"Otis McNatt" wrote in message
om...
Suppose *both* pilots in, say, a B-737, were to die in flight
due to some incredible, but unfortunate coincidence. For
instance, one could die of a heart attack, and the other, say,
of an aneurysm. Now, I'll admit the chances of this happening are
remote, but it could happen; stranger things have.

So, suppose it did happen. If there happened to be an airline pilot
on board who was certified in any of the other Boeing models, from the
717 up the 747 and 777, but having no experience flying the 737, would he
have much of a problem landing the plane?


The most modern airliners are automated.

The pilot takes off and climbs until at a safe point enganges the autopilot
and the plane flies itself from that point on.

Most modern airliners have a Flight Management Computer which pretty much
does everything, including serving coffee (joke).

Best case scenario: a plane with a full automated autloand system (Cat IIIb
I think it's called) , requires the pilot to only dial the right nav data;
it will intercept the localizer, descend, flare, touchdown, brake, and steer
itself down the runway to a stop. When everything works, it's quite amazing
to watch ... the first 3-4 times. Then I am ready to bet, it gets boring.

So if the plane was not damaged in the accident that killed the two pilots,
a person with zero knowledge of piloting, under the guidance of experts on
the ground, can land the plane ... for the very simple reason that the plane
will land itself. All he/she will have to do is dial the right data in.

pilots are there in case something goes wrong and they make sure that the
plane is flying great when nothing is going wrong.

1 - the difference between the professional pilot and the rookie is that the
rookie is always surprised when an emergency happens, the pro is surprised
when no emergency happens.

2 - (this comes from my instructor) thousands and thousands of engeneering
hours went into your plane. It knows more about flying than you'll ever do.

Just my personal, non-qualified, attempt at an answer.

--
Marco Rispoli - NJ, USA / PP-ASEL
My on-line aviation community - http://www.thepilotlounge.com