What is more dangerous: taking off or landing an airplane? What is harder and more dangerous for an airplane: takeoff or landing? What is more dangerous than taking off or landing an airplane?
What is harder and more dangerous for an airplane: takeoff or landing?
- During takeoff, the engines operate in takeoff mode. There is a danger of their failure during the take-off run of the aircraft, due to which it will not be able to either take off the ground or stop on the runway. Therefore, during the takeoff run, there is a point, after passing which the pilot makes a decision whether to take off or slow down. If the failure occurs after passing the boundary point, takeoff is carried out under any conditions. even on the same engine.
- The second danger is incorrect alignment. Before takeoff, the pilot sets the so-called takeoff configuration of the aircraft. Releases the flaps to a certain angle and shifts the stabilizer. How exactly the plane is centered is calculated. The pilot can determine whether his calculation is correct only after lifting off the ground.
- Side wind. It can interfere with the take-off run and cause the plane to drift off the runway.
- Wind. Both side and course. In a strong crosswind, heading control is difficult.
- Wind shear. The plane stays in the air due to the air flow around its aerodynamic elements. If there is a strong headwind during landing, then the speed is the sum of the wind speed and the speed of the aircraft. If the wind changes direction or suddenly stops, the plane suddenly loses altitude. When landing, there may no longer be any reserve height.
- Visibility. If it is theoretically possible to take off in fog, then when landing, visual cues play a much greater role. Pilots have a classification division, according to which they take a landing test in limited visibility conditions. These categories are called weather minimums. It needs to be periodically confirmed in practice.
- Maintaining parameters according to instruments. The so-called instrumental approach. The pilot must be able to, as it is called in slang, collect arrows in a bunch. Those. have a correct understanding of the spatial position of the aircraft, relying only on instrument readings, and be able to correctly fly the aircraft without external references.
- Centering on landing. Upon arrival at the destination, the fuel has already been used up and the plane has become lighter. However, the cargo and passengers are in place (in most cases). Thus, the aircraft's alignment has changed since takeoff. It is important to evaluate it correctly so that there is a margin for controls. In this regard, sometimes pilots ask passengers to move from cabin to cabin, or change seats from left to right (or vice versa), especially if the flight is not fully loaded.
- Coefficient of adhesion. After touching down, there may be a risk of the aircraft skidding, or problems with braking due to the condition of the runway. It may be more slippery than the pilot expects. It is important to be able to navigate instantly.
- It is important to land exactly on the signs marked on the runway so that there is no undershoot or overshoot. When following the CGS exactly, this condition is met. At airports not equipped with a glide path system, this poses additional difficulties.
It seems to me that both are very difficult and dangerous. As a rule, all plane crashes occur during takeoff or landing, and when the planes gain the required altitude, a crash is no longer likely. But when landing there must be experienced pilots, as anything can happen.
I don’t know about the plane itself, but landing is always more difficult for pilots.
On takeoff, the main thing is to engine thrust It didn’t disappoint and the plane easily takes off after gaining speed. But even if the engines suddenly fail when accelerating, then the maximum trouble is driving out of lane. It’s worse if, after liftoff, something suddenly happens to the engines.
Landing is more difficult and dangerous in the sense that you need to accurately enter the runway. The slightest excess of the rate of descent is rough landing, not reaching the runway or overflying threatens an accident, the contact is made exactly on the white longitudinal stripes on the runway.
Strong side winds, fog, and snow all complicate landing. Problems with the wing mechanization, non-exit of the landing gear threatens an accident, failure of the engine or brake reverse thrust leads to rolling out of the runway.
So pilots have more worries on landing.
Both are dangerous. But if you answer the question specifically, then landing. To explain this, we need to consider how both stages are dangerous. So, why is takeoff dangerous?
These are the most common hazards during takeoff. WHEN PLANTING THERE ARE WAY MORE OF THEM.
This makes landing more difficult. When the famous Soviet pilot V. Ershov was asked what the most difficult aerobatic maneuver was, he immediately answered - landing.
On this site I pay a lot of attention to aerophobia and how to deal with it. Because this is a very common fear, and even I myself can’t stand going up in the air.
Another article dedicated to airplanes and flights talks about why, in fact, flying is much safer than we imagine. Read and have clear skies!
Is turbulence dangerous, how do weather conditions and lightning affect the plane? A British Airways pilot answers these and other questions.
