Half of the dudes thought they could pilot a commercial plane, but experts disagree
Alright, y'all, let me tell ya something: both male and female pilots are pretty much useless in the cockpit. I mean, really, who do these people think they're fooling?
It was just a few months back, in January, that a survey showed that about a third of adults in the US thought they could land a passenger plane with airport assistance. Guess who had more confidence? That's right, the men. Almost half of 'em said they could do it.
So, could a novice just breeze through a smooth landing?
We've all heard the legend: if the pilot goes under, the passenger saves the day. Last year, for example, Darren Harrison landed a twin-engine plane successfully in Florida after the pilot passed out. The guy guiding him? Turns out he was a flight instructor by chance.
But these happenin's usually go down with smaller, simpler aircraft. Flying big, heavy commercial planes is a whole 'nother ballgame.
You can't always rely on the autopilot
Pilots spend about 90% of their time monitoring the autopilot system to ensure everything's tickin' over like a well-oiled machine. The remaining 10%? Problem-solving, taking off, and landing.
Starting and landing are probably the most challenging tasks for pilots, and they're always done by hand. Only in special cases and for certain plane types can pilots use the autopilot for help during landing. That's the exception, not the rule.
To take off, the plane needs to speed up, generating enough lift to get it into the air. Pilots must pay close attention to multiple instruments and off-plane cues while keeping the plane centered, building up speed until takeoff.
Once in the air, they need to coordinate with air traffic control, follow a designated route, lower the landing gear, and maintain a precise speed and direction during the glide phase.
Landing, on the other hand, is even more complicated, requiring precise control of direction and descent speed.
To pull off a successful landing, pilots must maintain a suitable speed, manage the landing gear and flap settings, adhere to air traffic rules, communicate with air traffic control, and complete a heap of checklists on paper and digitally.
As the plane approaches the runway, pilots must estimate the height accurately, reduce power, and adjust descent speed – just to ensure the plane lands in the right spot on the runway. Once on the ground, they gradually apply brakes and reverse thrust to bring the plane to a complete stop before the runway ends. That's all in just a few minutes.
Both takeoff and landing are way too fast, technical, and focused for an unskilled eye. They require a series of abilities – like understanding data from different instruments and coordinating hands and feet – that can only be honed through extensive training.
Training Pilots
Becoming a commercial airline pilot isn't a short-term project. It begins with a general license, progresses to a personal license, and culminates in a commercial license – enabling you to fly professionally.
Before even stepping in the cockpit, aspiring pilots need to understand concepts like aerodynamics, aviation law and flight regulations, meteorology, human factors, navigation, aircraft systems, and performance and flight planning.
You may also want to spend time familiarizing yourself with the specific aircraft you'll be flying.
Once the basics are covered, trainers take over. Most of the training happens in small, light aircraft before moving on to simulators towards the end.
At each stage, every action or movement is demonstrated by the trainer before the student attempts it. Critical situations can be adapted, corrected, or even stopped early to ensure the trainee's safety.
Initially, the first 10 to 15 sessions focus on takeoff, landing, basic flight control, and emergency management. Once the learners are ready, they can embark on a solo flight – a massive achievement.
After years of experience, they are ready for larger planes. Although they can now handle takeoff and landing, specialized training for the specific aircraft is essential. This typically includes additional theory, many hours in simulators, and countless hours in real aircraft – most of which is managed by the passengers aboard.
So if you've never learned the flying ropes, your chances of safely landing with the help of air traffic control are pretty much nada.
But flying is just another skill like any other
Thanks to high-end computers, virtual reality, and flight simulation games like Microsoft Flight Simulator or X-Plane, aviation training has become more accessible. For a few grand, you can even set up a desktop flight simulator complete with control elements like joysticks and pedals.
Flight simulators offer an immersive environment for both aspiring and professional pilots to hone their skills. If you truly believe you can hang with the pros, give it a shot.
You probably won't manage to land a commercial airliner – but you'll surely gain newfound respect for the skill of piloting.
Note: We encourage readers interested in becoming commercial airline pilots to follow the established path of training and certification, collaborating with aviation authorities such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States.
