Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370: The Theories

[SantaClaus]

Curioser and curioser...

An entry from the Diego Garcia (US Military base 1000km north of Maldives) Facebook page 2 days before the flight went missing...



As we all know, Diego Garcia was on the pilot's flight simulator.

[mudskipper]

Aussies looking for stuff in the briny.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-26659951

[scooterscot]

Or it was kidnapped for organ harvesting.

BBC News - An MH370 theory that was simple, compelling and wrong

OMG - I knew this day would come...

[scooterscot]

Slightly off topic but is there a reason why planes still have access from the passengers to the cockpit, rather than there being a separate door for them and just a wall between the cockpit and passengers? If there is a problem then the stewards could press a 'please land ASAP' button etc.

And if both pilots are incapacitated? Personally I'd like to have a go at landing the a/c rather than shooting like a dart into the ground. Don't worry I'll use my seatbelt.

[MyUserName]

And if both pilots are incapacitated? Personally I'd like to have a go at landing the a/c rather than shooting like a dart into the ground. Don't worry I'll use my seatbelt.

Isn't the plane, basically, f*cked if both pilots are out? Or is the 'tower talking you down' thing on films plausible? (I grew up as a child of an unemployed single parent in a Welsh valley - planes are not my thing!!!)

[scooterscot]

Isn't the plane, basically, f*cked if both pilots are out? Or is the 'tower talking you down' thing on films plausible? (I grew up as a child of an unemployed single parent in a Welsh valley - planes are not my thing!!!)

Depends on whose on-board. Landing on target is the tricky part.

More worryingly they're pilots out there so dependent on automated flight control for landing that even they would struggle to better the systems in place for a smooth landing.

Depends on the size of the a/c. Reduce power, some flaps (not the spoilers mind!), push the yoke forward a little, watch the speed at least 120 knots before touching the ground. Drop the landing gear at some point, and get ready to throw on the thrust reversers when all wheels are safely on the ground. Then take the keys out the ignition.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

Isn't the plane, basically, f*cked if both pilots are out? Or is the 'tower talking you down' thing on films plausible? (I grew up as a child of an unemployed single parent in a Welsh valley - planes are not my thing!!!)

It's still plausible - it's been done recently with a small plane. Whether it would work depends on a range of other factors though. People with little/no training can land planes using simulators (real ones not flight sim on a PC) - sometimes.

[chef]

It's still plausible - it's been done recently with a small plane. Whether it would work depends on a range of other factors though. People with little/no training can land planes using simulators (real ones not flight sim on a PC) - sometimes.

exactly, didnt you ever watch Krypton Factor?

[MyUserName]

Depends on whose on-board. Landing on target is the tricky part.

More worryingly they're pilots out there so dependent on automated flight control for landing that even they would struggle to better the systems in place for a smooth landing.

Depends on the size of the a/c. Reduce power, some flaps (not the spoilers mind!), push the yoke forward a little, watch the speed at least 120 knots before touching the ground. Drop the landing gear at some point, and get ready to throw on the thrust reversers when all wheels are safely on the ground. Then take the keys out the ignition.

What would you say the percentage chance of success would be for someone with no experience to safely land a plane like this just by being talked down?

[Peoplesoft bloke]

What would you say the percentage chance of success would be for someone with no experience to safely land a plane like this just by being talked down?

It's not that simple - far too many other factors at work to predict.