Hypothetical Situation
 

Over the years, I've thought about this situation because...you never know. Though I'd love to see some humorous answers, I'd also seriously love to know what you would do in this situation.

You're flying with an airline, perhaps a 757. About halfway into the flight, you see the stewardess stopping by each row to ask a question. When she gets you your aisle, she quietly asks if any of you know how to fly a plane...apparently all the flight officers have come down with "insert witty fatal cause of death here", and the plane is on autopilot.

What do you do?

Please try to leave a serious answer if you can, only because I'd love to see the percentages of the responses :)

I'll put in my reaction later in the thread...

Yes.

Am I a licensed pilot? No.

Can I land a plane semi-safely on a mile long runway? Yes.

Say to her "When do I start".

hey, if we're gonna crash and burn anyways..... why not go out flying a jet? Who really gets that chance? :sm0:

I'd think... "FINALLY!" "Let's do this!"

Sure why not it's my old office anyway

I would say I don't know how but willing to learn.

Personally, I'd land the plane. I know we have at least a few commercial and military pilots on Camaro5, and they'd step up I'm sure. Assuming one of them isn't a passenger, I'd contact ATC and call mayday just to get them involved as quickly as possible. I have enough knowledge of planes and most things relevant to flying that it shouldn't be a problem for them to talk me through anything I needed to know.

I'm fortunate enough to have a dad who was a pilot and flight instructer. He helped engineer the Piper Cub. So I ended up flying sailplanes and soloing at 14 in a Schweizer 2-33. I also learned to fly a Cessna 150, 210 and a Mooney, but never got my private pilots license. I do believe I could have qualified to be a pilot in the military if it weren't for my eyesight way back when.

Since then I've bought and used many different flight simulators over the years. Microsoft Flight Simulator X was pretty damn good and presenting an accurate look at the details of most planes including various commercial aircraft. Currently I'm learning a program called DCS A-10C, which is really detailed.

Contact ATC and they will patch the New pilot into the company dispatcher he or she will upload the flight plan to the FMC they will then get a company check airman on the horn he/she will talk you through setting up the FMC and configuring the AP after that just sit back relax and enjoy the ride (ok a little more involved but you get the picture).

You just described the plot to the movie "Airplane".

Open the emergency door and jump out. At least I go out on my own terms.

I'd join the mile high club..... then do that :laugh:

Can I fly the plane? Sure. All the way to the scene of the crash! :laugh:

I fly fast too...... we'll get there in a hurry! :sm0: