# Could a highly experienced small aircraft pilot successfully be talked through the landing of an airliner, as in "Zero Hour! " and "Airplane!"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 8, 2025, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-highly-experienced-small-aircraft-pilot-successfully-be-talked-through-the-landing-of-an-airliner-as-in-zero-hour-and-airplane/1024679 "2025-11-08T04:00:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2025, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-highly-experienced-small-aircraft-pilot-successfully-be-talked-through-the-landing-of-an-airliner-as-in-zero-hour-and-airplane/1024679/21 "2025-11-09T03:36:42Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > How’d I do, real pilots? I think I could do it. But there’s really only one way to know for sure… I just want to say good luck. We’re all counting on you. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2025, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-highly-experienced-small-aircraft-pilot-successfully-be-talked-through-the-landing-of-an-airliner-as-in-zero-hour-and-airplane/1024679/22 "2025-11-09T03:41:31Z")
At the top of the thread, the consensus seemed to be that my hypothetical experienced Cessna pilot could do it, but as I continue to read, opinion seems to change. I guess a lot of it depends on external conditions and the type of airliner. In **JKellyMap** ’s it does seem like that particular aircraft can do most of the work, and all Tom Scott had to do was follow directions in setting everything up. ---
**Author:** ![MacDoc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/macdoc/32/18696_2.png) [@MacDoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacDoc)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2025, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-highly-experienced-small-aircraft-pilot-successfully-be-talked-through-the-landing-of-an-airliner-as-in-zero-hour-and-airplane/1024679/23 "2025-11-09T04:28:29Z")
To a degree IMNSHO flying is like riding s bicycle. Landing a sailplane is always a “no go around” proposition so a glider pilot might have an edge. I’d say the bigger risk is trying to clear the thicket of tech out of the way so the wannabe can use the stick, rudder and throttle in the least complex manner. With enough time for a little practice at getting tthe glide slope correct and throttle control - I think it could be done and indeed has been done especially with a guide pilot in your headphones. my 2 cents ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2025, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-highly-experienced-small-aircraft-pilot-successfully-be-talked-through-the-landing-of-an-airliner-as-in-zero-hour-and-airplane/1024679/24 "2025-11-09T07:58:56Z")
Recall a smaller jet (737? Dc-9?) tried to land on a highway in the Southern USA when the engines both died after flying through a thunderstorm with hail (a highly discouraged procedure). They almost made it and were down but still going fast when a wing clipped a light pole. I assume part of the problem for an amateur would be guessing height if they are landing manually. Unlike a Cessna flaring about maybe 15 feet up, I presume the view from the cockpit of a passenger jet during flare would be up possibly 50 feet or more considering sitting on the ground it’s close to 20 feet. Or learn to read the right instrument really quickly… ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2025, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-highly-experienced-small-aircraft-pilot-successfully-be-talked-through-the-landing-of-an-airliner-as-in-zero-hour-and-airplane/1024679/25 "2025-11-09T08:14:14Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > A non-pilot like me has no chance. When I flew in the copilot seat, I could not understand the instructions from the tower. In fact, I could not have figured how to use the radio, although that may have improved (this was in the 1960s). I flew many times with a buddy in his Cessna 172. I sure learned a lot. Instructions from ground control, from the ATC, how to read the instruments (the “six-pack” especially). It got to the point where, when we had friends with us, Buddy would tell them, “Spoons gets the co-pilot seat, because if I drop dead, he knows enough to take over and get talked in.” But that was after many flights. The first time we flew, I was as confused by radio traffic, air traffic, and ground traffic as anybody could be. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2025, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-highly-experienced-small-aircraft-pilot-successfully-be-talked-through-the-landing-of-an-airliner-as-in-zero-hour-and-airplane/1024679/26 "2025-11-09T19:58:13Z")
> [@md-2000](#): > > I assume part of the problem for an amateur would be guessing height if they are landing manually. Unlike a Cessna flaring about maybe 15 feet up, I presume the view from the cockpit of a passenger jet during flare would be up possibly 50 feet or more considering sitting on the ground it’s close to 20 feet. I don’t know that you really need to get it right. Flaring is more to save the airplane than the passengers. If I burn up the breaks, snap off the gear, land on the belly and skid to a halt, that’s counted as a success. Some people might get whiplash or smack their head and get a concussion, but still, considering the scneario, that seems like a good outcome. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2025, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-highly-experienced-small-aircraft-pilot-successfully-be-talked-through-the-landing-of-an-airliner-as-in-zero-hour-and-airplane/1024679/27 "2025-11-09T20:02:21Z")