Turbulence zone - is it dangerous?
Despite the inconvenience, it is absolutely safe; in our Fly With Confidence courses we try to explain this as clearly as possible. Those aircraft that carry passenger air travel can withstand enormous turbulence, much greater than what you are likely to experience.
The problem with turbulence zones is that they cannot be detected in advance. True, pilots who fly through these zones report this fact - this information reaches those pilots who fly after them.
Sometimes you can get out of this zone if you change your flight altitude (fly higher or lower), but this does not always help. This only affects the sensations of passengers, but not the safety of the flight.
Wind shear, or wind shear. What is this? Dangerous?
Wind shear is a dangerous phenomenon during landing and takeoff. This is a sudden change in wind speed or direction as the aircraft increases or decreases speed.
If the wind affects the speed in such a way that it falls below the minimum permissible, then the probability of the plane crashing is high.
All pilots undergo hours of training, and aircraft and some airfields are equipped with warning systems for potential drift.
Should I worry if the flight takes place in bad weather conditions (snow, rain)?
No. Pilots are very knowledgeable about weather conditions, always studying the current forecasts at departure and arrival airports, as well as the weather at airports along the route.
As for fuel reserves, we always have a larger amount filled if, according to the forecast, problems are expected at the arrival airport - at such moments it may be necessary to delay landing and go around.
Is too windy weather a barrier to planting?
There are many videos online showing when a plane lands at an angle, is it safe?
Each type of aircraft has a limit that pilots will not violate in crosswinds. Often smaller airports do not have a wind runway, so yes, wind can be an obstacle to landing in a very small number of cases.
But the wind speed and direction are analyzed in advance; in rare cases, the flight may be canceled or transferred to a nearby airport for this reason.
As for the videos, they look scary, but for landing in strong crosswinds there is a special control technique, all this is safe and practiced by pilots.
How do pilots land planes in thick fog?
Using the Autoland program. This is a complex system that uses ILS - Instrument Landing System - a combination of ground beams that will guide the aircraft to the landing strip.
In this case, pilots may not see the runway until the landing gear touches the ground. This may be the case, say, at Heathrow Airport, where there is a modern ILS system.
Pilots manually land planes 98% of the time, but Autoland training is conducted at British Airways every six months throughout a pilot's career.
What happens if a plane is struck by lightning?
No problem, all commercial aircraft are designed so that lightning strikes do not affect their performance in any way. Airplanes are equipped with electrostatic dischargers, which are usually located at the tips of the wings.
If lightning does hit the plane, they release electricity into the air. After any such incident (and this is also very rare), the aircraft is inspected for damage to the skin.
What happens if a tire bursts?
At low take-off speeds this may cause the take-off to be cancelled, but at high speeds the flight will not be interrupted. A plane can land with any number of burst tires.
Should you be afraid of bird strikes?
Of course not, such things happen extremely rarely. If this happens, there is minimal or no damage to the aircraft, and all engines are tested to withstand a bird strike.
Mid-air collision - what are the chances of that?
There are three things you should know about this.
First, airport dispatchers undergo strict selection, training and licensing. Their task is to create a so-called protective bubble, which increases in size as the altitude and speed of the aircraft increases.
Secondly, the pilot is a professional in his field, he goes through a huge number of tests, selections and checks.
Third, all aircraft are equipped with electronic systems that allow pilots to negotiate with each other.
If the airline is a low-cost carrier, is it more dangerous to fly with it? They save money.
I can't answer for other companies, but all ICAO (International Civil Aviation Association) member airlines have a minimum level of training and testing. And this level is actually very high.
Are small planes more dangerous to fly?
No, they have the same equipment and safety standards, it’s just that the turbulence in smaller aircraft is more noticeable. Therefore, most passengers may feel that flying on such an aircraft is more dangerous.
What's the most dangerous part of flying? It is believed that this is a takeoff or landing.
Believe me, your taxi ride to the airport is statistically much more dangerous than any part of the plane flight.
Shortly after takeoff I feel the plane crash, what is it?
These are just features of our vestibular apparatus, which is accustomed to being on the ground. As for the plane, the pilot only reduced the rate of climb.
At cruising altitude I can sometimes hear a sudden loud hum from the engines, as if the turbines are increasing in power?
This is a standard step climb technique, it is carried out with the aim of increasing engine efficiency when the aircraft becomes lighter (some of the fuel is used up).
