Questions tagged [airliner]
An airliner is a large, commercial aircraft operated by an airline for transporting people and/or cargo.
714
questions
2
votes
1
answer
166
views
Tiller use on takeoff
When a commercial jet aircraft has been cleared for takeoff, does the PF use the tiller for steering, up to a certain speed? I've seen many vids where it seems the PF uses the yoke/sidestick for ...
- 21
35
votes
1
answer
7k
views
Why does Air Force Two lack a tail number?
Some people have been claiming photo manipulation on shots of a recent political event in Detroit. I don't believe the claims, but one thing was brought up that was confusing: The C-32A (I assume) ...
- 833
9
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Why do commercial airliners go around on hard touchdown?
I was watching this video where he mentioned that a plane went around on hard touchdown. This isn't the only instance I have seen where they do this.
So, why do they do so? Isn't it a loss of profits ...
2
votes
1
answer
165
views
What's the difference between the "approaching minimums" and "plus hundred" callout for Boeing aircraft?
Is it essentially the same thing? And if so, does it vary based on the model of Boeing aircraft or airline's choice?
- 23
-2
votes
2
answers
247
views
Could an aircraft possibly achieve a vertical nose dive at 90 degrees without breaking up?
I've been wondering, is it possible for an aircraft to remain intact even if it is in a vertical nose dive? Is this physically, structurally and aerodynamically possible?
In March 21, 2022, China ...
- 1,540
1
vote
3
answers
396
views
Given that the cabin is pressurized, I assumed that means sealed, how basically do airliners take in air (ie, for ongoing breathing, etc) when high?
Given that the cabin is pressurized, I assumed that means sealed, how basically do airliners take in air (ie, for ongoing breathing, etc) when high?
What is the valve?-like mechanism that does this, ...
- 1,980
4
votes
1
answer
384
views
Which underwater crash sites of medium to large aircraft have been captured in sonar imagery?
For which crash sites of medium to large aircraft are sonar images available ?
Scope:
The crash site should already be confirmed (not speculated).
For the purpose of this question, let's define "...
- 3,656
1
vote
0
answers
172
views
Is there a relationship between thr increasing number of airliners flying over 11000 metres and the number of problematic air pocket events?
I saw many news about the death of a passenger on Singapore Airlines flight. They say that the accident was caused by a turbulence. But judging from the description of what happened I thought about an ...
- 111
4
votes
1
answer
468
views
What does the letter/number on the nose wheel door means?
Most airliners have different letters/numbers on the nose door.
What is it for?
- 4,923
0
votes
1
answer
325
views
For a given mileage, which is more profitable, multiple short flights or fewer long flights?
In a simplified scenario, which is more profitable for an airline, operating 10 short flights (400 miles) or 5 long flights (800 miles), for a total of 4,000 miles flown in each case?
To make things ...
- 4,923
0
votes
2
answers
215
views
How much fuel can be saved in a half full of passengers plane?
On a typical airliner (let's say A320 / B737 / or similar), comparing a plane full of passengers vs one half full, how much fuel an airline can save on a trip when the plane is only half full?
(This ...
- 4,923
6
votes
1
answer
170
views
Optimising Continuous Descent Approaches (CDA): Seeking Strategies and Rules of Thumb
Ideally, approaches should be executed as a continuous descent approach (CDA), maintaining idle thrust and only levelling off (or reducing vertical speed to <500 fpm) briefly to reduce speed, while ...
- 3,196
5
votes
2
answers
1k
views
How Long Will Boeing Keep the 737 in Production? [closed]
Due to the immense costs involved in the certification of a new type, Boeing has continued to iterate upon the initial 737 type with the most recent models being the 737 NG and MAX.
Will they continue ...
- 71
8
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Cruise with a single engine in a twin, good idea?
Airlines are looking to lower costs every single day.
I wonder if it makes economic sense (fuel costs) to operate a airliner using only one engine during cruise, while keeping the second engine at ...
- 4,923
10
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Statistics: is being a crew on airliners overall roughly as dangerous as driving daily?
The question says it all. It's a commonplace that "airliner travel" for passengers is far and away the safest travel, on almost any metric (per mile, hour, per human-year, etc).
However, I'...
- 1,980
1
vote
3
answers
343
views
Could the radar on a passenger plane be used as a makeshift AWACS?
I'm aware that an airliner doesn't have a way to transmit data over datalink, but could an airliner at least tell other aircraft what they see on radar? Is an airliners radar powerful enough?
(Source ...
- 3,373
19
votes
4
answers
6k
views
Why there is only Boeing and Airbus?
