since his bag was in the overhead in the back of the plane lol) and then a new pilot from Salt Lake City got on the plane and we flew into Jackson,” the passenger posted.
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The Jackson Hole Airport is at an elevation of over 6,451 feet and is framed by the Teton Range, soaring more than 13,000 feet in elevation. Experienced pilots report the approach as “tricky” because of frequent downdrafts and windshear, combined with a short runway.
The complexities of landing at JAC earn the airport a Special PIC (pilot in command) qualification for the airport — in place since 1990 — as well as a SAAT level 4 rating, requiring a more experienced line check airman sitting copilot.
Each individual airline has its own standards of training requiring varying minimum hours of flight time.
Many qualified captains with thousands of flight hours may not meet company minimums behind the wheel of a particular aircraft or flying into certain airports with ceiling and visibility minimum requirements.
(Excerpt) Read more at cowboystatedaily.com ...
“ The complexities of landing at JAC earn the airport a Special PIC (pilot in command) qualification for the airport — in place since 1990 — as well as a SAAT level 4 rating, requiring a more experienced line check airman sitting copilot”
Shouldn’t the airline have a process to stop such a thing?
If he couldn’t do it, couldn’t the co-pilot?
Yes. Somebody screwed up and the first officer doubled down on it by taking off in the first place.
Planes get diverted from JAC to SLC all the time in winter ice conditions.
Good question, but also:
How could a PIC/captain not know he/she/it wasn’t certified to land at one of only 31 contiguous US airports requiring such a certification?
https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Notice/N_8900.304.pdf
Yes, but of course.
That’s what the article is all about.
/s
Well since he’s the PIC and the FO didn’t offer up to do it, so dunno.
You would think so, but since I don’t know all the particulars as like what sort of plane was it and again, when he got his flight plan from the dispatcher he should have spoken up right away.
Excuse me Captain, but can you fly???
Landed there several times in a 737. It’s a tricky landing. Always thanked the crew.
Also they sometimes have issues with mule deer on the tarmac.
CitationMax on YouTube has many videos of himself landing his Citation III at Jackson Hole. Doesn’t look especially dangerous on a nice day - but I’m sure the winds off the Tetons make it pretty hairy on a bad weather day.
It was the PIC (capt) who I assume said that and not the FO. It seems neither one wanted to fly the pattern in. Basically it’s a slot between two canyons and a lot of up and down drafts that make it a rocky approach; then too, runway length. I’ve not read the article through but what type of aircraft was he flying?
Embraer ERJ 175
Would the specs of that airport be on the flight plan?
Depends. Several circumstances could arise~~company assigns reserve pilot to flight. Paperwork should list requirements for that airport. Did it?
Other possible admin and pilot errors.
This makes Alaska Air look amateur and unforgivably unprofessional. A buncha numbskulls!
Makes ya just want to run out and fly the friendly skies with United/SkyWest, doesn’t it?
/s
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