It's ironic that I discussed aircraft ditching with my foursome after a golf round exactly one week before the U.S. Air ditching in the Hudson river. One friend asked me about water "landings," and since it was fresh in my mind, I posted "Remember the JAL DC-8" BLOG (see my wordpress blog, below) that next day, just six days before the U. S. Air successful ditching. As the media jumpws on the internet immediately to so their research on ditchings, my BLOG got a bunch of hits. I got calls and e-mails from two famous news hours, treating me as an expert. Since I had literally tens of thousands of hours of over-water flying and trained in ditching procedures for nearly 40 years, I got quoted a lot. I had two days of questionable "fame."
Everyone (Sully's co-pilot and because of his quote, the media) was saying that this latest was the only successful ditching "ever," but that was not exactly accurate. Everyone lived on the JAL DC-8 ditching (though circumstances were quite different) and I would argue that a good friend of mine and many of his passengers are still alive (some did perish), during a ditching in the Caribbean many years ago when it was "zero/zero" during two approaches at alternate airports and his aircraft ran out of fuel, going for the third.
The pilot's name was "Balsey DeWitt" and I flew several NJANG flights with him in the late '60's. He and I both worked for UAL as pilots--he B-720 flight instructor and I flew the DC-8 "on the line" for UAL in "all four seats" (ask about that if you don't understand).
I will look up the accident (Balsey was the captain) involving a DC-9--a Dutch Antilles leased airplane, for his airline, ONA (Overseas National Airlines, which was in and out of bankruptcy at the time, I believe). You could "google" it, I'm betting, assuming you care. That's what I will do and add to this blog soon. Anyone out there know any more to add or have a comment?
(You might want to know how Balsey ever got that name. He once told me, "my mother had a sense of humor," but, of course, I always assumed it was a family name. I never did know if that was true--either way.
Balsey quit his UAL instructor position to go back to ONA, when called up from furlough. I will also research history of ONA--when they again went out of business. Balsey, old buddy: you still out there somewhere?
(A later addition: Yes, he was there somewhere! Balsey called me out of the blue, some 45 years after his accident and about 47 after I had seen him last. We talked for over an hour. He has a book out: "Thirty-five Miles Offshore." I have to check this for the exact name. That's very close if not perfect. Anyone know for sure?).
I will also relate a tail about another "old buddy of mine"--Dave McCann, who has been missing for over 30 years and may well be still alive somewhere, though does not want to be found. He is, perhaps, in South America somewhere. (Quien sabe). He also worked for UAL (as a navigator--as did I, on temporary duty for a time, in the late sixties).
Dave was laid off in early 1970 or so and he and I were partners in a "flying business" in Grenada, West Indies. I owned a twin engine Piper and he allowed a local commercial pilot fly it once, who DITCHED IT IN THE CARIBBEAN (also, as a coincidence, when he ran out of fuel: two good pilot friends involved in ditching. Hmm). That tale will be related soon--stay tuned!
There may be more discussion about ditchings here, too. Read on, c'mon back soon and also check: http://jimgiveslots.wordpress.com.
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MVI 0405
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MVI 0405
Laney's CRK training
From: Jim McGivern
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Time: 02:45 More in Music
9 years ago
