# A Boeing 747 must be landed. Who do you want at the controls? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 4, 2014, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-boeing-747-must-be-landed-who-do-you-want-at-the-controls/694795 "2014-08-04T16:11:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Desert\_Nomad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desert_nomad/32/177_2.png) [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-boeing-747-must-be-landed-who-do-you-want-at-the-controls/694795/61 "2014-08-07T14:15:09Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > The manual landing resulted in the death of most on board because I am not used to planes that big in real life or a simulator. What airplanes have you flown in real life? Do you have a Private, Commercial, or CFI? ---
**Author:** ![James\_Toothpaste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e56c9b/32.png) [@James\_Toothpaste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/James_Toothpaste)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-boeing-747-must-be-landed-who-do-you-want-at-the-controls/694795/62 "2014-08-07T14:33:43Z")
I vote for the pilot because s/he should know the basic controls of the airplane. ---
**Author:** ![Krouget](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b38774/32.png) [@Krouget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krouget)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-boeing-747-must-be-landed-who-do-you-want-at-the-controls/694795/63 "2014-08-07T17:29:08Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Some people are underestimating what home flight simulators like Microsoft Flight Simulator X or X-Plane can accomplish these days. […] The manual landing resulted in the death of most on board […] I just smacked into the runway at the end going way too fast and that was the end of that show. Apparently, we’re not underestimating it _that_ much.😛 But honestly, I’m also generally curious as to which you’ve flown (or **Desert Nomads** question)? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-boeing-747-must-be-landed-who-do-you-want-at-the-controls/694795/64 "2014-08-07T18:51:26Z")
> [@Krouget](#): > > Apparently, we’re not underestimating it _that_ much.😛 > > But honestly, I’m also generally curious as to which you’ve flown (or **Desert Nomads** question)? Just Piper Tomahawks and Diamond Katanas (really small planes). I have about 60 logged hours even though I still haven’t completed my Private Pilot’s license. I have just taken lessons over many years. It is the lessons themselves that are the point to me. So, not a lot of experience but I can fly a small plane just fine if I need to. In a 747, the only hope in hell with me in the front is by using the Autoland capability on the autopilot. Everything I know about how to do that came from my home simulator setup and videos because it isn’t easy to get even see the cockpit of a 747 in person these days. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-boeing-747-must-be-landed-who-do-you-want-at-the-controls/694795/65 "2014-08-07T21:54:25Z")
In my experience, emergency’s seldom happen under perfect conditions. So I claim I know a 14 year old kid who is a whiz on simulators & can land the 747 under the conditions in the OP. Just follow directions & push buttons. Easy - peasey… \< VEG \> ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-boeing-747-must-be-landed-who-do-you-want-at-the-controls/694795/66 "2014-08-08T02:26:19Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > So I claim I know a 14 year old kid who is a whiz on simulators & can land the 747 under the conditions in the OP. Just follow directions & push buttons. Easy - peasey… \< VEG \> Even operating an autopilot with autoland capability isn’t easy. You have to know a whole lot about many different things to get it to work at all but it _will_ work even if follow the procedures. That is what they are designed for. There is no reason to think that a person that is an expert on a particular autopilot model like an avionics technician or even a sim enthusiast that actually knows the real procedures couldn’t get a 747 on the ground completely safely especially if the have help on the radio. I think that is much more reasonable than a small plane pilot trying to land one manually. Small yacht captains probably wouldn’t have much luck at docking a cruise ship on their first try either because it is something that requires raw experience. Smaller jets may be a different story but we are talking about extreme differences in experience in this scenario. Autolands are not rare, IIFC, every plane in the U.S. that has an autoland capable autopilot equipped has to execute them several times a month just to remain certified. If you fly a lot, you have probably been on some flights that demonstrated them. The reason the exist in the first place is that they are proven safer than manual flying in very marginal weather conditions. My answer is still yes. If you can follow a checklist and listen to instructions, you can land a 747 as well as anyone else in an emergency as long as you know how to use an autopilot really well. All other traffic would cleared for you because of the emergency so that is a non-issue. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-boeing-747-must-be-landed-who-do-you-want-at-the-controls/694795.md?page=3)