Amidst all these new scandals with Boeing and unbelievable/disgusting safety situations like the example of the hidden camera report long time ago, and knowing that airlines only have Boeing or ...
- 4,923
3
votes
0
answers
431
views
Why are British Airways wings so dirty?
I often fly through Heathrow, and British Airways airplanes, particularly their 777s, always look so dirty. For example, there is often a kind of dark oily stain on the wings and flight surface. So - ...
- 387
1
vote
0
answers
54
views
How valuable is CFI hours outside USA?
CFI serves as an excellent pathway to the airline industry. However, if I don't have the necessary paperwork to remain in the US and work, how does accumulating 1500 hours in single-engine aircraft ...
- 51
1
vote
1
answer
193
views
Could an passenger jet perform a complete power down & up IN FLIGHT? [duplicate]
I've read various references that it is not uncommon that modern passenger jets' computer systems need an occasional reboot to fix some erratic state.
Of course, that is done on the ground and ...
- 21
9
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How much of the empty mass of a typical airliner consists of rivets?
How much of the dry mass of a typical airliner (let's say a Boeing 737 or Airbus A320, if a particular model is needed) consists of rivets used in assembling the plane?
- 7,117
10
votes
6
answers
9k
views
Why are many parts of an airliner required to be triplicated, but not the "parts" most likely to malfunction (i.e., the pilots)?
Many components of airliners are installed with three redundant systems to reduce the risk of equipment failure causing accidents. However, there are only two of the "components" most likely ...
- 7,117
-1
votes
2
answers
558
views
What department does an airline pilot fall under?
On LinkedIn, I saw on the Page for the Harry Reid International Airport there were charts for 346 members, 157 of them working in Operations, 43 for Administrative, 37 for Business Development, 25 for ...
1
vote
3
answers
160
views
How does drag change efficient cruise conditions?
If I have an aircraft, and I reduce the induced drag produced by it, does this mean I should operate it at a higher altitude and faster speed to take advantage of the drop in total drag, or slower at ...
- 154
11
votes
5
answers
4k
views
Do airliners respond to mild turbulence in real time?
I've always been fascinated with the impact of ailerons on an aircraft's trajectory; from what I have seen sitting by a wing is that the slightest movement can bank the aircraft quite significantly.
...
- 213
7
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What would be the range of a cargo 777 full of usable fuel up to MTOW?
Having read about Rutan's Voyager and more recently about Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer
I wondered how would some modern long haul airliner such as a cargo Boeing777 (or other airliner) perform at this ...
user21228
1
vote
0
answers
186
views
When riding in the flight deck of a large airplane, why does it appear that the airplane moves slowly?
I recently rode in the jumpseat of an A330, and on approach, the visual impression of speed is very different from that of a small airplane or flight simulator.
Specifically, it appears that the ...
- 1,677
4
votes
2
answers
428
views
Has an airline passenger ever in some way prevented a crash?
Have there been any incidents in which an airliner would almost certainly have crashed had a passenger not taken some action (most likely telling a flight attendant that something didn't seem right)?
- 7,117
5
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Why aren't PFDs made as robust as the Integrated Standby Instrument System (ISIS)?
The integrated standby instrument system (ISIS) is a standby instrument used in many large airliners that provides airspeed, altitude, and attitude information to the pilot in the case of electrical ...
- 6,494
21
votes
5
answers
7k
views
Is an autopilot failure an emergency?
If the autopilot of an airliner fails, but everything else still works, weather conditions are good, and the pilots are able to hand-fly the plane with no problems, is this an emergency? Would they ...
- 7,117
10
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Can we see evidence of "crabbing" when viewing contrails?
Can we see evidence of "crabbing" when viewing an aircraft leaving a contrail?
Such as, in the form of an angular misalignment between the longitudinal axis of the aircraft (i.e. the ...
- 23k
5
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Why do some aircraft's flight control surfaces not droop when hydraulic power is taken away? [duplicate]
Analyzing a bunch of different photos of airliners sitting at Gates, I've noticed that some have flight controls that droop (due to no hydraulic power) and sometimes they stay leveled. Why is this?
...
- 6,494
0
votes
1
answer
158
views
Can someone help me understand this aerofoil?
I came across this morphing aerofoil, but don’t understand how it works please?
Can someone explain also what the components are, like that box in the left?
I looked into that reference, but it’s a ...
- 1
2
votes
3
answers
286
views
Can a commercial aircraft fly at night with complete navigation and communication equipment failure?
