How to Land a Modern Airliner in an Emergency

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you were flying to your favorite holiday destination when a flight attendant comes over the PA and asks, "Is there a pilot on board?". Well, here is an over view of the steps a non pilot could take to safely land a modern airliner.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• A calm head

1. It would really help to have someone to help, so grab another volenteer. Take the left seat in the cockpit, and let your companion take the right seat.
2. Fasten your seat belt. Pilot seat belts consist of a four point harness consisting of a lap belt and sholder straps. Adjust your seat so you can comfortably reach the control pannels on the glare shield, as well as the controls in the center console between the two pilot seats.
3. DO NOT touch the control stick or yoke. All control of the aircraft will be done by the autopilot.
4. First of all you need to make contact with the ground. Since you will not know any radio frequecies, you will have to tune the radio to the emergency frequency of 121.5. See "How to use an COMM radio in an Airliner". Once you have 121.5 in the display, ensure that the frequency is active, and you are transmitting on the correct radio.
5. To make a call on the radio you will have to press one of the buttons on the flight control or yoke. You have to take care of which button, as the yoke usualy has trim and autopilot disconnect swtiches, as well as the push to talk button. Usually the button is accessed by you index finger on your left land if using the left hand side control. Start your radio call with the words "MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY."
6. Once you have made radio contact, you will be given directions on how to fly the aircraft by use of the auto pilot alone. The autopilot is controlled by the knobs on the top of the instrument panel, or glareshield. (see How to Use an Airliner Autopilot.)
7. Once you have established radio contact with Air Traffic Control (ATC), they will give you a transponder code. Select this code in the transponder. (see How to use a Transponder on an Airliner)
8. To change altitude, change the pre-selected altitude by turning the ALTITUDE knob, then press the LEVEL CHANGE button.
9. To set your speed, turn the IAS/MACH knob.
10. By talking on the radio you will be given headings, altitudes and speeds to fly. Now you know how to control the airplane by using the autopilot, you will be able to bring the airport within range of an airport.
11. The next thing to do is to set up the aircraft to perform an autoland landing. The air traffic control personel will give you the frequency of the Instrument landing system (ILS). It will be a number such as 109.8. The radio controls below the VHF COMM radio control the navigation radios. they work in the same was as the COMM radio described above. Set every NAV radio to the given frequency. An ILS also has an approach course, which will also be provided by ATC. Select this course using the COURSE knob on the autopilot.
12. ATC will then direct you via headings, altitudes and speeds to a position where the aircraft can intercept the ILS to perform a landing.
13. As you begin to slow the aircraft, you will be instructed to lower the flaps. You must select the level of flaps as directed for specific airspeeds. The flap selector is located on the center pedestal above the radio panel, to the right of the throttle controls. The flap lever can be moved down to the desired setting, 1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 25, 35, or 45 degrees.
14. One your airspeed is below about 180 knots (kts), you will be instructed to lower your landing gear. This is the large lever in the center of the main panel. Above the lever are three lights that indicate the position of the wheels. Pull the lever towards you then down to the ‘DN’ position. Watch for all three gear indicator lights to show green, meaning “down and locked”.
15. You should also arm the speed breaks, or spoilers. The speed break lever is located to the left of the throttle controls. You can arm the speed breaks pulling up on the speed break lever. Do not move the lever in either direction, simply pull it up vertically until it locks in that position. This arms the speed breaks, and they will not activate until the aircraft lands.
16. If the aircraft is equipped with autobreaks you can set this to automatically stop the aircraft on the runway. This is a knob located to the left of the landing gear lever. Turn this knob to select ‘MAX’.
17. As you approach the point of intercepting the ILS course, you can switch the autopilot into approach (APP) mode. On the autopilot panel, press the ‘APP’ button. The aircraft will take control of both the heading an altitude. As the aircraft starts to line up on the localizer approach path, and the glide slope, press the second command (CMD) button to ensure that both autopilots are engaged. Make sure you have the correct speed selected in the autopilot as directed by ATC.
18. The aircraft will track the ILS right down to the runway, and will flare, and land in the correct location, and track down teh center line of the runway, while brining the aircraft to a stop.

Tips & Warnings

• THIS IS ONLY FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES. NOT A DEFENIATVE GUIDE.
• DO NOT touch the flight controls.