Ask a Pilot

Ask a Pilot

Busting myths and answering questions about aviation, aircraft, flying and pilots

Some of the most common questions airline pilots are asked . . .

What goes on behind the flight deck door has always been a big curiosity for many. Handing over control of where you are going and how you are going to get there to two individuals you have never met can raise a mix of emotions and ultimately relies on trust that your safety is their priority and assurances that they have been trained to a very high standard. This naturally raises interest in the role of pilots and their job. This page seeks to provide reassurance and address curiosities about pilots, flying on passenger jet and the aircraft you travel in.

There are many myths surrounding aircraft, aviation and pilots. Stories in the media about these subjects are often inaccurate and sensationalised, leading to common misconceptions. We’ve put together accurate answers to the most common questions we are asked by passengers, enthusiasts and prospective pilots to dispel such myths and inaccuracies.

Can’t find the answer to your question? Use the search facility below, or if you still can’t find it, you can submit a question and one our pilots will endeavour to answer it and might even add it to the collection.

Search Ask a Pilot

A look at how aircraft are able to fly?
The typical cruising altitude of a commercial jetShutter Sock
Why do passengers jets abort landings?Shutter Stock
A look at what the V1 speed is for commercial aircraft
An F35 reversing in flight
A look at what happens if a commercial passenger jets flies too highShutter Stock
What speed do passenger jets fly at?
A look at how much jet fuel costsShutterstock
A look at what could cause both engines on a plane to fail
At what speed does the Boeing 777 take-off and land?ShutterStock
A look at how much extra fuel is need for a commercial flightShutterSock
At what speed does a Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet take off and land at?
A look at how much fuel a Boeing 747 burns flying from London to New York
Why do passenger jets cruise at such a high altitude?
Total Engine Failure on a passenger jet
Can a plane still fly if an engine fails?
A look at how aircraft are able to fly?
The typical cruising altitude of a commercial jetShutter Sock
Why do passengers jets abort landings?Shutter Stock
A look at what the V1 speed is for commercial aircraft
An F35 reversing in flight
A look at what happens if a commercial passenger jets flies too highShutter Stock
What speed do passenger jets fly at?
A look at how much jet fuel costsShutterstock
A look at what could cause both engines on a plane to fail
At what speed does the Boeing 777 take-off and land?ShutterStock
A look at how much extra fuel is need for a commercial flightShutterSock
At what speed does a Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet take off and land at?
A look at how much fuel a Boeing 747 burns flying from London to New York
Why do passenger jets cruise at such a high altitude?
Total Engine Failure on a passenger jet
Can a plane still fly if an engine fails?

Pilots – The training, lifestyle & pay

Can pilots eat the same mealShutter Stock
Airbus vs Boeing Design Philosophies
Why do airline pilots wear a uniform? What does the uniform consist of?
A look at what a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is in the airline industryShutter Stock
A look at the typical salary and pay of a commercial pilotShutter Stock
A look at how much commercial flight training costsShutterstock
A description of a typical day for a long haul pilot flying from London to Las Vegas
How many days do pilots get off a month?
Being a pilot - Long Haul vs Shor HaulShutter Stock
Do pilots sleep in flight?ShutterStock
What are the yearly training requirements for airline pilots
A look at how long it takes from start to finish to complete commercial pilot trainingShutter Stock
How long does it take to become a Captain of a commercial aircraft?Shutter Stock
How many hours can pilots work in a day, week, month and year
How do pilots make decision?
Can pilots eat the same mealShutter Stock
Airbus vs Boeing Design Philosophies
Why do airline pilots wear a uniform? What does the uniform consist of?
A look at what a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is in the airline industryShutter Stock
A look at the typical salary and pay of a commercial pilotShutter Stock
A look at how much commercial flight training costsShutterstock
A description of a typical day for a long haul pilot flying from London to Las Vegas
How many days do pilots get off a month?
Being a pilot - Long Haul vs Shor HaulShutter Stock
Do pilots sleep in flight?ShutterStock
What are the yearly training requirements for airline pilots
A look at how long it takes from start to finish to complete commercial pilot trainingShutter Stock
How long does it take to become a Captain of a commercial aircraft?Shutter Stock
How many hours can pilots work in a day, week, month and year
How do pilots make decision?

Navigation & Weather

A look at what pilots can see when they are flying through cloudsShutterStock
What are the different layers of the Earth's atmosphere?ShutterStock
Can a commercial passenger jet land in heavy rain?
Can planes land in thick fog?Shutter Stock
Can a plane land on it's own using the autopilot?Shutter Stock
How do commercial aircraft navigate?
A look at what wind speed commercial aircraft are unable to fly
A look at if turbulence is dangerous to passenger jets? Can turbulence make a plane crash?Shutter Stock
Are thunderstorms dangerous for passenger jets?
A look at what an ILS is and how it directs a plane down to the runwayShutter Stock
Can aircraft detect thunderstorms?
A look at what pilots can see when they are flying through cloudsShutterStock
What are the different layers of the Earth's atmosphere?ShutterStock
Can a commercial passenger jet land in heavy rain?
Can planes land in thick fog?Shutter Stock
Can a plane land on it's own using the autopilot?Shutter Stock
How do commercial aircraft navigate?
A look at what wind speed commercial aircraft are unable to fly
A look at if turbulence is dangerous to passenger jets? Can turbulence make a plane crash?Shutter Stock
Are thunderstorms dangerous for passenger jets?
A look at what an ILS is and how it directs a plane down to the runwayShutter Stock
Can aircraft detect thunderstorms?

Passenger Experience

Difference in the nose design of the A320 and B737
A look at the total weight of a Boeing 747 Jumbo JetShutterStock
A look at the longest commercial passenger flight in the World
A look at why you aren't allowed to vape on a passenger plane
A look at why there are still no smoking signs on commercial passenger planesShutter Stock
A look at why the cabin lights are dimmed for take-off and landingShutter Stock
How clean is aircraft air
What effects the cost of flying
Do pilots really only work 17 hours a week?
What do the number of stripes on a pilots uniform mean?Shutter Stock
A look at what effects how much an airline ticket costs
A look at the reasons as to why planes crash
Why do the passenger window blinds need to be open for take-off and landing on a passenger jetShutter Stock
Aviation Abbreviations
A look at Crew Resource Management (CRM)?Shutter Stock
Difference in the nose design of the A320 and B737
A look at the total weight of a Boeing 747 Jumbo JetShutterStock
A look at the longest commercial passenger flight in the World
A look at why you aren't allowed to vape on a passenger plane
A look at why there are still no smoking signs on commercial passenger planesShutter Stock
A look at why the cabin lights are dimmed for take-off and landingShutter Stock
How clean is aircraft air
What effects the cost of flying
Do pilots really only work 17 hours a week?
What do the number of stripes on a pilots uniform mean?Shutter Stock
A look at what effects how much an airline ticket costs
A look at the reasons as to why planes crash
Why do the passenger window blinds need to be open for take-off and landing on a passenger jetShutter Stock
Aviation Abbreviations
A look at Crew Resource Management (CRM)?Shutter Stock

 Ask a Pilot – Submit a Question

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Our qualifications to answer your questions

FlightDeckFriend.com’s Ask a Pilot authors are small team who have extensive aviation experience. Between us, we’ve been Training Captains, Airline Management, Line Captains, First Officers, flown both long and short haul and operated the B777, B747, B737, Embraer 170/190 and Avro RJ.