Amazing Captain Al Haynes

[TheSoccerMom]

We were incredibly fortunate today to have Capt. Al Haynes speak to us, about his catastrophic hydraulic failure in the DC-10 back in 1989.  Though I'd read many, many articles about the 45 minutes where they struggled in "unknown territory" to fly the aircraft with a failure considered to be "impossible", it was stunning to hear the tapes and see his presentation firsthand.

What an amazing gentleman!  He visited with us afterward, and was so funny and interesting.  He repeatedly gave credit to all the other people involved in the emergency, with the highest praise for the controller who spoke to the DC-10.

He said he continues to speak about the event (this was #1500, he said), because it allows him to be certain the 112 people who died will always be remembered.  It's incredible that 184 people survived.  He said he himself never had one pain from the crash itself...  not ONE.  The photos of the cockpit were totally unrecognizable, yet the 4 men inside all survived.

I'll never forget his message, and feel very fortunate to have met him.  What a story!   

 

[airtac]

MANOMAN!!!   He's a living legend, a true aviation hero----his cool cockpit demeanor in the face of an impossible odds is incredible....I wish I could have been there!!

[TheSoccerMom]

Yes, I still can't believe how low-key and straightforward he is!             

He applies every thing he learned that day, to the many obstacles that come up in life.  His outlook and his attitude are something we can only try to recall and emulate.  His utter honesty was impressive as hell.

Yes, we're lucky.  I'll never forget the man.   

 

[G-man]

Cooool

And what was his famous phrase--"Oh you want to get particular and make it a runway"--or words to that effect.

[Oddball]

remind me........was that the plane that engine three turbine blew and severed all hydraulics? and nearly got down just using the other two engines?

[Rooster Cruiser]

remind me........was that the plane that engine three turbine blew and severed all hydraulics? and nearly got down just using the other two engines?

That is correct.  United Airlines Flight 232 from Chicago to Los Angeles.  Sometime in 1989.  They attempted to land at Sioux City, Iowa.  Awsome job that that crew did.   

[G-man]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Airlines_Flight_232

[undatc]

The tapes are really impressive.  If you ever get a chance to listen to them do so.  In my last ATC class when we added in emergency procedures, we picked the whole thing apart.  Worst nightmare for someone in my field.  You know whats going to happen, and all you can do is sit and watch.

[TheSoccerMom]

He played the tapes and added commentary as he went....  what an incredible situation, and even more incredible how it evolved. 

And what a nice, funny man....  he is apparently committed to making sure the people who died are not forgotten.  The people who scheduled him to speak to us said he gets no fees from speaking...  that his travel costs are covered, and the balance goes to charity.

 

[PiperGirl]

 

And what a nice, funny man....  he is apparently committed to making sure the people who died are not forgotten.  The people who scheduled him to speak to us said he gets no fees from speaking...  that his travel costs are covered, and the balance goes to charity.

Wow, that's pretty cool. I bet that he could be making a huge profit on his speaking if he wanted to...

[Ragwing]

I attended a presentation by Al Haynes two months ago.

He did request speaking fees and they were to be donated to a General Aviation Museum in Port Townsend, Washington, USA.
http://www.ptaeromuseum.com/

His fee was either $1,500 or 2,500.
And yes, we sent the check to the museum.

Please note that this museum takes high school kids (troubled and not ), puts them to work and turns out young men and women.

You would enjoy our collection, they are fully functional and are flown every year.

RW

[airtac]

WOWOWOWEEEE---Ragwing, that is a superneat collection
I love the PT---nothing like the sound of a kinner (pokapokapokapoka) to get the nostalgia fog in my eyes.............
The Baby Ace in German livery is cool--but funny too

Your museum story is amazing---I will place it near the top of my "things I gotta do" list

What are the N numbers on your Champs---I'm always looking for the ones I used to fly as a kid............

[BrianGMFS]

I Met Capn' Haynes about six years ago when he did his presentation in Burlington. I felt honored to shake his hand. He also chuckles a bit when the ATC tape plays and he hears his reply to the controller about his landing clearance.

Brian

[airtac]

I would imagine he'd chuckle----THAT'S some of the best gallows humor on record