Fake airline pilot 'landed planes at Gatwick'

At least he had prior flight training but probably quite some time ago.

I'd venture he was spotted on PPRUNE. Those guys are sharp, and the perpetrator likely gave them a clue he was 'not as advertised'.
 
And what the heck did the Internet forum person do?


Sent from my brain using my fingers.
 
Ex-USAF......obviously not qualified. :D when I read the headline I was wondering how someone could pull it off being a "fake" pilot. He probably faked his type rating documentation and logbook. But if he was an ex-AF pilot he probably had some skills. If you could wrestle a 141 or 17 around you could push the "up" and "land" buttons in an Airbus.
 
Threefingeredjack said:
Ex-USAF......obviously not qualified. :D when I read the headline I was wondering how someone could pull it off being a "fake" pilot. He probably faked his type rating documentation and logbook. But if he was an ex-AF pilot he probably had some skills. If you could wrestle a 141 or 17 around you could push the "up" and "land" buttons in an Airbus.
Click to expand...
Yeah, but unless you really know the systems, checklists, and specific procedures, including the interactions with other crew members, you could become the weak link in an emergency.
Imagine this is about an Airbus captain who fakes his way onto the flight deck of a military transport. Probably less likely, because of differences in security and required briefings, but assume he gets away with that somehow. Suddenly it seems less plausible... what would he do if there was a serious problem that required minimum hesitation and no mistakes? In those situations, whether civil or military, the outcome depends on crew training. Hell, even if it's the same aircraft, if the crew is not trained the same way, there could be big trouble.
Skill aside, though, this guy is worrisome because of his willingness to take such desperate measures. It's not like Abignale, who impersonated an ATP but was very careful to never have to take a PIC seat.
I wonder what prevented him from pursuing his civil certs if he wanted so badly to fly big jets?
 
I can't figure out why a former USAF pilot would go the route of faking an ATP certificate and type rating instead of getting the necessary ratings.
 
Palmpilot said:
I can't figure out why a former USAF pilot would go the route of faking an ATP certificate and type rating instead of getting the necessary ratings.
Click to expand...

Why do thugs steal instead of work for money? Same concept.
 
Palmpilot said:
I can't figure out why a former USAF pilot would go the route of faking an ATP certificate and type rating instead of getting the necessary ratings.
Click to expand...

Exactly. Unless he was a single seat driver. :dunno: Transferring your ratings from the military to civilian FAA ratings is not that complicated. It took a few phone calls and showing my logs and filling out some paperwork. Of course the type ratings would have to be earned, (or faked in this case I suspect). We didn't have any Airbus machines in our fleet, and only two types of pure jet.
 
One of the many reasons I never fly 3rd world airlines. :hairraise:

Cheers
 
Threefingeredjack said:
Exactly. Unless he was a single seat driver. :dunno: Transferring your ratings from the military to civilian FAA ratings is not that complicated. It took a few phone calls and showing my logs and filling out some paperwork. Of course the type ratings would have to be earned, (or faked in this case I suspect). We didn't have any Airbus machines in our fleet, and only two types of pure jet.
Click to expand...
Since he was living in the UK, and flying in Europe, he might have needed a JAA cert. And perhaps his US credentials didn't transfer as easy. My CFI was a German national with FAA certs who now has to spend upwards of $30K to get his JAA IFR and Multi.
Sometimes, it really is all about money!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top