Perhaps it’s hubris.
Or it could be male testosterone.
No matter what, almost half the
men who responded to a survey think they could land a commercial plane.
Experts think otherwise.
Most of the feel-good stories you
hear about regarding passengers stepping forward to land a plane or seen
portrayed on television involve small aircraft. This is a commercial jet we're
talking about.
And while technology is advanced so
that airplanes run on autopilot for most of the time, takeoffs and landings –
perhaps the most challenging aspect of flying – are still manual. In extremely
rare instances, airplane jets take off and land on autopilot. Furthermore, very
few aircraft models are even equipped with such technology.
That’s why they say takeoffs and
landings are the most difficult part of the flight and why commercial jets are
most susceptible to crashes.
Even the guidance of an air traffic
controller doesn't make up for the mental and visual acuity the pilot needs. A
jet can't take off until it reaches liftoff speed, and a pilot has to keep the
aircraft in the center of the runway simultaneously, among other things to
watch.
Landing is an even more involved
process. The direction and descent rate of the aircraft is mainly controlled by
the pilot. At the same time, the pilot has to make sure the landing gear is
down and working and communicate with air traffic control.
Among other things to watch, the
pilot is tasked with operating the brakes and reverse thrust to bring the
aircraft to a complete stop.
This is why the training for a
commercial jet pilot and the licensing process is so long. Experts say the
chances of landing a commercial airliner without extensive training are near
zero.
Even with the assistance of air
traffic control, it’s definitely tricky.
Some might even say it’s an acquired
skill.
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