Disclaimer: I know there are numerous redundancies and the complete failure of navigation and communication system may not be possible. Hence, let's approach this question as a pure thought experiment....
- 23
0
votes
1
answer
138
views
Are landing gear bay doors meant to help high lift devices at producing lift, when gear is extended, regarding airliners?
Watching some video of one Mig-31 taking off, one can see those doors circled in red in the picture sourced from it, are those meant to produce net lift and reduce take off and landing distance/speed? ...
user21228
6
votes
3
answers
556
views
What causes a jet airliner (with a yaw damper) to roll toward the "weaker" engine during an asymmetrical thrust condition?
Please help me better understand what causes a jet airliner (such as the Boeing 737-500) to roll toward the "weaker" engine when power is reduced on one side.
Such as in the situations ...
- 23k
4
votes
2
answers
421
views
How often do airline pilots actually have to avoid other aircraft that ATC did not tell them about at cruise altitude?
I know any pilot flying in VMC, whether under VFR or IFR, must "see and avoid." How often do airline pilots actually "see" and have to "avoid" other traffic at cruise ...
- 7,117
4
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Do El Al Israel aircraft have Chaff/Flare dispensers and Radar Warning Receivers?
I have heard that El Al Israel aircraft have missile warning systems and lasers to stop anti-aircraft weapons. Do El Al Israel aircraft have chaff/flare dispensers and Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) too?...
- 167
14
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Why are the trailing edges of wings not always made as 'sharp' as possible?
I noticed that wing trailing edges of new airliners like A220 (CSeries) are not completely sharp. Instead, they are blunt. I always thought that the sharper the better in subsonic flow. What is the ...
- 1,383
0
votes
1
answer
104
views
Making sailplane go faster
Sailplanes have much higher L/D than jetliners. But they are three times slower.
Is it practical to make a vanilla sailplane glide at 600mph by lifting it to a ridiculous altitude? If so, what would ...
0
votes
0
answers
106
views
Why do the wings in these pictures go from swept back to parallel with the airflow? [duplicate]
To better understand my question, look at this A320 below
As you can see, the wing becomes parallel with the airflow at the wing root. Same thing on this 737
But this is not found on bigger planes ...
- 6,494
5
votes
1
answer
283
views
Are airliners designed to land safely with no undercarriage deployed?
Complete undercarriage failure ("belly landing") is very rare in large passenger aircraft, but not unprecedented.
(source)
I would imagine it would be fairly easy to predict which part of ...
- 14.2k
1
vote
3
answers
566
views
What long-range jet is easiest to fly?
Of jet aircraft with sufficient range to cross the Atlantic on a full tank of fuel, which is easiest to fly?
More specifically:
The required range is from New York's JFK Airport, to Shannon Airport, ...
- 113
0
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Would a Cessna 172 be as safe as an airliner if flown by an airline pilot?
I know that general-aviation flight is much more dangerous than airline flight. Is this because of the planes or the pilots? If an airline pilot is flying a Cessna 172, is that Cessna as safe as an ...
- 7,117
2
votes
1
answer
404
views
COMAC C919 engine
COMAC C919 has been dubbed as one of the biggest successes in the Chinese aviation industry as this is the first narrow-body airliner capable of long-distance flight. This is important for China as ...
- 888
5
votes
2
answers
3k
views
What odd maneuver is this for a cruising airplane?
Several years ago, I saw a set 4-5 of con-trails converging at nearly the same time and height. They were each executing large turns (90 to 300 degrees) over the same space, starting from various ...
- 153
1
vote
1
answer
2k
views
What is considered a positive rate?
I'm a beginner pilot, and i am trying to perfect my takeoff. What vertical speed is considered a positive rate in a Boeing 747?
Thanks in Advance
- 11
3
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How exactly does the cabin pressure of an airliner change during ascent and descent?
At cruise altitude, airliners' cabin altitudes are usually at 6000-8000 ft, but how and when does it get there respectively how does it behave from ground until cruise altitude?
Is the cabin ...
- 393
0
votes
1
answer
147
views
Safety factor in airliner design
I am currently working on a baseline configuration and initial sizing for a conventional airliner with 90 passengers.
The FAA states that an average passenger weighs approx. 80kg. When calculating my ...
- 1
4
votes
2
answers
575
views
Could a F-22's exhaust stall a highjacked Boeing 767's turbofan(s) and force it to land?
Would it be possible to use a F-22's exhaust to intentionally stall a hijacked Boeing 767's turbofan engines in order to force it to land instead of shooting it down?
The idea being that stalling one ...
- 41