Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370: The Theories

[scooterscot]

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?

Depends on how much fuel there is. More fuel more time to talk through basis.

[MyUserName]

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

Ah, rats.

[OwlHoot]

Isn't the plane, basically, f*cked if both pilots are out? Or is the 'tower talking you down' thing on films plausible? ...

According to James May, in How to Land an A330 Airbus: And Other Vital Skills for the Modern Man
(highly recommended by the way), without using the ILS (Instrument Landing System) there would be little chance of landing an A330 in one piece, even for a skilled pilot. One has to turn a switch and let the plane practically land itself, and most other passenger aircraft are probably much the same these days.

[MicrosoftBob]

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!!!)

Surely you'd have seen plenty of military jets flying low overhead then ?

[MyUserName]

Surely you'd have seen plenty of military jets flying low overhead then ?

Yeah but we thought they were dragons

[hyperD]

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?

0%.

The only way would be for someone to be talked through the approach and landing checklist and the plane successfully being setup for full autoland in good weather conditions on a fully equipped runway.

[scooterscot]

Given the choice I'd rather attempt landing a A330 than a 777.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

Given the choice I'd rather attempt landing a A330 than a 777.

??? In practical/emergency terms there wouldn't be a lot of difference.

[sasguru]

Given the choice I'd rather attempt landing a A330 than a 777.

Like there'd be any difference in outcome with a useless bull-sh1tter gimp like you at the controls.

[scooterscot]

??? In practical/emergency terms there wouldn't be a lot of difference.

Well for me there would be as the airbus flight deck is not a place of blood chilling horror. Could probably set at waypoint on the FMS is push came to shove.