A trainee pilot on his first flying lesson has been commended for safely landing a plane after his instructor suffered a medical emergency and collapsed mid-air. Max Sylvester was on a flying lesson south of Perth on Saturday when his instructor collapsed. It is understood the instructor was drifting in and out of consciousness, forcing the student to take control of the Cessna and safely land it at Jandakot Airport while being coached by air traffic control. Max Sylvester, who is in his 30s, called air traffic control just over an hour into his lesson on Saturday afternoon after realising he was alone at the controls of the small Cessna. "He's leaning over my shoulder, I'm trying to keep him up but he keeps falling down," Mr Sylvester can be heard telling the controller. It was Mr Sylvester's first lesson in a two-seater as his wife and three children watched him from the ground. The air traffic operator kept the trainee calm as he talked him through an emergency landing. "Do you know how to operate the airplane?" the operator asks. "This is my first lesson," Mr Sylvester tells him.
‘You’re doing a really great job’
In an intense audio recording, control tower personnel can be heard guiding the student and telling him, “You’re doing a really great job”, as he made several practice passes at the runway.
After a few trail runs, where the trainee was instructed several times to “lift your nose up”, he was eventually told he was ready to land on the next pass.
“Looking great mate, this is perfect. Keep it up,” a man from air traffic control reassured the student as he touched down on the runway.
“You did it mate, well done. You’ve done so well ... You’ve done an absolutely amazing job. Well done.” At least 10 emergency vehicles were seen waiting on the tarmac for plane to land, including fire crews and paramedics. Emergency crews applauded and cheered, along with Mr Sylvester’s wife and three young children who were anxiously waiting at the ground, when the student made his first solo landing. The instructor and student were reportedly treated by emergency crews at the scene. The instructor was taken to hospital in a stable condition about 5pm.
Chuck McElwee, who owns and operates the Perth flying school, said he'd never had an incident like this in his 28 years in business. "This good outcome is what you hope for. It just worked out this time," he said. Mr McElwee praised the young pilot, tower controller and the back-up instructor who all "did an exceptional job", and worked "incredibly well" to get everyone safely on the ground.
Main part of the story sourced from here.
Aircraft Details
Airline: Air Australia International
Code:
Aircraft: Cessna 152
Registration: VH-TFR
Serial Number: 15281207
Year Made: 1977
Age: 42 Yrs
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