How do you know if the plane has enough fuel?
The fuel level is something that the pilot always controls. By law, aircraft must carry emergency fuel reserves.
Can phones affect the operation of an airplane?
Do pilots sleep on board?
On long-haul flights (more than nine hours), a third pilot always flies with us. The pilots take turns resting in the staff area. In some cases, there may be four pilots on board at once.
What happens if one of the two pilots loses the ability to fly the plane? What if both?
One pilot is quite capable of flying an airplane - this is standard simulator training. There have never been cases in the world where two pilots switched off at once; these are fictions from movies. As mentioned above, the crew often consists of three or even four pilots.
Is it dangerous to fly at night?
No, because the technology and all the tools are used exactly the same as during the day.
Videos from plane crash sites keep many tourists awake. And the fact that the probability of death in the sky is extremely small does not reassure everyone.
Soaring in the sky like a bird is an old dream of man, which came true relatively recently. While everyone is used to traveling on land and has been doing it for many centuries, mass flights have become possible relatively recently. The Wright brothers made the first controlled flight in 1903, and since then aviation has rapidly entered the life of mankind. And with it comes the eternal question: is it dangerous to fly on an airplane?
According to statistics, . However, despite the obvious convenience, half of the people who have been in the sky at least once have experienced anxiety during the flight. Fear is especially common among older people and pregnant women, due to their low stress tolerance. Although this is not alien to other categories of the population. Approximately 15% of people are susceptible to aerophobia to varying degrees, some refuse air travel forever.
Many people judge the dangers of flying based on press stories about plane crashes. Now you can freely watch footage from the scene of any crash; the details are savored in the press and broadcast across all media.
Few people realize that there are far more fatal car accidents. So much so that there won’t be enough airtime to talk about them all. Approximately 1,200 people die in plane crashes per year, while due to car accidents 1.2 million are sent to the next world. By the way, hippos, lightning and obesity kill more people per year than airplanes.
The crew sees a person who is afraid to fly immediately: a frightened look, trembling hands, sweating. They try to calm such people down so that the panic does not worsen or become contagious. The fear that the crew will make a mistake is partly justified; in most air crashes, the root cause is human error.
There is no need to worry that the pilot will fall asleep. In addition to him, there is a second pilot and an autopilot who will not leave the car without control. There is also no need to be afraid of system failure. Each of them is interchangeable, everything is thought out, they weren’t built by fools. Even in case of engine failure, there is a second, and sometimes a third.
Why is it dangerous to fly on an airplane?
There is a very real danger of a bird getting into the engine. If it is a small bird, then the consequences will be tragic only for the bird itself. If, for example, a crow flies into the engine, this can cause serious consequences for the engine. But there are no birds at flight altitude, and airports have special scarers.
Whether it is dangerous to fly on airplanes can be judged by the number of crashes. If initially, with the development of air transport, the number of accidents increased, then since the 80s of the last century this trend has been interrupted. Over the past ten years, the number of plane crashes has decreased by 36%. In Western Europe and America, plane crashes have generally become rare. Some countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia are on the blacklist of disadvantaged countries.
What is more dangerous, taking off or landing a plane?
It is not for nothing that these actions of the pilots are accompanied by a request to hide their phones and are met with thunderous applause from passengers. Why are airplane takeoffs and landings dangerous? Because they are the ones that require the most effort and experience from the pilot, especially at complex airports.
During takeoff, there is a high chance of engine failure due to extreme load. The board is loaded with people and fuel, and the altitude has not yet been gained. The largest plane crash in terms of the number of victims occurred during takeoff. In 1977, 583 people died when two planes collided in Tenerife.
Landing frightens passengers with its vibration and impact with the ground, and pilots, sometimes even experienced ones, with its unpredictability. Pilots even have a saying for the occasion: “takeoff is dangerous, flight is beautiful, landing is difficult.” During landing, much depends on the skill of the crew. The longer and wider the runway, the easier it is to land the car.
Thus, both processes are equally dangerous, but for different reasons. Takeoff - due to the risk of equipment failure, landing - due to complete dependence on the actions of the pilot. According to statistics, most accidents occur during landing.
