In adventure movies, a disaster occurs while the plane is in the air, one of the characters presses the necessary keys during the fall and ensures a safe landing. This scene usually does not change and the character turns into a hero. But if this happened in real life, could people be as lucky as in the movie scene?
“Just a few button presses!” We have a sad answer to those who think: Unfortunately, this is not enough and we do not live in a movie frame.
Considering that the cockpit crew is completely ineffective in a crashed plane, can one of the passengers in this plane save this plane?
What many of us think is: yes, it can save. But how? In fact, this is the equivalent of having a heart surgery performed by a person who does not have a medical education. But there is a misconception that this only requires pressing a few keys. No, contrary to popular belief, airplanes are not limited to cockpit automation.
Today, there is a misconception that airplanes fly automatically. A “self-flying” automatic aircraft does not yet exist in aviation history. Of course, we do not know what will happen in the coming years, but this is just an urban legend for now.
Taking pilots out of the picture is kind of an insult to the profession.
If an ordinary passenger can land the plane with zero knowledge, why is a profession called piloting practiced? This assumption is actually underestimating the profession without realizing it. There are exceptions of course; however, in general, it is not possible for a non-technical person to land an aircraft.
Airplanes act on command without requiring direct intervention like automobiles. In other words, the automation of the aircraft acts according to the commands of the pilots. It is out of the question for an airplane to make a successful landing without the pilot and the right commands.
There are pilotless planes, but they are currently used in the experimental stages.
In England in 2013, a passenger landed the plane when the pilot of a plane fell ill. But the overlooked part is that the passenger who took over the plane was already a licensed private pilot. That’s why such examples can make you think that everything is “possible” because it creates a sensational effect in the media.
In a panicked environment without a crew, the possibility of landing by taking a remote guidance is almost non-existent. Of course, an airplane can land on its own, usually using the “Autoland” system. However, this takes place under pilot control and in a programmed manner. Moreover, the autopilot can only land in low wind conditions.
In other words, we will understand that landing a plane safely with zero knowledge is not as easy as saying “press one button and be the hero of the day”.
You can watch the video of a person who has experienced this experience in the simulator below.
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