Pilot who went blind during a flight is safely guided to land by the RAF
Last updated 11/11/2008 9:15:32 AM
Pilot who went blind during a flight is safely guided to land by the RAF
It's an incredible rescue story. The RAF has guided a pilot to safety after he suddenly went blind while flying his plane at 5,500 ft.
The pilot was flying a two-seater Cessna aircraft from Glasgow Prestwick Airport to Colchester in Essex when he suffered a stroke and lost his sight.
A plane was scrambled from the RAF base at Linton-on-Ouse in North Yorkshire to help the 65-year-old - and flying alongside him, the pilot in the other aircraft shepherded him to the base with radio instructions.
The drama unfolded after the pensioner raised a mayday alert, saying he thought he may be blinded by sunlight and needed help.
Despite air traffic controllers' efforts, the pilot, who has 18 years of flying experience, was unable to land the plane at nearby Full Sutton Airfield near York and was directed to RAF Linton-on-Ouse.
He still couldn't see the runway and was starting to get distressed so it was decided to send a plane to him. Wing Cdr Paul Gerrard, chief flying instructor, flew his Tucano T1 about 50m next to the Cessna to bring him safely down.
Wing Cdr Gerrard used his voice to guide him down by telling him to turn left and right, to lower the plane and to do his pre-landing checks. At very short range the elderly pilot still couldn't see the runway and it was only at the last minute that he could, landing about halfway down. He came to a halt just at the end.
The RAF routinely practises shepherding but it's not used to shepherding blind pilots - so it's an amazing achievement.
As for the pilot at the centre of this rescue - he was checked over by RAF medics before being transferred to Queen's Hospital in Romford, Essex. It's expected he will get his sight back.