Comments on: Heroism

By: Nick

Nick — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 04:40:42 +0000

For the most part it all comes down to this I think:
You can risk everything, break every rule…even a few laws (legal and physics), if you save the day then you will be lauded or at the very least vindicated. If you prang the aircraft and do everything RIGHT you will still be in hot water.

In these days of risk aversion/safety automation, etc we all need to know our limits and make the decision BEFORE getting into the aircraft. Whenever I brief overwater flight to my students they are a bit taken aback by my comment “If we have to ditch, use your procedures and get out. I may help you out, you may decide to help me out, but NEVER come back for any of us, once out count yourself lucky.” To some extent, if you perform a dangerous job, you must write yourself off early. I already assume I will not survive some things…alleviates the stress for me and allows me to perform better!

By: Bus Driver

Bus Driver — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 03:49:29 +0000

@ Mr. Dale Long-
The FAA issues airman CERTIFICATES, not licenses. The original FAA Act of 1958 instilled that flying in the US is a RIGHT, not a priviledge. I’m not ready to give up any rights. Maintaining standards and displaying proficiency is neccessary, but making flying a priviledge is not neccessary.

By: Stuart Ashley

Stuart Ashley — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 05:07:00 +0000

What has changed in the world is the tendency to judge everything based on groundrules that have been laid down by people who have not had the experience of needing to be rescued or of rescueing others. In real life, you do what you can. You, hopefully, recognize when you can’t, so as not to make the situation worse. I have not needed rescue, yet. But I have intervened in three serious road accidents, gotten several people down from cliffs and glaciers, and rescued two overturned canoeists from the middle of a glacial river in Alaska. As a minimum, two people have their lives and another his right leg because of these interventions. Try to tell these folks I should have “done the prudent thing”.
Cheers! Stu.

By: Walt Slazyk

Walt Slazyk — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 21:15:15 +0000

Dear Mr. Porath,
Thank you for moving this away from an almost hypothetical discussion to a very real, very personal story. My hat is off to Mr. Fantroy. We need more people like him in this world.

By: Franklin Porath

Franklin Porath — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:11:08 +0000

I know the pilot described, Art Fantroy of Cleveland, Ohio. He trained in the military, flew in Viet Nam, set up the local hospitals’ medevac flights, and was the “Chopper Five” TV traffic personality. He was also my instructor, and company pilot. He currently flies the helicopters for the Cleveland Police Department. He exemplifies so much that is good about aviation people that I know it would embarass him to extol him much more. I am proud to be his friend.

I was once called in the middle of the day by a friend who had organized a “Career Day” in the local school system, and Art had called to say he was delayed. I substituted for him, discusssing careers in aviaiton. As I finished, in came Art. “What happened?” I asked. “Had a little engine trouble with the helicopter,” he replied. “Did you make it back to the field?” I asked. “Nearly,” he said.

(Last year he again made headlines as the Cleveland Piolice helicopter he was flying to Columbus for maintenance necessitated an emergency landing in a farmer’s field.)

Art’s skill, coolness, and good humor are legendary in the Cleveland aviation community. But that’s the subject for whole different discussion.

By: Ehud Gavron

Ehud Gavron — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:06:11 +0000

I have to agree with Rex. Everything I’ve been taught as a private pilot goes contrary to what this hero did.

And I do agree with everyone thus far… he IS a hero.

- did not return with FARS mandated reserve fuel load
- flew beyond glide distance from shore in a “traffic-reporting helicopter without navigational radios” so I’m assuming he didn’t have life-jackets on or floats available
- flew with ice on the blades – a nanny agency or his insurance company would probably have a fit but I can’t find a reg. for it.
- flew past the point of fatigue

So… because he saved the downed pilot, he is a hero. Had the story ended any other way, his friends, peers, people here who knew him, and his family… would all be saying “What was he thinking?”

By: Rex Beesley

Rex Beesley — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 14:55:57 +0000

I think that no-one is disputing the heroic actions of the helo pilot, but in today’s world of invasive regulation and nanny agencies, he would probably finish up with a license sanction and at least a re-training requirement if he managed to keep his job. It’s a sad world where Earhart and Lindbergh et al would probably not be permitted to do what they did!

By: Mick Anderson

Mick Anderson — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 14:06:21 +0000

Military, cops, firefighters, medics etal are all heros because they live an ethos that puts other people first, themselves second. But a civilian tries the same and regardless of the outcome gets doubters? Come on people. We need more people to think like this – ones who know they have a capability to make a difference and charge ahead to try. Just like the lady with the handbag who tried to knock the gun out of the guys hand at the school board shooting. She’s a hero as well – she had a chance to make a difference and she took it. The action speaks loud about her character – selfless in the light of danger. How about you?

By: Doug Rodrigues

Doug Rodrigues — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 12:58:13 +0000

Heros are the ones who put the welfare of others ahead of their own. The chopper pilot was willing to risk his life to save someone else. Most people don’t understand why some people will do that, but will only function as finger pointers and naysayers if the hero fails. Theodore Roosevelt explained it perfectly…..:

” It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

By: john trafficanti

john trafficanti — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 11:58:18 +0000

in your article last paragraph eighth word in you said probably saved his life, It absolutely did save his life, We need people who are concerned often referred to as risk takers, No these are people who are concerned with others well being. Everything we undertake has a risk, Traiing and self confidence and having faith in GOD will pull you through any situation.