Why not? Sometimes it works.

What's the difference where you land? Why return for a 'landing gear' issue once it has retracted and you are on your way?

The flaming, sparking mess went into the nacelle when it retracted.

I'd want it out of there (extended). Then I'd want the fire guys on the ground to be ready for me when I land on the widest, longest runway.

But most of all, I'd want to go somewhere it could be fixed easily with the least discomfort to my pax; time aloft and urgency of the fire permitting.

This crew was lucky. The F/A took away the possibility of their 'managing' their risk. It was all a crapshoot after she failed her responsibilty. All 3 crew will forever have a blemish on their records, and will forever be known as 'Oh, those guys...'

I always check when a pax has a concern. The problem is often concerns don't always make it to the cockpit. In the article, the military boom operator had to convince (insist) the cabin staff inform the captain. My point is that the cockpit may not have know anything about the wheel. It appears their first abnormal indication was a hydraulic failure.

PM- It depends on the airport and the situation. If I'm leaving Atlanta for Dakar, I'd return to ATL if I have a problem. Leaving Dakar, I'd have to have a big problem to return to DKR.

By the time the flight crew could have been advised the gear would already have been retracted. I don’t know how a mid size aircraft like a DH8 is equipped but a brake temp sensor (like on larger jets) would have give an indication of a brake fire in the wheel bay. Had the flight been aware (and there was no indecation of a fire), chances are, they would have continued the flight to reduce the fuel load. These events are not unusual. I have seen events where one wheel was lost on take off and another lost at landing, same flight! These are always due to a maintenance issues.

We had a sim instructor that used to joke about diversion choices. Said there was only two choices to be made.

Honolulu or Home.

This is exactly why I would want to interview the pax myself; to try to determine if he's credible. If I had the feeling he was...then the emergency would be declared and we would be headed to the best place to go and CFR would be waiting.

It seems that the report never made it up front though. :confused:

Point taken. Agree.

As a captain it is frustrating to learn of potentially hazardous cabin events that occured on the flight after you land. It usually starts with "...hey, we had to open the medical kit...." :eek:

You know, there are a bunch of professional pilots in here... we should start a thread about the funniest things a crewmember has ever said to us.....

I noticed one of the engine cowling "retainer clips" (I'm sure that's not the right term) pop open on take off a few flights back. I pressed my call button and once it was safe a flight attendant came to my seat and I told her. She leaves and comes back with the Pilot. He introduces himself , takes a long look and tells me everything is fine and safe. There are several other clips holding the cowling on etc, etc, not to worry.
I felt much better but I still stared at that damn clip the whole way from Toronto to LA!

Steve

Had two dogs in the cargo compartment of a turboprop puke\barf\****\whatever and the smell was blown all around the cabin.. Had some guy going crazy saying he smelled paper burning. The 2 very junior flight attendants were flipping out.. I went back there (had to step over the puke in the forward cargo area) and tried to calm the guy down and tell him it was dog puke.

After a few min I gave up..this guy was off his meds or something.. told him the plane isnt made of paper.. call me back when he smells plastic buring...

we were doing 'touch and go's ' UH-60
brakes off ? ..brakes off..he said..
followed by chirppppppppp.. pop ..


Rika

Not me (I swear): Sitting at the transient hanger in Diego Garcia, I watched one the the SH-60B's from another small deck ship come in to pick up some parts. I knew both pilots really well.

The NATOPS limit for run on landings is 70kts. On the boat the brakes are always engaged.

They forgot the whole, "checklist" thing. Their approach is perfect, tailwheel first, then main mounts, right at 70kts....chirppppppp...pop.

We scrambled to find new tires.

My fingers would cramp:cool:

Exactly!

I remember hearing of a major carrier, United perhaps, that thought it would be nifty if they mounted a camera so that the pax could watch the landing on the entertainment system live. Needless to say, that didn't last too long.

I'm amazed that United still has cockpit comms available on the passenger headsets.

That was united DC-10s a long time ago. I think they quit shortly after the engine came off in Chicago.

I remember one guy that would drum his fingers on the panel while waiting to take off. I wonder if he was told to do that.