Personal Nightmares of an Airline Pilot

As an airline pilot, the job can be filled with moments that keep one vividly awake long after takeoff. Experienced pilots like myself can claim to have had moments that do not haunt our dreams, but it is the other party that often carries the nightmarish tale. I recount a particularly chilling episode while in the right seat of an EMB 120 preparing for a visual approach to Portland (PDX).

Approach control kept issuing traffic advisories of a primary target ahead. The last one was a direct warning: the plane was at 12 o’clock, just one mile away, spinning in a tight turn. Understanding the implications, the captain and I exchanged glances. Within moments, we saw a skydiver swoosh by in front of our aircraft, barely 30 feet away. He was wearing an orange jumpsuit with a black stripe, had a dark goatee, and his streamer was trailing behind him. The EMB 120’s propellers are ten and a half feet in diameter, and it was clear the skydiver had seen these coming through his round of skydives.

Ethical Dilemmas and Corporate Corruption

The darker side of corporate life in the aviation industry can lead to devastating consequences. In a poignant example, I witnessed 3.4 million dollars of pension payouts diverted by former employees using bankruptcy to avoid legal consequences. The union, rather than fighting back, stayed silent, leading to a pervasive sense of corruption and payoffs. Such unethical practices have had lasting impacts, causing heart failure and constant nightmares among those affected.

Chilling Incidents and Aftermath

One harrowing ordeal involved a single pilot flying a MU-2 on a freight run from Houston to Dallas. Under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), I was using the autopilot to manage the descent into Dallas during dense cloud cover. Suddenly, I was hit by a flock of ducks at 200 knots! Though the plane was equipped for such briefings, I prepared by lying down in the cockpit and covering my head. Engines continued to operate, and the windshield remained intact. I reported an emergency and made a safe landing.

Upon landing, we discovered four impacts, including damage to the propeller, and a mess of duck guts covering the plane. Since that encounter, I have developed a strong aversion to ducks and geese.

Conclusion

The profession of an airline pilot is as much about facing harsh realities on the aviation front as it is about the relentless pursuit of safety and efficiency in the skies. These experiences not only shaped my perspective but also highlighted the gravity of the decisions we make and the impact they can have on others' lives.