Ferry pilot makes emergency landing at Lajes

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Mara Title
  • 65th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
LAJES FIELD, Azores --  The men and women stationed at Lajes Field are used to helping all branches of service; from the control tower to beddown support, they've mastered the undertaking of restoring, renewing, and reenergizing troops landing here so they can focus on their mission.

But Lajes Field doesn't just take care of military members -- occasionally, there are also civilians in need of help.

James P. Creamer, a ferry pilot with Globe Aero Limited, Inc., out of Lakeland, Fla., had crossed the Atlantic 44 times during the last three and a half years and been to 33 different countries, before he made an emergency landing at Lajes Field, Dec. 30, 2011. He was delivering one of eight Piper PA-44 Seminoles -- an American twin-engined light aircraft -- to China, when he suddenly felt fatigued and lightheaded.

"I didn't feel I could fly the additional three hours to Santa Maria where we normally land," said Creamer.

Bill Straw, a former Air Force C-130 Hercules pilot, was flying another Seminole with him, and suggested early on he turn off the heater. But Creamer didn't notice it was on until late into the flight, at which point he felt quite sick.

Unfortunately for these two pilots, this was just one of many hurdles they'd already experienced on their journey. Creamer, in fact, started flying with a different pilot altogether. After the first day there were alternator problems with both planes, and they were delayed five days outside a Piper repair station in Maine. Not long afterward in St. John's Newfoundland, the other pilot received a call his mother was ill, and Creamer had to wait for someone new who was willing to fly during Christmas. Straw came to the rescue, but he still needed to get a Chinese visa, which took a week to process. Finally, on Dec. 30, after weather delays kept Creamer and Straw from venturing further, they were on their way to Santa Maria when Creamer fell ill.

"I hadn't dealt with the military other than with some of the ferries in the Middle East, but nothing else," said Creamer.

To his surprise, after landing he was taxied off the runway and evaluated. Fire rescue and emergency crews were standing by to assist. With symptoms of fatigue, and lightheadedness, they suspected it might be carbon monoxide poisoning.

"I'd never had a medical emergency like that before," said Creamer. But despite his discomfort, he said he "felt very safe."

According to Creamer, ferry pilots travel around the world continuously, and because it's such a high demanding job, there are approximately only 15 full-timers in the U.S. They're expected to have adequate knowledge of multiple locations around the world, specifically in regard to different customs and cultures. Creamer knows a handful of languages, and is comfortable flying many types of aircraft. But landing at Lajes Field was a particular comfort to him during this unusual course of events.

"It made me feel a lot better, especially the tower -- it was nice to hear an American voice," he said.

But he noted it wasn't just the Americans who made his situation better.

"It was nice to be taken care of, and since getting here, the people at the airport, and the Portuguese officials here on base were very nice; they've made it very easy," he said.

Now James P. Creamer can be added to the list of those who've been helped by the men and women at Lajes Field. He has just one piece of advice for adventure seekers and pilots alike: "Never hesitate in an emergency, and always listen to your inner voice," although the voice he was ultimately assured by was familiarly American, in the Lajes Field control tower.