U
Unregistered4228
Guest
I've always had one question while listening to ATC during engine failure emergencies. Basic situation: Night. Engine out. 6000 ft AGL. Single engine Cessna. IFR
While ATC is doing the best they can to vector you to an airport, there comes a time where you won't make it to the airport. Everyone knows where you are but YOU can't see anything on the ground. I would think ATC could say "hey, there's a field, or farm, or flat land, x amount of miles to the west" for instance. I mean at the very least can't someone pull up google earth right quick??
I only ask this because I was listening to an ATC playback of an engine out during night and the pilot LUCKILY landed in a field. He literally said he aimed for a dark spot and hoped for the best. Why couldn't ATC let him know there was some flat land around? There was 0 mention from ATC about the type of terrain in the area. Am I missing something?
While ATC is doing the best they can to vector you to an airport, there comes a time where you won't make it to the airport. Everyone knows where you are but YOU can't see anything on the ground. I would think ATC could say "hey, there's a field, or farm, or flat land, x amount of miles to the west" for instance. I mean at the very least can't someone pull up google earth right quick??
I only ask this because I was listening to an ATC playback of an engine out during night and the pilot LUCKILY landed in a field. He literally said he aimed for a dark spot and hoped for the best. Why couldn't ATC let him know there was some flat land around? There was 0 mention from ATC about the type of terrain in the area. Am I missing something?