United 93 question

[TurboS7]

What???it is an AIRPLANE

I am amazed at post on this subject. I am increasingly concerned about the status of professional pilots in today's world. I hear of pilots that have never flown an airplane for a living that didn't have EFIS and an autopilot??? Thus they have an attitude that you can't fly a jet without an autopilot, are they crazy. Jets fly great without an autopilot at any altitude, the bigger they are the more easy they are to fly, even at altitude. All the autopilot allows is a division of attention, reduction of fatigue,etc. Yes, if the private pilot had an instrument rating and was current he could fly the 757. He would have needed some help and you don't know what emotional condition he would have been in. Now the safest way would be to have him hook up the autopilot and have him push buttons while he orients himself. At jet flies the same as a little airplane, attitude and thrust, once those are set it is easy. The sight window on landing is the same as landing a C-172 relative to speed. You are flaring at 40 to 30 feet but going at 140+ knots with a 10000 foot runway. With a 172 you are flaring at 3 t0 4 feet and are at 65 knots. Run the ratio's they are the same. To answer you question, yes it could be done and I guess our guy would be a hero.

 

[mcjohn]

Thanks for the pep talk. I'm ready! Let's go! I can do it!!

 

[Big Beer Belly]

When I got out of United 93 I was pissed. Granted, I'm the most peaceful non-violent guy I know but after that film I felt like I was ready to get pick a fight in the parking lot with the first Muslim looking guy I could find. Kind of freaks me out that the movie did that to me.

mc,

Haven't seen the movie YET, but for a weeks felt the same way toward those of Japanese ancestry after reading "Flyboys". If you haven't read it, it's an excellent one. The author's other book, "Flags Of Our Fathers" also great (about the 7 guys that raised the flag on Iwo Jima in the famous WW II photo.)

Imagine the anger millions of Americans felt after Pearl Harbor. This "anger" (support) by the general populace is essential to a nation's victory in war, at least that's what I was taught in the military. I have a sneaking suspicion (along with a few million others) that the attack on Pearl Harbor was "allowed to occur" in order to mobilize a previously apathetic US population to what was lining up to be an inevitable confrontation with Germany (Hitler) and Japan (Tojo.)

Just one of many questions I have for "The Man" when I push up the daisies.

Cheers,

BBB

 

[Pantherjon]

I got the very same feelings when I read 'Flyboys' as well BBB..Was reading it in the height of all the 'controversy' at the prison in Iraq of the prisoners being subjected to 'cruelty' and such...Sheesh being made to pose naked in some somewhat less then flattering positions is cruel? Demaining, yes, cruel, no.
Then the thought occured, what would the outrage be/have been if the general populace knew of what some of our troops did to the Japanese soldiers? Or of what the Japanese did to our guys that got captured? I thought what happened at the prison in Iraq was a total 'BFD" thing

mc,

Haven't seen the movie YET, but for a weeks felt the same way toward those of Japanese ancestry after reading "Flyboys". If you haven't read it, it's an excellent one. The author's other book, "Flags Of Our Fathers" also great (about the 7 guys that raised the flag on Iwo Jima in the famous WW II photo.)

Imagine the anger millions of Americans felt after Pearl Harbor. This "anger" (support) by the general populace is essential to a nation's victory in war, at least that's what I was taught in the military. I have a sneaking suspicion (along with a few million others) that the attack on Pearl Harbor was "allowed to occur" in order to mobilize a previously apathetic US population to what was lining up to be an inevitable confrontation with Germany (Hitler) and Japan (Tojo.)

Just one of many questions I have for "The Man" when I push up the daisies.

Cheers,

BBB

 

[airplane wizard]

I would rather try to hand fly it while talking to a 757 pilot. Vectors to a loooooooooong final for an ILS, gear and flaps at GS intercept 160kts 60% or so N1, try to keep glide slope, doesn't seem like you would need much of a flare they come in at a nose high attitude already. Not looking for the prettiest landing in the world, just something surviveable

 

[urflyingme?!]

60% N1?

 

[FracCapt]

Vectors to a loooooooooong final for an ILS, gear and flaps at GS intercept 160kts 60% or so N1, try to keep glide slope, doesn't seem like you would need much of a flare they come in at a nose high attitude already.

Fly with gear/full flaps at 60%N1 and you would stall. Don't flare and you would probably break something, possibly the entire airplane, or start porpoising. 757's aren't Navy airplanes.

You really think that you, with no experience in anything even remotely similar to a 757, could hand fly and land it better than the autopilot could conduct an autoland? No offense intended....but if you do, you're living in a Flightsim fantasy world.

 

[wrxpilot]

Chances are extremely slim. If he had radio contact with someone who could walk him thru step by step for the procedures to program an approach and autoland, MAYBE. Trying to hand fly it with no jet experience probably wouldn't work so well.

You really think so? You guys know infinitely more than I do about flying large transport jets, no doubt. But I did get the opportunity to pretty much cold fly an A300 level D a couple of months ago. I had no experience using any type of flight simulator for that aircraft beforehand either (though I have basic knowledge on how to use a flight director). I have to admit, I was a little rough at first. But I was able to get it around the pattern and landed it without crashing. The second time I flew it down to a low ceiling w/ an engine out and somehow managed not to crash. I'm not Chuck Yeager, and I did receive some help such as when I should flare according to the RA, had autothrottles, etc. But I'd imagine the "pilot" in the scenario would as well.

Obviously the landing wouldn't be pretty, and if any type of malfunction happened he'd probably be toast. But do you think it's that impossible for a somewhat experienced private pilot with some instrument experience to land it? BTW, I definitely agree the autoland would do a MUCH better job than an inexperienced pilot (not debating that at all!).

 

[airplane wizard]

well, of course...I would make a perfect landing...right on the center line...every bit as good as a typed airline pilot would.....Then I would taxi up to the jetway and accept their job offer as a 747-400 capt...whats that...it can't be my alarm clock already cheers everyone