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Captain Incapacitation

🛫 Scenario Setup

Cruise FL310. Captain suddenly slumps forward, unresponsive. FO is PM, no control input from captain.

💥 Failure Injection

Captain becomes visually unresponsive mid-cruise. No verbal or physical response.

📋 Required Actions (Sequence)

  1. FO takes control: 'I have the aircraft' – announce clearly
  2. Declare MAYDAY: 'Mayday Mayday Mayday, [callsign], first officer in control, captain incapacitated'
  3. Request immediate assistance – 'Nearest airport with medical facilities'
  4. Notify flight attendant: 'Is there a medical professional on board?'
  5. Secure captain: prevent body from interfering with controls
  6. Request ATC direct routing and priority handling
  7. Brief flight attendants for possible emergency landing
  8. Execute single pilot workload procedures

✅ Evaluation Points

  • FO takes control immediately and announces it
  • MAYDAY declared without hesitation
  • Captain secured from controls
  • Medical assistance requested via ATC
  • Divert executed promptly

❌ Common Errors (UNSAT)

  • FO hesitates to take control due to authority gradient
  • No MAYDAY declaration
  • Captain left in position where body can interfere with controls
  • FO attempts to continue to destination

🎓 What the Instructor / Examiner Watches For

TIMING STANDARDS
  • Control transfer: immediate and announced
  • MAYDAY: within 30 seconds of recognition
AUTOMATIC UNSATISFACTORY
  • FO fails to take control of incapacitated captain
  • No MAYDAY declaration