Should a flight attendant learn how to fly an airplane?
Video was revealed by digital platform "In the NOW" became viral having over 8.000 shares around facebook and raises the question to aviation community regarding the flying lessons of flight attendants.
A video from Russia Airline training center shows a trainee flight attendant of Aeloflot who lands the plane with the help of the air traffic controller as both pilots are incapacitate. Following by heart the controller’s instructions she managed to land safely the aircraft.
The video which becomes viral with 8.893 shares so far is accompanied by comments and has torn the viewers whether flight attendants should learn how to land the aircraft in case of an emergency. Facebook’s commentator Kristen Darken wrote: “ In theory is a great idea! We wouldn’t all be doomed if both pilots. In practice I would rather stay on my side door”
But another viewer Ruslan Florida commented that “ Aeroflot does those practices regularly. It’s good for the safety.
However Akvile commentator shed a light regarding the dilemma does a flight attendant has to know how to fly a plane and if so yes does has the knowledge?. “ If a pilot becomes incapacitated there will be a flight attendant in the cockpit for landing to do the checklist with the remaining pilot.” According to sources all flight attendants during their training period learn how to remove an incapacitated pilot and assist the other one to land safely the plane.
Moreover flight attendants supposed to prepare the cabin and passenger for an emergency landing or ditching and aftermaths rescue them whenever an abnormal situation arises wrote on quora Retired USAF Pilot Tom Farier. Added also:” If there's time to prepare for an emergency landing, the cabin crew always will have an emergency checklist. When there's no warning of an impending emergency, the cabin crew takes action based on their training”
Nevertheless what if the flight attendants of United 93 on September 11 would managed to take control of the aircraft and avoid the crash over the towers? Jose Sanchez answering on Quara’s question that: “ They may be able to land the plane even without ATC assistance. Typically when the pilots are incapacitated, common protocol is to contact air traffic control; they will make sure that anybody lands the plane.
Likewise Cypriot Helios plane that crashed in August 14 2005 over Greece at Grammatiko hill killed 121 passengers on board. Before the impact at mountain one of the cabin crew member was also trained for pilot. According to the investigation he has attempted to take control of the plane in order to land it but he didn’t as he suffered from hypoxia which led him to death. Later Hellenic air force plane revealed and confirmed on Greek media that they’ve seen someone in to the flight deck wearing an oxygen mask and made a gesture with his hand.