“…And in a great landing, you get to re-use the plane!” ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2025, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-highly-experienced-small-aircraft-pilot-successfully-be-talked-through-the-landing-of-an-airliner-as-in-zero-hour-and-airplane/1024679/28 "2025-11-09T23:03:52Z")
According to this post in another thread I started on the same subject, Wiki says it has never actually happened: [Amateur successfully landing a commercial jetliner? - #6 by MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amateur-successfully-landing-a-commercial-jetliner/1024681/6) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2025, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-highly-experienced-small-aircraft-pilot-successfully-be-talked-through-the-landing-of-an-airliner-as-in-zero-hour-and-airplane/1024679/29 "2025-11-09T23:10:01Z")
> [@MacDoc](#): > > To a degree IMNSHO flying is like riding s bicycle. Landing a sailplane is always a “no go around” proposition so a glider pilot might have an edge. But you can’t put baseball cards in the wheels. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2025, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-highly-experienced-small-aircraft-pilot-successfully-be-talked-through-the-landing-of-an-airliner-as-in-zero-hour-and-airplane/1024679/30 "2025-11-10T01:23:00Z")
Surely there’s a difference between a former squadron leader with combat experience in high performance fighters and a purely civilian Cessna pilot? Regardless of what happened over Macho Grande? I don’t think the fighter pilot meets any definition of amateur. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2025, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-highly-experienced-small-aircraft-pilot-successfully-be-talked-through-the-landing-of-an-airliner-as-in-zero-hour-and-airplane/1024679/31 "2025-11-10T16:07:15Z")
Sure, he flew single engine fighters in the Air Force, but this plane has four engines. It’s an entirely different kind of flying, altogether. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2025, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-highly-experienced-small-aircraft-pilot-successfully-be-talked-through-the-landing-of-an-airliner-as-in-zero-hour-and-airplane/1024679/32 "2025-11-10T16:36:26Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > He would have a better chance if he was a flight sim nerd who knew all about the autopilot and flight management computer I think this response was sort of glossed over, but I second this. Given otherwise perfect conditions, a flight simmer with hundreds of hours of familiarity with that particular aircraft’s FMS and autopilot can almost certainly set up and accomplish a CAT I/II/III autoland on an equipped runway. The key here is familiarity with the aircraft’s systems, not general pilot skill. I have a grand total of 1 real-life flight hour, and many MSFS hours, where I largely use Boeing aircraft. I’m very familiar with the FMS and autopilot on B737s and have had the opportunity to “fly” both a high-fidelity B737 sim and a full-motion B757 (very similar systems) sim, and was able to complete full flights including CAT I auto landings in both. Throw in any complicating issues or slip up and get behind the curve, though, and all bets are off. Put me in an Airbus and I’d be completely lost, I’ve never liked or fully understood Airbus’s philosophy and systems. Actual hand-flying experience in light GA have almost no bearing in this very narrow scenario. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2025, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-highly-experienced-small-aircraft-pilot-successfully-be-talked-through-the-landing-of-an-airliner-as-in-zero-hour-and-airplane/1024679/33 "2025-11-10T16:45:35Z")
I think that’s probably the best answer to date. Better than my own upthread. An experienced simmer who’s experienced in the type, and has been operating their sim in a real-to-life manner, not just John Wayne / Maverick _ad lib_ careening around the skies style, has a pretty good chance of an autoland and all the dozens of attendant upstream tasks to make that a success. Getting and keeping their mind right about what’s really at stake here is their largest obstacle. There’s no scriptwriter ensuring a calm clear mind with no nervousness. Post 9/11 this was a fertile topic and one of the points often glossed over was how, given a suddenly pilotless airliner, this particular individual found themselves trying to fly. As opposed to one of the other 50 to 300 very scared passengers. Many of whom have take-charge personalities even if they lack the skill to succeed in this milieu. I generally predicted a panic-driven violent free-for-all scrum in the aisles until the machoest guy staggers bruised and bleeding forwards towards the cockpit and his date with John Wayneitude. Heck, even removing the dead pilots from their seats without triggering a loss of control is kind of a tough task. It’s been tried in simulators and even people used to maneuvering around inside that model cockpit struggle. ---
