3 answers
Aleks
Student
Yuma, Arizona
1
Question
Asked
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What are the primary factors that contribute to a pilot's ability to effectively manage emergency landings, and how can these factors be optimized to improve safety outcomes?
Im in 7th but one of my dreams is to become a pilot but I don’t know how pilots aren’t stressed while flying with all the levers and buttons going off.
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3 answers
Richard A. (Tony) Eckel
49
Answers
Updated
Richard A. (Tony)’s Answer
Aleks,
Practice, Practice, and more Practice.
Pilots are trained and "Qualified" on specific aircraft to which the manufacturer has prescribe many emergency procedures to common and "expected" conditions. This "include Loss of engine power on takeoff", "Flight control malfunction", "Loss of electrical power", "Overspeed propeller", "Engine Fire" etc. In order to be "Type Rated", they must demonstrate proficiency through periodic testing while getting check rides with instructors or in simulators. This includes knowing where and when certain critical controls are operated - so-called "memory actions".
That takes care of "Known" emergencies. But pilots are sometimes confronted with unexpected emergencies and have to apply their airmanship experience to do a good job. With "Sully" Sullenberger landing in the Hudson, his experience with aircraft accident investigations and safety consulting provided a pool of knowledge he called on to assess, evaluate, and act to ditch flight 1549 in the Hudson River. With the "Gimli Glider" Air Canada flight 143, Captain Pearson's soaring experience provided the flying techniques to bring a Boeing 767 successfully to land with no fuel!
The best pilots fly with both an intimate knowledge of their aircraft and deep airmanship skills from many other aspects of their flying careers. This means that when an emergency or unexpected situation occurs, they are prepared and take required actions as soon as the condition is identified, as well as possess the personal knowledge and skills to rapidly identify unusual circumstances and act appropriately.
While you may think that pilots are in high stress environments, and they are, the stress is managed by familiarity. Similarly, firefighters practice with real fire, to help remove stress when actually fighting a fire. Most commercial pilots will go an entire career without ever having more than a minor emergency, such are the quality and qualification for aircraft and air control systems. At the same time, aircrew have to be careful to not become complacent and overlook procedures or checklists designed to keep everyone safe.
So - The best way to manage stress of emergency landings is to be proficient, through practice, of all different types of failure scenarios, and combinations too. This inculcates (Good word - look it up!) what to do and what not to do under all sorts of situational conditions.
If you KNOW what to do, the stress is much less likely to initiate a mistake - and that is a relief!
Happy landings,
Tony
Practice, Practice, and more Practice.
Pilots are trained and "Qualified" on specific aircraft to which the manufacturer has prescribe many emergency procedures to common and "expected" conditions. This "include Loss of engine power on takeoff", "Flight control malfunction", "Loss of electrical power", "Overspeed propeller", "Engine Fire" etc. In order to be "Type Rated", they must demonstrate proficiency through periodic testing while getting check rides with instructors or in simulators. This includes knowing where and when certain critical controls are operated - so-called "memory actions".
That takes care of "Known" emergencies. But pilots are sometimes confronted with unexpected emergencies and have to apply their airmanship experience to do a good job. With "Sully" Sullenberger landing in the Hudson, his experience with aircraft accident investigations and safety consulting provided a pool of knowledge he called on to assess, evaluate, and act to ditch flight 1549 in the Hudson River. With the "Gimli Glider" Air Canada flight 143, Captain Pearson's soaring experience provided the flying techniques to bring a Boeing 767 successfully to land with no fuel!
The best pilots fly with both an intimate knowledge of their aircraft and deep airmanship skills from many other aspects of their flying careers. This means that when an emergency or unexpected situation occurs, they are prepared and take required actions as soon as the condition is identified, as well as possess the personal knowledge and skills to rapidly identify unusual circumstances and act appropriately.
While you may think that pilots are in high stress environments, and they are, the stress is managed by familiarity. Similarly, firefighters practice with real fire, to help remove stress when actually fighting a fire. Most commercial pilots will go an entire career without ever having more than a minor emergency, such are the quality and qualification for aircraft and air control systems. At the same time, aircrew have to be careful to not become complacent and overlook procedures or checklists designed to keep everyone safe.
