Web Exclusive: Learning to land a plane in an emergency - KYTX CBS 19 Tyler Longview News Weather Sports

(CBS) - Would you know what to do if you were in a small plane and the pilot suddenly couldn't fly it?  A new program in Canada is now teaching passengers how to land safely.  
The program's popularity went sky high after a recent incident in Wisconsin where a wife landed her husband's plane after he suffered a heart attack.  

As a passenger Darlene Stewart's attention was usually focused on the landscape. Now she's focused on landing.  "I've been flying with my husband. He's the pilot. For many, many, many years he's flown in that. I've always flown as a passenger," says Darlene Stewart.

Today she's flying as a student.  She's learned the instrument panel and gauges.  She's now working with an instructor to learn how to land a plane.  "Being a passenger is fine, but in an emergency you might have to do a little more," says Stewart.

Last month a Wisconsin woman had to land her husband's plane after the 81 year old man died mid flight.  The incident got people talking and more importantly enrolling in this first of it's kind course called learning to land.  "It's sort of like wearing a helmet when you are riding your bicycle. A little bit of insurance," says Jill Oakes, Learn to Land Program.  

Two days of ground school was  offered free to spouses of pilots. On this day they've moved from the classroom to the cockpit.  "Landing is obviously the most critical part of the flight. There's a lot of small details that goes into making it safe," says Luke Penner. 
Everyone hopes these lessons will never have to be used, but for Darlene Stewart there's some comfort in knowing that as a passenger she can also be relied on to pilot the plane.