Real dangers
If the risk of crashing is truly minimal, then there are more realistic reasons why airplanes are dangerous to fly. For example, the danger of catching an infection. The air in the cabin circulates using pumps, and is not always quickly replaced by fresh air. Given the confined space, even one sick person can infect half of the passengers. When flying to unfavorable countries, the crew plays it safe and sprays an insecticide in the cabin that protects against infection.
Thrombosis that occurs during prolonged sitting can cause harm to health. Therefore, it is better not to sit too long, but to do something, sometimes get up or do special exercises to prevent the blood from stagnating.
It is dangerous to fly often and for long periods of time. In 200 hours of flight you can receive the maximum permissible dose of radiation, and if you fly at supersonic speeds, the time is reduced to 80 hours. Long flights contribute to disruption of biorhythms. Flights to the east or crossing time zones are especially dangerous in this regard. The overall performance of the body, sleep, and the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract are disrupted.
Useful tips
In light of regular terrible news regarding plane crashes, people who are not involved in air travel can’t help but think about safety flights . Questions arise to which the answers cannot be found anywhere.
What is an oxygen mask for? What is more dangerous - takeoff or landing? Answers for you experienced professional pilot Flight and technical training manager Captain Dave Thomas, who works for British Airways.
Flight safety
For millions of passengers around the world, the thought of flying evokes fear. And in some extreme cases, this feeling even makes you give up traveling altogether. Are these fears justified? Let's figure it out.
Are flights safer now than 10-20 years ago?
Flying modern jet aircraft currently has high degree of security.
According to statistics, since 2009, there have been 1 million accidents per 1 million flights. 4 times less. The entire flight system is primarily focused on improving the safety of air transportation.
What is the risk that the plane will crash?
The chances that the plane you are traveling on will crash are scanty. You are much more likely to crash in the car taking you to the airport.
Statistics from the International Air Transport Association show that the number of accidents in global aviation constantly falling year after year.
It should be noted that airlines do not rest on their laurels and work tirelessly to organize the safest flights possible.
Is the turbulence zone dangerous?
This may be the main concern of nervous travelers who are horrified by a slight shake and an announcement to fasten their seat belt. But there's really nothing to worry about.
Passengers feel discomfort in the turbulence zone, but this not dangerous. However, always It's better to follow safety tips and fasten your seat belt to avoid potential minor injuries.
The captain of the airship must consult passengers during any turbulence as an additional safety measure.
Why do passenger planes fly at an altitude of 10 km?
This height is a kind of compromise between engine efficiency and aerodynamics for jet aircraft.
Modern gas turbine engines working more effective at an altitude of about 10 km, in contrast to turboprop aircraft (a mixture of a gas turbine and a propeller), which require a lower altitude (6-8 km).
What's riskier - takeoff or landing?
Both takeoff and landing are maneuvers that require the pilot to high level of skill. Therefore, special government organizations (and primarily the airlines themselves) are very strictly select personnel and train pilots on modern simulators, which helps them hone their aircraft control skills to the maximum.
Maneuvers at some airports and during adverse weather conditions require additional skills and procedures. But thanks to modern simulators, pilot training is becoming much more effective than it was before.
Why don't planes have parachutes?
Pilots are trained to land in the event of malfunctions. It's much safer and more practical. In addition, it is extremely difficult (even impossible) to competently organize an emergency disembarkation of passengers using parachutes.
Why don't civilian planes fly over military zones?
Airlines work closely with government (and other) security agencies to ensure that civil aircraft didn't fly over dangerous combat zones.
This is exactly what happened with Malaysian Airlines (MH17) in July last year, when 298 people died. The airline allowed its planes to fly in a combat zone, underestimating the risks in a conflict zone.
Local aviation authorities make assessments and recommendations, which are then passed on to NOTAM (Notice to Airmen). And airlines, in turn, choose what to do.
Airplane safety
Where does the water go down in an airplane toilet?
What is a black box?
The black box is actually orange. It contains recording device, on which all pilots' conversations are saved.
Modern aircraft also have so-called QARs or Quick recorders that record even more information than is usually needed.
Why do they announce during boarding that passengers must close their window shades?
This is done so that a person wasn't blinded and got used to more light outside the plane.
The announcement of closing window blinds is exclusively recommendatory character and ensures passenger comfort.
What are oxygen masks used for?
Oxygen masks on airplanes are enough smart mechanism, which determines the need for a mask by monitoring the pressure inside the aircraft. Oxygen masks can automatically deploy. There is also a separate button on board, which does the same thing.
