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Some answer to this question,
- when AUG 1990
- route to be flown FRA-ORD
- aircraft : DC.10-30, D-ADFO
- airline Lufthansa
The big Ten was close to GLA while en route to ORD when fuel damps were activated
We get advised the Captain developped an illness at the office
We are advised soon afterwards that a diversion is underway
London was at time considered, but transfer of us to flights from there soon proved impossible in terms of sufficient seat avialabilities, Foxrott-Oscar, was itself filled to capacity
Some house's logics soon prevailed and culminated into a return to FRA under the F/O's care
We train for the Captain to expire just before V1 with an engine failure so in cruise is very straight forward.
The fact he collapsed blocking the door left the FO with no option but to move him.
Technically the aircraft is then below it's minimum operating crew so a PAN must be declared and a suitable airport found. The risk of diverting into unfamiliar Momote or Port Moresby is unacceptable whilst single pilot so heading on to home port was a very wise decision.
Hey AJ. Does Qantas use Medlink? AC's procedures are pretty well identical to QF's (PAN etc) and a diversion would occur if the medical condition of the Capt (or any passenger) was severe enough to require hospitalization ASAP.
However, the considerations for diversion when a flight crew member is sick are completely different than the considerations when a passenger is ill.
When a pax is ill, the appropriate decision is made relative to their illness, and if they need to be on the ground ASAP at an airport that is both appropriate from a medical and operational point of view.
When a flight crew member is incapacitated, the decision depends both on their medical condition and the crew compliment.
On a 2 pilot crew, the aircraft is immediately below the minimum operating crew numbers as per the Flight Manual, so as AJ says their is a Pan call, and a decision to divert to the nearest "practical" airport would be made.
Single pilot is hard work, and so you wouldn't be diverting, as AJ says, to Momote or Ujung! All factors would be considered including navaids, approach types (Wouldn't want to be really trying a difficult NDB with circling to an unfamiliar airport with a short runway!) weather, etc. In this case Cairns was the nearest and best practical airport, so thats where the F/O decided to go.
In the case of an aircraft with say 3 or 4 pilots, if it was a crewmember other than the captain that was ill, then of course it is more of a medical decision that needs to be made, as continued flight without him is safe.
It is also a required PAN call anytime the PIC is incapacitated.
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