Nearly 50% of men who have never flown or landed an airplane think they could safely land a passenger airplane

[wwillson]

Out of 20,063 adults surveyed in the United States, nearly a third said they were “somewhat confident” or “very confident” that they could safely land a passenger airplane in an emergency, relying only on the assistance of air traffic control.

Almost half of the men who responded were confident they could do it, compared with 20 percent of the women. -source yougov poll

I find this to be stunning that anyone who has never flown or landed an airplane, thinks they have ANY chance of landing a passenger airplane. The chance is 0%, nobody from the survey group could possibly do it, ever, but 50% of the men think they can.... Just wow.

How can this possibly be?

 

[mccandish]

I'd fly mine all the way to the scene of the crash!!!

 

[RooflessVW]

I find this to be stunning that anyone who has never flown or landed an airplane, thinks they have ANY chance of landing a passenger airplane. The chance is 0%, nobody from the survey group could possibly do it, ever, but 50% of the men think they can.... Just wow.

How can this possibly be?

What makes you think the chance is 0%?

 

[dogememe]

I have spent MANY hours playing Microsoft Flight Simulator with the options set to as realistic as possible without all their AI assists. Mostly flying the large passenger jets. Do you think I’d have a chance?

 

[wwillson]

I have spent MANY hours playing Microsoft Flight Simulator with the options set to as realistic as possible without all their AI assists. Mostly flying the large passenger jets. Do you think I’d have a chance?

Not a chance, not even a small chance.

 

[wwillson]

What makes you think the chance is 0%?

Because, as a flight instructor, I've flown with many people who have never flown and airplane and even in a single piston airplane, they are completely overwhelmed. If you put them in the seat of a transport category airplane, the complexity would kill them.

 

[RooflessVW]

Not a chance, not even a small chance.

ATC could absolutely talk a layman through the use of autopilot to get the plane on the ground.

 

[wwillson]

ATC could absolutely talk a layman through the use of autopilot to get the plane on the ground.

Are you serious?

 

[RooflessVW]

Because, as a flight instructor, I've flown with many people who have never flown and airplane and even in a single piston airplane, they are completely overwhelmed. If you put them in the seat of a transport category airplane, the complexity would kill them.

A single is completely different.

In a big commercial plane you turn on autopilot and have time to think.

In our new helicopters with 4 axis you could land the thing (hard) with the altitude knob.

 

[dogememe]

Not a chance, not even a small chance.

I appreciate your honesty. What do you think would be the most problematic part/the biggest mistake?

 

[RooflessVW]

Air Traffic Controller Speaks Out After Helping Passenger Land Plane: ' I Was Just Doing My Job'

A passenger of a single engine plane took over after the pilot became "unconscious" on a flight Tuesday afternoon

people.com

 

[RooflessVW]

Are you serious?

Are you?

 

[Jethro_Bob]

Nevermind same story as above.

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/florida-passenger-lands-plane/index.html

 

[wwillson]

A single is completely different.

Different how? A passenger jet would be less complex?

In a big commercial plane you turn on autopilot and have time to think.

If the autopilot were off and both pilots are incapacitated, you are nearly dead already. You'd likely arrive in the cockpit with the autopilot already on. Start thinking... Think some more, now what are you going to do?

 

[CKN]

We have lots of arm chair occupations on here. I'm sure this could be one with the Microsoft simulator.

 

[wwillson]

Are you?

We are talking about passenger jet.

How many air traffic controllers do you suppose have a type rating in the jet you happen to be trying to land? Or, if you are lucky and get a type rated pilot on the radio, do you really think you could land the airplane without ever landing an airplane before? No chance.

 

[RooflessVW]

Alright, I'm done.

 

[wwillson]

Nevermind same story as above.

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/florida-passenger-lands-plane/index.html

Very very lucky that he was able to bounce the airplane down the runway and get it stopped. That's a one in a 10,000 chance that he landed safely. I'm talking about a passenger jet.

The Cessna 208 is an incredibly docile airplane to fly. He's lucky he wasn't in something that's a bit more of a challenge to fly. Or worse, a Pitts, which is the hardest airplane to land I've ever flown. You pucker up every time you have to land a Pitts, they are a bear.

 

[92saturnsl2]

ATC could absolutely talk a layman through the use of autopilot to get the plane on the ground.

In the right conditions (good weather, no mechanical failures, enough fuel to plan and receive instructions, etc.) I fully believe this is possible depending on what you consider "layman." Someone that has familiarity with flight controls, physics and exposure to airplane cockpits whether through many hours of MS flight sim, or real life, I believe could safely land a commercial airplane with the guidance of ATC, or an experienced pilot on the line. Obviously not flying purely by hand / manually; most routine commercial flights on modern airplanes are (or can be) nearly 100% automated.

 

[Astro14]

What makes you think the chance is 0%?

Because he is a private pilot and flight instructor who has flown a commercial passenger airplane simulator.

He has seen what it takes to fly a passenger plane. A 767.

And he has seen what the zero experience pilot brings to the table.

And he is absolutely correct.