The passenger who landed a plane

The Flying Reporter takes off from Biggin Hill airport in a PA28 with non-pilot John Wildey, who was forced to land a Cessna 172 when the pilot died. John was talked down by ATC and a flying instructor in 2013.
John and Jon fly from Biggin Hill to Lydd and back.
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Music:
The Only Girl, Silent Partner (KZbin Audio Library)
New Promise, Chris Bussey (PRS) / Craig Bussey (PRS) (licensed for use in this film by The Audio Network)
Brilliancy, Jody Jenkins (PRS),(licensed for use in this film by The Audio Network)

[@MakeItWithCalvin]

I have the utmost in respect for John and what he managed to not only do but the extreme calm he had in the midst of it all. Watching the documentary about him landing despite missed approaches, probably tons of stress too, he manages to be a total gentleman about the situation. Goes to show with a cool head and proper instructions you can do more than you ever thought you could accomplish.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Agreed. It's an incredible story.

[@FlyDigital]

Fascinating video, I remember seeing the news reports after John landed that airplane, and to do it in darkening conditions as well. What a legend. Another reason why I like the parachute in the Cirrus :)

[@TheFlyingReporter]

I suppose for passengers, that would have been a good option in this event.

[@stewartwilkinsonsnr]

There is a video called May Day May Day about John's amazing achievements in landing the plane. I really enjoyed this video as I do all your reports, it was very kind of you to take John up, plus see he still enjoys flying. 🛩

[@TheFlyingReporter]

It was a pleasure and an honour.

[@danharrodian]

Wow, what a sad but amazing story. Love this format Jon: guests of interest in the cockpit with you taking local flights.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

+Toffy B thank you.

[@PilotCristina]

I watched his documentary. He is a hero! He was so sweet on the radios saying sorry for the troubles.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

He's a nice chap.

[@loveplanes]

I remember my first landing with my instructor on the right seat and that was a bit scary. John did it alone in the worst stressful scenario. My respect to him. If John has to come to LA would be an honor to me if he accepts to be my guest and fly with me.

[@lovestationery71]

Another great video, fantastic though very sad story. I guess his friend passed doing what he loved and his spirit helped his friend down. Sharing the flying with a non pilot be it a friend or relative can only help them if they ever find themselves in a medical emergency.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

+Lovestationery thanks for watching. Let's hope none of us find ourselves in that situation.

[@pnutspilot1907]

Amazing story, incredible to land it in the dark too!! "A good landing is one you can walk away from, a GREAT landing is one where you can use the plane again!!" 😂 another good vid Jon, look forward to the Shoreham one! 👍🏻🛩🎥

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Cheers mate.

[@CruisingTheCut]

What a beautiful day at Lydd. Amazing story too. I'd have love to eavesdropped the radio chat between them during that landing!

[@TheFlyingReporter]

+CruisingTheCut there is a recording of that, but I couldn't get hold of it sadly. Used in a documentary for channel four a few years back.

[@christiandarbyshire]

Excellent video! Respect to everybody, including the pilot who died.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

+CharlieDelta thanks...and I echo your thoughts.

[@ckukmale898]

Lovely video, was great of you to invite John along with you, look forward to the next video.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

+CKUKMale thanks. More in the pipeline.

[@flyboy6354]

Fantastic story! There is another half to that saying though; “Any landing you walk away from is a good one. If they can use the plane again, it’s a great one.” Cheers!

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Too true!

[@blueberryhill6948]

Well Done John and the team that helped him.

[@kevinchilton]

What a nice move to take John up with you Jon. I watched his story on the video link below, what an amazing man. I, and obviously many more have the utmost respect for him. The correct result in the end for a very brave man.

[@andreimv000]

What a legend, good thing he managed to land safely. Loved every second of the video. Cheers!

[@TheFlyingReporter]

+Andrei Moldovan thanks Andrei. How's the training going? You there yet?

[@andreimv000]

Doing my, skills test tomorrow so fingers crossed :)

[@JtTaylor-mx3tm]

I saw the video on youtube. It was a very long 45 minutes. John is a major legend.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Isn't he just!

[@stevecolwill9761]

Great video and what a lovely man!

[@TheFlyingReporter]

+Steve Colwill thanks Steve. Sure is.

[@MaryAnnSweetAngel]

I came here from his documentary. Such an amazing guy. I wouldn't be able to land that plane in daylight either. Idk how he did it at night.

[@JodelFlyer]

Nice video, great story, glad you were able to capture the story in this way.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Cheers Tim.

[@ishaqmullazada]

Hi Jon, thanks for the upload , I learn so much in each of your videos. Can't wait for your next video.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

+Ishaq Mullazada thanks Ishaq.

[@temaskell08]

Great video! What a great callsign when you were joining back at big In hill! GOLF GOLF GOLF! 😂

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks Thomas. G-BMGG I think it is...I trained in it, I think I may have done my skills test in it!

[@Pilot_t1_cptwilko]

Great video Jon and what a great story

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks Chris.

