Because of the tremendous speed and power involved, landing an airplane is not for the faint-hearted. After finding themselves in a situation where they need to land rapidly but don’t have much fuel left, it’s time to get your head together and follow these steps.
The “aircraft emergency procedures checklist” is a guide that provides instructions on what to do in the event of an emergency landing. The article includes a list of steps to follow, and also has a section for each type of aircraft.
While flying, we’ve all had the thought, “What if the pilot(s) becomes disabled and I have to land this thing?” “What would I do?” you may wonder. “What if a terrorist takes over the plane and I have to save the day by knocking him out with a Chuck Norris-style thump to the head?” or, perhaps more pertinent in today’s world, “What if a terrorist takes over the plane and I have to save the day by knocking him out with a Chuck Norris-style thump to the head?”
boo-yah, you’re a hero! However, if the pilot is unconscious, you may have to land the aircraft. Relax, it’s not as difficult as it seems, and if you follow a few easy procedures, you’ll be safely on the ground for your press conference and hero shots in no time.
Maintain Control of the Aircraft (Straight and Level)
If feasible, take the left seat when you initially enter the cockpit; this is usually where the Captain or Aircraft Commander sits and has better access to several of the instruments you’ll need to fly. The majority of dual-seat aircraft, on the other hand, may be flown from either side.
Take a big breath and check outside as soon as you sit down to observe whether the plane is in a dive (you can see more earth in the windshield than sky), climbing, turning, or anything else. If it seems straight and level, don’t touch the flying controls; the autopilot is most likely active and you don’t need to intervene. If the aircraft is speeding towards the earth or making a sharp turn, use the stick or yoke (pilot slang for steering wheel) to bring it back to wings-level flying. Pull back on the yoke to make the aircraft rise, push forward to have it fall, and spin it right or left to turn, much like in the video games.
If you’re flying through the clouds and can’t identify what the aircraft’s attitude is (i.e., its relationship to the horizon), you’ll need to employ the attitude indicator, commonly known as the fake horizon. This is a device that depicts the aircraft’s position with reference to the ground and the sky. If you’re on a plane, there’s a good possibility it’ll be shown on the screen immediately in front of you. The aircraft’s wings are represented by the “w” form in the centre, while the brown symbolizes the ground and the blue depicts the sky. So if you see half brown and half blue, you’re in level flight, which is exactly what you want. If you notice anything else, use the stick to make any required adjustments to align the aircraft’s wings with the horizon line.
Call the Radio Station
After you’ve got the plane under control, call Air Traffic Control (ATC) over the radio to describe the situation and ask for assistance. The majority of airplanes have a radio mic switch on the rear of the yoke, where your index finger would ordinarily rest. The difficulty is that the autopilot disconnect switch is often located on the yoke as well, and without adequate understanding of the autopilot system, an unintended autopilot disconnect might result in a huge catastrophe. Using the hand-held radio generally positioned to the left of the pilot’s seat, right below the side window, is a safer option. Push to speak and release to listen, exactly like you would with a CB radio.
Make a call on the presently chosen radio frequency and see whether you receive a response. Declare “Mayday” and explain who you are and what has occurred. Don’t worry about radio etiquette; it’s an emergency, so simply say you don’t know what you’re doing and need assistance in simple English, but don’t seem scared. After all, you’re a guy in perfect command of the situation.
Remember to remove the mic button to listen when you’ve finished speaking. If no one replies, try changing the VHF radio frequency to 121.5 MHz (known as “Guard” and watched by everyone). The radio unit is usually found on the center pedestal between the pilot and co-pilot seats, or on the center panel immediately in front of you.
Follow their instructions.
Various authorities will be alerted of your situation, and they will locate someone who is an expert for your aircraft to help you through getting it on the ground, just like in the movies. They’ll be familiar with the cockpit layout and will be able to tell you where a button or switch is and what to do with it. They’ll also collaborate with ATC to guide you to an airport where you may land. Everything should work out nicely if you follow their directions to the letter. You won’t have the most beautiful landing, but you’ll make it.
Get It Down on the Floor
Many modern planes are totally automated and can land themselves, or at the very least get you lined up on the runway center line on a suitable glide path so that you may take off at 50-100 feet off the ground. All you’ll have to do is manually complete the following steps:
- flare-up (pull up slightly on the stick just prior to touchdown so the main gear hit first)
- Bring the nosewheel to a halt (push the stick forward until the front touches down)
- Back up the throttles all the way.
- Step on the brakes, which are placed near your feet on the tops of the rudder pedals.
- If you find yourself drifting off the runway, softly press the rudder pedals to return to the centerline.
Notes, Cautionary Statements
You’ve arrived! It’s wonderful; you’ve become the day’s hero, and I congratulate you! Now, before you start praising yourself on the back in your imagined situation, here are a few more things to think about:
- Although it is evident that lowering the landing gear before landing is an important step, many pilots overlook it. The gear handle is usually often found on the front instrument panel to the right of the center console, slightly above the left knee of the co-pilot if he is seated.
- To slow the plane down for landing, you’ll need to use drag devices like slats (which are usually only used on extremely big planes) and flaps. These enable the aircraft to sustain lift at reduced airspeeds and maintain a level attitude during descent. They’re usually located immediately close to the throttles.
- Slats, flaps, and landing gear may all be deployed at a maximum speed. If you overspeed them in an emergency, it’s not the end of the world, but it should be avoided. Look on the dash for a sign with the speeds or a card with TOLD if you aren’t in contact with someone who can assist you (takeoff and landing data).
- If you can locate the airspeed indicator, be sure it is inside the green arc as you fly. Green denotes good, yellow warning, and red denotes death, much as it does in real life. If you go too slow, the aircraft will lose lift and stall (believe me, this is horrible, and if you’re not a pilot, you won’t make it).
- If you’re flying a commercial jet, such as a 737, a decent rule of thumb is to maintain it flying at about 200 knots if you don’t have flaps or gear extended, and 130 knots if you have and are approaching the runway. At speeds closer to 70 knots, a smaller aircraft like a Cessna is more stable on approach. Of course, if you ask ATC how fast you should travel, they should be able to provide you with an answer.
Watch This Video-
The “aircraft emergencies examples” is a guide that explains the different types of emergency landings. These include aircraft emergencies, engine failures, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the three types of emergency landings?
A: The three types of emergency landings are hard, soft and smooth. Hard landing is when the plane crashes and damages something close to it inside or outside the cabin. Soft landing occurs when you crash on an airport runway with no damage done to either part. Smooth landing happens as soon as your vehicles wheels touch down on a surface in order to slow its speed before stopping completely
How do you land a plane in case of emergency?
A: This is a complicated question that would require much discussion to answer. Its difficult for even me, who knows everything about the worlds history and geography.
What do pilots say during an emergency landing?
A: Prepare for landing, passengers prepare to brace.
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