**Author:** ![ThisOneGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@ThisOneGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisOneGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2025, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-highly-experienced-small-aircraft-pilot-successfully-be-talked-through-the-landing-of-an-airliner-as-in-zero-hour-and-airplane/1024679/34 "2025-11-10T17:39:39Z")
Kind of the opposite of Dorjan, I have a modest amount (300+ hours) of time in small airplanes and thousands in sims (flying small GA planes or single engine fighters). When I bring up a big jet on the sim I find I can bring it down generally in the vicinity of the airport and right side up. On a runway, and soft enough to keep the gear on I sometimes get lucky. More common is a touch down similar to [Sioux City 1989](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Airlines_Flight_232). So, some people on board might survive. Very much doubt I could find the autopilot and figure out the user interface. Might be able to find the radio, someone on the ground could give me speeds/power settings to aim for. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2025, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-highly-experienced-small-aircraft-pilot-successfully-be-talked-through-the-landing-of-an-airliner-as-in-zero-hour-and-airplane/1024679/35 "2025-11-10T19:45:32Z")
> [@md-2000](#): > > Recall a smaller jet (737? Dc-9?) tried to land on a highway in the Southern USA when the engines both died after flying through a thunderstorm with hail (a highly discouraged procedure). They almost made it and were down but still going fast when a wing clipped a light pole. I don’t know that one, but a 737 successfully dead stick landed on a levee, gear down. Not only were the passengers’ injuries minor,. they repaired the engine and flew it out! > **[TACA Flight 110](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TACA_Flight_110)** > > TACA Flight 110 was a scheduled international flight operated by TACA International Airlines, traveling from San Salvador to New Orleans, with a stopover in Belize City. On May 24, 1988, the flight encountered severe thunderstorm activity on its final approach to New Orleans International Airport. As a result, the brand new Boeing 737-300 suffered flameout in both engines while descending through a severe thunderstorm, but the pilots made a successful emergency landing on a grass levee adjacen... ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2025, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-highly-experienced-small-aircraft-pilot-successfully-be-talked-through-the-landing-of-an-airliner-as-in-zero-hour-and-airplane/1024679/36 "2025-11-10T21:53:10Z")
And, the pilot only had one functioning eye. One of the most amazing stories in aviation. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2025, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-highly-experienced-small-aircraft-pilot-successfully-be-talked-through-the-landing-of-an-airliner-as-in-zero-hour-and-airplane/1024679/37 "2025-11-10T22:02:06Z")
For that matter, there was at least one case of an airplane making a no-damage landing in a field while completely unpiloted. The plane went unstable, the pilot ejected, the loss of the canopy somehow restored stability, and it somehow came in for a landing. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2025, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-highly-experienced-small-aircraft-pilot-successfully-be-talked-through-the-landing-of-an-airliner-as-in-zero-hour-and-airplane/1024679/38 "2025-11-10T22:10:47Z")
The “cornfield bomber”. > **[Cornfield Bomber](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornfield_Bomber)** > > The "Cornfield Bomber" is the nickname given to a Convair F-106 Delta Dart of the United States Air Force's 71st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron which made an unpiloted landing in a farmer's field in Montana in 1970. Suffering only minor damage after the pilot had ejected from the aircraft during a training mission gone awry, the aircraft was recovered, repaired, and returned to service. It is currently on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Ba... I was touring the Museum of the Air Force with my friend and we came upon an F-106 on display. I told him the story of the Cornfield Bomber, and then I read the plaque: this wasn’t just _any_ F-106, this was _that_ F-106! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2025, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-highly-experienced-small-aircraft-pilot-successfully-be-talked-through-the-landing-of-an-airliner-as-in-zero-hour-and-airplane/1024679/39 "2025-11-10T22:17:46Z")
Thanks for the link. Yup, that plaque was how I learned about it. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2025, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-highly-experienced-small-aircraft-pilot-successfully-be-talked-through-the-landing-of-an-airliner-as-in-zero-hour-and-airplane/1024679/40 "2025-11-10T22:36:07Z")
All tales of simulator training being equal to actually training on a real airliner aside, has anyone ever gotten their pilot’s license based on simulator training alone? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-highly-experienced-small-aircraft-pilot-successfully-be-talked-through-the-landing-of-an-airliner-as-in-zero-hour-and-airplane/1024679.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-a-highly-experienced-small-aircraft-pilot-successfully-be-talked-through-the-landing-of-an-airliner-as-in-zero-hour-and-airplane/1024679.md?page=3)