It seems like a good time to add to our survival lists with this next exciting installment, aimed at teaching you how to land a light plane in the case of emergency. I am sure we have all fantasized about being able to stand up when an air hostess dramatically cries “Is there anyone on board who can land this plane?!” and say “Yes! Yes, I can land this plane. Show me to the cockpit!”. Well - perhaps that is not true, frankly I hope I am never in a situation like that - but it certainly appears in films often enough that someone somewhere must be hoping for it.
So, for those of you with this weird desire, or those of us who travel frequently, here is a list of the ten steps to take when a pilot is down and you are in charge. NOTE: Listverse will not be responsible for any damages you may cause in a poorly executed landing.
This is the most important step - you absolutely must not panic. When you first arrive in the cockpit you can be sure of at least one of two things: either the pilot will have set the plane to fly on auto, or he will have “trimmed” it to fly “hands off”. In both cases the plane will maintain a steady speed, course, and height. In addition, the pilot will have filed a flight plane, so Air-Traffic Control (ATC) will be aware of your flight.
First of all you must remove the pilots feet from the area of the rudder pedals (these are in pretty much the same position as the pedals in a car). After this, make sure that his hands and body are not obstructing the control column or “yoke” (this is sometimes also called the joystick). Most modern planes have dual controls - this means you should be able to land from the co-pilot’s seat. If not, you will need to remove the pilot entirely from his seat so that you can take his place.
Once you are sitting, don’t touch anything - you need to evaluate the situation first. Check the attitude indicator - this is usually found in the center of the top row of instruments in front of the pilot. The attitude indicator is also called the artificial horizon or the gyro horizon. This shows the position of your plane in relation to the ground - it will show whether the wings are level, and whether the plane is climbing or ascending, or flying at a steady height. It shows a pair of straight lines (representing the wings) - behind which is a sphere or ball that is divided horizontally (the top is the sky - usually blue, and the bottom is the ground, usually brown). If the two lines representing the wings, and the white dot between them (which shows the position of the plane’s nose) line up with the fixed line representing the horizon, you are fine. If they don’t line up, it probably means that autopilot is off and you are not following a level course.
If the autopilot is off you are going to have to manually take control of the plane. Move the yoke in front of you little by little to get the wing lines on the attitude indicator level with the horizon line. Pull the yoke toward you to bring the nose of the plane up, and push it bring the nose of the plane down. Moving it from left to right will bank the plane in the same direction. Do this all very gently until the plane is flying straight and level. Do not use the rudder pedals.
In front of you in the centre you should see the radio. If you can’t find a microphone on the panel, put on the pilot’s headset. Press the button labelled PTT (Push To Talk) and say m’aidez (mayday - from the French meaning “help me”) three times. Speak slowly and clearly. Follow this by saying “Pilot unconscious”. Release the PTT button so the receiver of your call can reply to you.
Directly below the radio should be the transponder - this identifies your plane on the radar and sends out your location so ATC can track you. Set the dials to 7700 (or type the number in) - this stands for “General Emergency” - once it is set, ATC will know you have a problem.
By now someone at air traffic control should be able to communicate freely with you and give you step by step instructions on landing. Follow the instructions exactly and do not be afraid to ask any questions or for the controller to repeat himself. You will be instructed on how to bring the aircraft to a safe height for landing. He will also tell you what to do to control engine power, how to lower the landing gear, and changing course if you need. He will describe all of the other instruments you need to be aware of. You may end up landing in a field or on a road - so keep your eyes out for power lines and trees.
As you approach the landing area, stay in a straight line. Just before hitting the ground, pull back slightly on the yoke - this will lift the nose of the aircraft and ensure that you land on the main wheels beneath the wings. As you slow down, the nose will naturally come forward.
9 Perform Post-Landing Procedure
Once the main wheels are on the ground, reduce your speed by pulling the throttle right back towards you. This is a big black level between the pilot and co-pilot’s seats, or a large knob - usually black - in the lower center of the of the instrument panel. A lot of light aircraft have toe brakes on the rudder pedals - if these are installed on your plane, press them gently to bring the plane to a standstill - avoiding skidding.
If there is a key (like a car’s ignition key) on the instrument panel, turn it to kill the engine (wait until the plane is at a complete standstill!) Help the pilot in any way you can and then, once the propeller has stopped turning - exit the plane. With a little luck, great fame now awaits you!