So - The best way to manage stress of emergency landings is to be proficient, through practice, of all different types of failure scenarios, and combinations too. This inculcates (Good word - look it up!) what to do and what not to do under all sorts of situational conditions.
If you KNOW what to do, the stress is much less likely to initiate a mistake - and that is a relief!
Happy landings,
Tony
Wayne Johnson
Maintenance Programs, FAA Part 121
102
Answers
Auburn, Washington
Updated
Wayne’s Answer
Aleks, Every pilot is probably stressed and struggles when they first learn to fly. It is very confusing when you look at the instrument panel the first time. Then you start looking at the panel section by section. Directly in front of you will be your primary flight instruments, altimeter, airspeed, artificial horizon, turn coordinator, vertical speed indicator. To the right of that panel will be your communications and navigation instruments.
Then below that will be your engine controls. This is pretty much the standard layout for any light aircraft.
When I learned, I was flying out of a "controlled" airport (i.e there was a control tower), which was very intimidating. It probably took me about 5 hours to be able to talk and fly at the same time.
Your instructor will take you through many different scenarios, cross-wind takeoff and landings, stalls, short field takeoff and landings. simulated engine out procedures, etc.
Your manage emergency procedures by practice.
You do not need to memorize every foreseeable emergency situation, most aircraft will have QRH (Quick Reference Handbook), which will tell you exactly what you need to do.
Regards, Wayne
The large aircraft i.e. Boeing, Airbus, etc. and airlines have simulators where you will practice many of the emergency situations.
So I would recommend you not worry about and take everything one lesson at a time. Your instructors will guide you and build your confidence.
Then below that will be your engine controls. This is pretty much the standard layout for any light aircraft.
When I learned, I was flying out of a "controlled" airport (i.e there was a control tower), which was very intimidating. It probably took me about 5 hours to be able to talk and fly at the same time.
Your instructor will take you through many different scenarios, cross-wind takeoff and landings, stalls, short field takeoff and landings. simulated engine out procedures, etc.
Your manage emergency procedures by practice.
You do not need to memorize every foreseeable emergency situation, most aircraft will have QRH (Quick Reference Handbook), which will tell you exactly what you need to do.
Regards, Wayne
The large aircraft i.e. Boeing, Airbus, etc. and airlines have simulators where you will practice many of the emergency situations.
So I would recommend you not worry about and take everything one lesson at a time. Your instructors will guide you and build your confidence.
Thank you Wayne I will remember this to be helpful with my skills thank you very much Mr.wayne
Aleks
Larry Apfel
Aircraft Mechanic
17
Answers
Stamford, Connecticut
Updated
Larry’s Answer
Aleks,
Pilots are trained to be prepared for the unexpected, not only when they are trying to get their initial private pilot's license but at many opportunities after that. The procedures are drilled into their heads so they'll know them by heart and react almost by reflex how to respond when or if an emergency presents itself. If you are flying more sophisticated aircraft, there are checklists that are developed that you would follow depending on the emergency. Some examples of emergencies would be an engine fire, a bird strike, a loss of cabin air pressure at altitude, or an engine failure.
Optimization of a pilot's response to any emergency comes from practice. Large airlines require their pilots to perform proficiency checks periodically on the type of aircraft they fly in a simulator. Smaller aircraft will require the pilots to take check rides with flight instructors who are certified to examine pilots.
Hope this helps,
Larry A.
Pilots are trained to be prepared for the unexpected, not only when they are trying to get their initial private pilot's license but at many opportunities after that. The procedures are drilled into their heads so they'll know them by heart and react almost by reflex how to respond when or if an emergency presents itself. If you are flying more sophisticated aircraft, there are checklists that are developed that you would follow depending on the emergency. Some examples of emergencies would be an engine fire, a bird strike, a loss of cabin air pressure at altitude, or an engine failure.
Optimization of a pilot's response to any emergency comes from practice. Large airlines require their pilots to perform proficiency checks periodically on the type of aircraft they fly in a simulator. Smaller aircraft will require the pilots to take check rides with flight instructors who are certified to examine pilots.
Hope this helps,
Larry A.
Thank you so much Larry I will use this for my future and this will be really helpful thank you.
Aleks