Travel

Flights: Pilots reveal the terrifying truth about what really happens in the cockpit


Pilots carry a lot of responsibility as part of their daily job, flying hundreds of people through the skies on any one journey. To become a pilot takes years of hard work and exams in order to understand the intricate workings of a flight. However, what they are actually getting up to in the cockpit might surprise you. Several pilots took to Reddit to share their inflight “secrets”.

So, how is this multitasking possible?

While the pilot is arguably one of the most important members of staff on board a flight, they aren’t always flying the plane manually.

In fact, other than take-off and landing, the plane does most of the work on its own thanks to the “autopilot” function.

According to Condé Nast Traveller: “Autopilot refers to a collection of systems that automate a plane’s operations.

“The complex computer matrix tells your plane how to fly, including navigation, altitude, speed, and engine thrust, which controls the force by which the plane moves through the air.

“When these systems are engaged—after a human enters the flight destination information, autopilot culls data about the flight route, location, and navigation—the navigation harnesses the same GPS technology that’s on your cell phone and spits out an optimised flight plan.

As part of a BBC Radio One interview, a commercial pilot named Sam spilled the beans.

When asked about the information and updates pilots provide to passengers over the flight intercom, Sam revealed the truth about this gap in training.

He said: “Unfortunately we don’t actually get any training for that and it’s all just a bit of an act that we have to put on ourselves.

The pilot also admitted to being “guilty” of giving excess details that passengers might not understand.

“I have to say I’m guilty of that,” he said.

“I’m guilty of giving the air temperature outside and what altitude and speed we’re flying at because I think it is interesting, and I think some people want to know, but then also I think you get some people that get scared about it when you tell them ‘we’re this high up’ and ‘we’re going this fast’.”



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