This list was inspired by an article in The Boys Book of Survival
译文:
十招教你紧急迫降
似乎是时候把接下来这个令人兴奋不已的部分添入教你如何幸存下去的列表中去了．这部分旨在教你如何在紧急情况下使飞机着陆．我确信，我们肯定都曾经幻想过这样一个戏剧性的场景－－当空姐大喊＂有谁能使这架飞机着陆？＂的时候，你站了起来，并答道＂我来，我可以，快带我去驾驶舱！＂．也许这些都只是我们所想象出来的，但坦白的说，我希望自己永远不要置身于这样一个状况下－－但这种情况在电影里确实常有发生，于是，总有些人盼望着这种情况的发生．
因此，对于你们中一些持有另类想法的人，和我们中一些经常乘飞机出行的人来说，当飞行员因病不能驾驶飞机，而飞机由你掌控时，以下这１０个操作步骤就显得很重要了．注意：如果你着陆不当并造成人员受伤，这１０条提示不负任何责任．
１．千万别恐慌
这是最重要的一步－－你绝对不可以惊慌失措．当你第一次进入驾驶舱的时候，你至少可以确认一件事：要么飞行员将飞机设置成了自动飞行档，或者他已经使飞机保持平衡，使之自主飞行．在这两种情况下，飞机都会保持在稳定的速度，路线和海拔上．另外，飞行员可能已经向我们所称的空中交通管理部门发出了消息，所以该部门会注意到你这个航班的情况．
２．检查飞行员
首先，你必须要把飞行员的脚从方向舵的踏板处移开（驾驶舱里方向舵踏板的位置和汽车里踏板的所在位置基本一致）．然后，确定飞行员的手和身体没有挡住控制杆或者＂轭＂（也称为操纵杆）．大多数现代飞机都有双重控制－－这意味着你可以在副驾驶座上操作着陆．如果这样不凑效的话，那你就要把驾驶员从他的座位上完全挪开，然后由你来操控飞机．
一旦你坐到主驾驶座上，什么都不要碰，要先确定飞机的所在方位．查看方位指示器－－通常在飞行员座位前方的仪表板中最高一排的中间．方位指示器也称陀螺地平仪或者回转仪．它显示飞机相对于地面的位置－－它会显示机翼是否水平，飞机是处于一个上升过程还是在稳定高度飞行．它会显示一对直线（表示机翼）－－在线的后面是一个被水平分割的球体或者半球体（顶部是天空－－通常为蓝色，底布为地面，通常呈棕色）．如果代表机翼的两条线和两线中间显示飞机前端的白点能与代表地平线的那根固定不动的线排列起来的话，那么飞机状态良好．如果它们没有排列起来，那也许意味着自动驾驶仪已经关闭，并且飞机也没有在水平轨道上飞行．
４ 飞机要水平
如果自动驾驶仪已被关闭，你就必须亲自动手操控飞机．一点一点地移动操纵杆，使方位显示器上代表机翼的那条线和与水平线保持水平．把操纵杆往你自己的方向拉就能使飞机前端上升，把操纵杆向前推则可以使飞机前端下降．把操纵杆从左移到右可以使飞机在同一个方向倾斜转弯．一定要小心翼翼地进行这些操作，直到飞机在笔直和水平的轨道上飞行为止．千万不要使用方向舵踏板．
在你的前方，你应该可以看到一个无线电接收装置．如果你在驾驶舱里找不到话筒，就戴上飞行员的耳机．按下标有PTT的按钮（PTT代表按下即可说话），然后说三次＂请求救援＂．要说得慢而清楚．然后按这种方式再说＂飞行员已经不省人事＂．放掉PTT按钮这样接收到你信号的人可以回复你．
在无线电接收器的正下放就应该是雷达收发机－－它可以在雷达上识别你的飞机然后传达出你的所在位置，这样，航空交通管理处就可以对你进行追踪．把调谐钮设置到７７００（或者输入数字）－－７７００代表＂紧急状况＂－－一旦设置完毕，航空交通管理处就知道你的飞机出了问题．
到了这个地步，航空交通管理处的人员应该可以正常的与你交流并且给予你如何着陆的详细指示．要严格按照指示操作，一旦有不明白的地方，就让指挥者重复他的话，千万不要犹豫．指示将告诉你如何将航空器调节到一个安全的着陆高度．同时，他也会告诉你如何控制引擎，怎样放下起落架，在需要的情况下，如何改变飞行轨道．他会向你描述所有你需要注意的设备．你会在一片旷野或者是一条公路上降落－－所以要小心，别撞上电力线和树木．
8 接近着陆区
当你接近着陆区的时候，使飞机保持直线飞行．在快要接触地面的时候，把操纵杆轻轻地向后拉－－这样能使飞机前端抬起并且确保飞机以机翼下的主轮着陆．当你慢慢着陆时，飞机的前端会自然向前倾．
一旦主轮着地，把节流杆向你的右后方拉，使飞机减速．节流杆是主驾驶座与副驾驶座之间的一根黑杆，或者是一个球型突起物－－通常是黑色的－－在仪表板的下层中间．许多小型的飞机在方向舵踏板上设有脚踏闸－－如果你的飞机上有这种装置，轻轻地睬下去，知道飞机停止－－要避免打滑
10 Perform Final Steps
如果仪表板有一个类似于汽车上点火开关这样的一个装置，就使用它关闭引擎（等到飞机完全停下来以后再关！）想尽一切办法去帮助飞行员，一旦螺旋推进器停止转动－－你就可以走出飞机了．不出意外的话，你将从此名声大震．
写出这十个步骤的灵感来自于一篇叫做＂男孩生存宝典＂的文章．