How often are pilots' knowledge tested?
Professional pilots are one of the highest paid professions, and therefore require regular recertification.
All pilots are tested on a special simulator for two days every six months. They are also tested in a “live” flight once a year.
A training course to fly a new type of aircraft may take from three weeks to three months, depending on whether the pilot has flown similar aircraft before or not. Reputation is very important for any airline, so flight safety is always a top priority.
What is the safest seat on a plane?
All passenger seats have very high safety standards. In addition, according to statistics, airliners are the safest mode of transport in the world.
The head of the flight method department, Tu-154 and A320 pilot-instructor Alexander Ushkov answers.
It is known that smoking is not allowed on board, but passengers still smoke in the toilets. How safe is it to fly?
Smoking on board the aircraft is strictly prohibited! The airliner flies at high speed, there is a lot of oxygen, as well as flammable substances. A fire on board is a terrible thing. If it starts in a hard-to-reach place, it is very difficult to extinguish it!
In this case, pilots have only one instruction - to land the plane as quickly as possible, including outside the airfield. So, at one time in America, almost 350 passengers burned to death in 15 minutes due to the fact that one of them smoked in the toilet of the liner and threw the cigarette butt into a container for paper waste! Nowadays, special sensors are installed in the toilets of every airliner, and if someone smokes, a red alarm goes off. Including in the cockpit. Red indicates the highest level of danger on board. The violator may face a fine and transfer to the police upon boarding. By the way, in the USA, a passenger once locked himself in the toilet and smoked. When the flight attendant reprimanded him and asked him to leave, he was rude to her. The crew reported to the ground, 2 fighters immediately took off, and the airliner landed, accompanied by them. The smoker was given 20 years in prison.
Recently, an American pilot was forced to land his plane on a river because a flock of geese got into the engine. It turns out that every passenger exposes himself to danger - after all, birds fly every day...
Birds fly every day, but they very rarely get into airplane engines. At our airport, like others, there is an ornithological service that prevents the accumulation of birds near the airfield. This service is armed with acoustic, laser, and pyrotechnic installations that cause panic in birds.
It is important to keep birds away from the plane during takeoff and landing, since during the flight the birds and I are at different altitudes. By the way, if one goose hits, it most likely will not harm the plane, but a flock, as was the case in the USA, can disable the airliner. It is impossible to close the engines with anything - the plane simply will not take off.
- Some say that the most dangerous moment is takeoff, others - landing. How is it really?
The threat of an emergency situation exists both during takeoff - the engines operate at high, almost maximum speed, the landing gear and fuselage bear a heavy load, and during landing. Especially in bad weather conditions. But the load on the pilot is greater during landing.
Special squad for the president
The head of the aviation security complex Denis Muravyov answers.
Our compatriots love to drink during the flight, and then start fights on board. Why don't airlines do anything about this problem? Why won't they ban the sale of alcohol in the cabin and at the airport?
We have rules of behavior for passengers on board, which also apply to drinking alcoholic beverages.
Firstly, an openly drunk person will not be allowed on the plane. Secondly, opening packages of alcohol purchased in duty free stores is prohibited in the salon. Flight attendants will also not offer free alcoholic drinks to a drunk passenger. But some still manage to drink heavily, start a scandal, fight, and so on. In this case, the commander has the right to land in any country in the world and hand over the rowdy to the hands of law enforcement agencies. In November 2008, we handed over 12 violators to foreign authorities. We can also seek compensation for damages through the court. Even if it is 100 rubles!
Now we are suing passengers, because of whose drunken antics the crew was forced to turn the plane back to St. Petersburg from the halfway point. By the way, in Europe such passengers are entered into the EU database and subsequently may be refused a visa. As for the ban on the sale of alcohol at airports, I am for it. But you won’t see this in any country in the world. Except in Saudi Arabia. I would like to note that this is not only a Russian problem. Americans, French, Germans face this...
The head of the press service, Marina Peshekhonova, answers.
- Which planes do Prime Minister Putin and President Medvedev prefer - domestic or foreign?
A special air squad is responsible for transporting senior officials. Its aircraft fleet historically consists only of Russian aircraft. This is board number 1 of the Il-96, as well as aircraft
Il-62, Yak-40, Tu-154 and Tu-134. So both the president and the prime minister fly on domestic airliners. And safety and comfort are guaranteed on any type of aircraft.