[@molletts]

What a lovely chap John is - and incredibly lucky to recover from that stall/spin! I've heard G-GG on 125.250 or 123.225 quite a few times now - it always brings a little smile as I think, "What a great callsign!"

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Too true Stephen. Another good callsign from the same flying school when I was training was G-BMMM. Quite a mouthful. I think I did my flight test in G-GG...oughta check.

[@neilhathaway7051]

Another great video. Thanks keep them coming

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Cheers Neil.

[@andydonaldson5593]

Great vid John.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

+Andy Donaldson thank you as always Andy.

[@harpothehealer]

Fantastic video, best regards

[@TheFlyingReporter]

+harpothehealer thank you.

[@hartshp]

Thanks for another brilliant video Jon, keep them coming. There's nothing wrong with Johns eyesight is there? (5:40) RIP M

[@TheFlyingReporter]

+Phil Hartshorn too right Phil. 20/20 vision eh.

[@EinkOLED]

I'm glad it didn't happen again.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

I think we were both glad of that.

[@baden-baden]

Great...!!!! Thanks

[@marcusjclifford]

Steep turn at at the 05:40 mark... Was the traffic in conflict with you or was it just a precautionary steep turn? It was good that John spotted the traffic almost at the same time as you, always good to have passengers keeping an eye out for traffic. The Channel 4 documentary regarding John's landing is on KZbin too if you search for John Wildey (46 mins long).

[@TheFlyingReporter]

+Marcus Clifford hi Marcus. It was a conflict, hence the steep turn. Thanks. I've seen the doc. Very interesting.

[@marcusjclifford]

I take it your PilotAware didn't notify you of it? I am a huge advocate of electronic conspicuity to the point of almost feeling a ADS-B Out should be as mandatory as a 8.33 radio. Cost is always an issue, but what price safety...

[@TheFlyingReporter]

+Marcus Clifford pilot aware had been reporting a mode s transponder I think, but gave no range or bearing, so we had been looking out....this was edited out.

[@itsmaxim01]

i hope he knows how to turn on the instrument lights now

[@PClarkson101]

I just heard when you were heading to line up, the callsign GGG. Would this by any chance be G BGGG ? If so it's a Piper tomahawk which I did a trail flight in when I was 15, some 18 yrs ago. Amazing if it is.

[@TheFlyingReporter]

+Cycling Paul hj Paul. It was GBMGG...a Cessna 152.

[@PClarkson101]

The Flying Reporter ahh right, that'll be the one that got back in just before you landed.

[@objectivereview4169]

Isnt he a pilot yet? I heard he took some flying lessons.

[@steve-from-toronto]

Not a pilot so naive question: at 5:40 you steer away from what I'm guessing is other airplane traffic. Is this normal? Aren't flight paths supposed to keep planes from being near each other? What happened here and do small planes always have to constantly watch out for other traffic? Doesn't make for a relaxing experience!

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Traffic in uncontrolled airspace is separated by the see and avoid principle. You can be assisted by receiving a traffic service from a radar controller, but radar services in the UK aren't universally available...even when they are, it can sometimes be a lottery whether you can receive a traffic services or not, depending on the controller's workload. Not ideal, but that's what we're given by the system/Department for Transport/CAA/NATS. There are collision avoidance systems, and traffic alerting systems for light aircraft, but they're not mandatory. I have a traffic alerting system in my aeroplane, but it is only truly effective, if other aircraft are using ADSB or Pilot aware themselves. Take up is not high, as it's not mandatory. See an avoid is largely effective, but evident from the number of AIRPROX (near miss) reports, it is not foolproof.

[@indrajitmondal6615]

How is he now ?

[@Bulletguy07]

John is one hell of a character as well as being an amazing guy. The whole event of his talkdown was shown on a tv documentary and on getting the first couple of runs to land wrong and being told "don'tr worry John, just go around again and we'll soon have you down" he radioed back to the tower, "it's easy for you to say that mate...i'm still up here in this bloody thing"!! After finally landing he said, "well i'd got to get it down somehow because my daughter was taking me out for a meal"!! He was interviewed on BBC Breakfast and it's easy to see his humour....listen in particular from 1:21 and the question the blonde female presenter asks! kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZysoaRrbKdnfqs

[@sandraprpic7832]

What is mayday?

[@dontbother665]

Johns story! kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZLGfKmXbJungpI

[@TheFlyingReporter]

I need to watch this again.

[@dontbother665]

The Flying Reporter I take my hat off to him. Any landing you can walk away from.

[@kevinchilton]

WOW! Absolutely amazing how he managed to get down. What a fantastic character. Well done sir!

[@ironman8727]

Imagine if the pilot joked around and pretended to faint... John would surely slap him...

[@Jonay1990]

Great story, unfortunate circumstances. I'm slowly teaching my better half what to do each time I take her up, she asked me first to do so! GOLF GOLF GOLF (is there a worse callsign?!)

[@TheFlyingReporter]

I trained in G-BMGG...It was a nice aircraft...fun callsign.