TP>Hi All,
TP>Just saw a Tv show : Mercy mission:The rescue of flight 711. It was
TP>made in 1993 and the story was about this guy flying a Cessna Agwagon
TP>from SFO to SYD. He got lost and was rescued by an Air New Zealand
TP>767.
Hi Tony,  This was a very long time ago!  From memory, the Air New
Zealand aircraft was a DC-10.  The DC-10 pilot had several great ideas.
First, he asked the light aircraft pilot to give the ht of the sun in
degrees above the horizon (it was almost sun set).  The jet crew then
worked out his aprox latitude and flew towards him.
When the DC-10 arrived at the aprox latitude they dumped some fuel.  By
this time the light aircraft was in twilight at low altitude and the
DC-10 was still in sunlight at high altitude.  They asked the light
aircraft pilot to do a couple of 360 turns till he was able to spot the
trail made by the dumping fuel shining in the sunlight and report its
relative position.  The DC-10 crew were then able to locate the light
aircraft and give the pilot a heading for (I think) Fiji.
The DC-10 pilot was very familiar with light aircraft and often used
some of his holidays instructing boy scouts at an annual flying camp.
In fact he is now back flying light aircraft at an airline pilot
training school (that he owns or part owns).  I think his company mainly
does contract training for asian airlines.  Its a lot cheaper for asian
airlines to send their students to New Zealand for basic training -
clear uncluttered skys and English language practice.
           Regards  -=RH=-
--- Maximus/2 3.01
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