Nov 26, 2018
87 Night IFR Electrical Failure: ATC and a Cell Phone Save a Doctor – Interview with Controller Phil Enis
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Summary
On Super Bowl Sunday, Dr. Peter Edenhoffer was flying IFR at night
in a Cessna Cardinal when he lost his electrical system. He’d
already texted his son to say goodbye. Then he received a text
message from Fort Worth Center which gave him hope for surviving
when he realized he wasn’t alone. Max interviews NATCA’s Archie
League Medal of Safety President’s Award winner controller Phil
Enis about this save. Watch the NATCA
video to hear more of the ATC radio transmissions and see more
of the text messages from this save. It also includes a link
where to where you can watch Dr. Peter Edenhoffer talk about what
was going through his mind as he was alone in the dark.
Here are some ideas you should consider on future IFR flights
including:
1. Include a cell phone or satellite phone number in the Remarks
section of your IFR flight, so that controllers can attempt to
reach you by phone or text, if they lose radio communications with
you.
2. Bring a handheld radio when you fly. Set it up and test it ahead
of time so that you know that it works. Handheld radios in metal
airplanes receive OK, but often don't transmit well because they're
essentially inside a shielded cage (the airplane!). Installing an
external antenna on your airplane will greatly improve the transmit
capability of a handheld radio.
3. If you have an electrical failure, use an EFB app like
ForeFlight to navigate to an airport with better weather.
4. If you have cell phone service, consider calling 911 and have
them pass along your cellphone number to an air traffic
controller.
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Mentioned in the Show
NATCA
Who Was Archie League?
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