# Can a novice land an airliner? Mythbusters testing it now! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 13, 2007, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-novice-land-an-airliner-mythbusters-testing-it-now/429801 "2007-12-13T02:08:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-novice-land-an-airliner-mythbusters-testing-it-now/429801/1 "2007-12-13T02:08:04Z")
This has been the subject of many threads here: can a novice land a jet plane based only on instructions from the tower? Well, the Mythbusters are testing it out with NASA’s top of the line flight simulator. It’s on the Discovery Channel as I post this, and will be repeated at 1 am ET, 10 pm PT, and several other times during the week. Check your local listings. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-novice-land-an-airliner-mythbusters-testing-it-now/429801/2 "2007-12-13T02:14:16Z")
this is a great myth to bust… God she looks hot with that hair, I’d like to– What? ---
**Author:** ![qubed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f07891/32.png) [@qubed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qubed)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-novice-land-an-airliner-mythbusters-testing-it-now/429801/3 "2007-12-13T02:15:16Z")
Isn’t the Plane on a Treadmill Episode tonight? ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-novice-land-an-airliner-mythbusters-testing-it-now/429801/4 "2007-12-13T02:48:27Z")
[QUOTE=alanak] Isn’t the Plane on a Treadmill Episode tonight? [/QUOTE] That’s what I thought, but it seems it isn’t. hrmph. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-novice-land-an-airliner-mythbusters-testing-it-now/429801/5 "2007-12-13T02:49:40Z")
Possible! And there you have it. Off to Great Debates?! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-novice-land-an-airliner-mythbusters-testing-it-now/429801/6 "2007-12-13T03:10:14Z")
[QUOTE=Sapo] That’s what I thought, but it seems it isn’t. hrmph. [/QUOTE] It’s just taking a little time to get rolling. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-novice-land-an-airliner-mythbusters-testing-it-now/429801/7 "2007-12-13T03:15:47Z")
I just watched it and the answer was no with zero help and yes with an experienced air traffic controller/pilot to talk them down. They used a multi-million dollar, full-motion simulator that qualifies as equal training time as a real airliner for actual pilots. You can’t get more definitive than that without risking a real airliner. Both people testing the idea that a novice could land an airliner made a fine landing with radio help from ATC. I guess it can be done consistently. At the end, they pointed out the autoland system on the autopilot and how that would have been even easier. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-novice-land-an-airliner-mythbusters-testing-it-now/429801/8 "2007-12-13T03:21:39Z")
But, did ya see how she had the ponytails? And those highlights? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-novice-land-an-airliner-mythbusters-testing-it-now/429801/9 "2007-12-13T04:05:36Z")
Since this specifically about a TV show, it is better suited for CS than GQ. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-novice-land-an-airliner-mythbusters-testing-it-now/429801/10 "2007-12-13T04:11:39Z")
Actually, _anyone_ can land an airliner. Its really just a question of how many survive. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-novice-land-an-airliner-mythbusters-testing-it-now/429801/11 "2007-12-13T04:43:13Z")
[QUOTE=alanak] Isn’t the Plane on a Treadmill Episode tonight? [/QUOTE] I’ve had it with this motherfuckin’ plane on this motherfuckin’ treadmill! ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-novice-land-an-airliner-mythbusters-testing-it-now/429801/12 "2007-12-13T04:56:53Z")
[QUOTE=mobo85] I’ve had it with this motherfuckin’ plane on this motherfuckin’ treadmill! [/QUOTE] "Hey!! I’ve got a gun in my pocket. You HAVE to go read all of those MF-ing thread about the plane/treadmill. And you can’t stop reading them until I say you can! " Or, you can not read them. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-novice-land-an-airliner-mythbusters-testing-it-now/429801/13 "2007-12-13T05:05:51Z")
Yeah, but can you land one if you’ve played Flight Simulator on the Playstation 2? _That’s_ the real question. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-novice-land-an-airliner-mythbusters-testing-it-now/429801/14 "2007-12-13T06:03:47Z")
Folks! You’re missing the point here! Hot nerd-girl action! Wh00t! ---
**Author:** ![Not\_A\_Tame\_Lion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e36b37/32.png) [@Not\_A\_Tame\_Lion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_A_Tame_Lion)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-novice-land-an-airliner-mythbusters-testing-it-now/429801/15 "2007-12-13T06:43:45Z")
[QUOTE=Darth Nader] Folks! You’re missing the point here! Hot nerd-girl action! Wh00t! [/QUOTE] I didn’t miss it. Oh, believe me–I didn’t miss it! ---
**Author:** ![Aioua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@Aioua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aioua)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-novice-land-an-airliner-mythbusters-testing-it-now/429801/16 "2007-12-13T07:02:01Z")
Yes, yes I do find Kari sexually appealing. _Rather._ ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-novice-land-an-airliner-mythbusters-testing-it-now/429801/17 "2007-12-13T15:51:32Z")
You mean [my good friend, Kari Byron?](http://www.lfexaminer.com/img_0322.jpg) Eat your hearts out, suckers! Bwaa-haa-haaa- haaa-haaa! God, I love showing off that picture! ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-novice-land-an-airliner-mythbusters-testing-it-now/429801/18 "2007-12-13T16:18:35Z")
How about a Monkey? Can a monkey land a plane? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-novice-land-an-airliner-mythbusters-testing-it-now/429801/19 "2007-12-13T16:31:25Z")
[QUOTE=Zebra] How about a Monkey? Can a monkey land a plane? [/QUOTE] No, he’s too busy typing with the other 999,999. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-novice-land-an-airliner-mythbusters-testing-it-now/429801/20 "2007-12-13T16:46:43Z")
So, now we know the secret. Any yutz can land a commercial jet if they’re able to get into the cockpit by grabbing the radio and calling _Mayday mayday mayday! This is Cecil Air Flight 17. The flight crew is incapacitated. I need assistance to engage autopilot and approach._ But, unless the crew was incapacitated while taxiing to the runway for takeoff, the autopilot is probably already set with the destination, so you’d just need to know when to press the APR (approach) button. Or, click your heels three times and say _I wish I had an older version of Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS) where I could just press “X” for the Land Me control!_ I’m curious though… The generally held thought was that no matter how many hours of time someone has logged with MSFS on their home PC, they’d still be unable to successfully land the big bird on their first attempt. I don’t know if that’s because a home computer game is not quite up to reality, or because it’s still unable to simulate the actual motion and behavior of a real airplane. I’m guessing the latter as MSFS is used as training aid for student pilots before they get to the “real” full-motion simulators. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-novice-land-an-airliner-mythbusters-testing-it-now/429801.md?page=2)