Photo: 123RF Is flying a plane different than driving? Is flying a plane different from driving a car? Blake Winfield from Quora asks this question. I will answer this by elaborating more about flying than by car. When I started learning how to fly in UK, I found that it wasn’t as easy as I …
Photo: Airbus An Airbus A350-1000 conducting the autonomous (‘pilotless’) fight test Will pilotless planes be a reality in the future? Well, there will be planes flying around without pilots in the future but the question is, whether the airlines could put fare-paying passengers in the back of the aircraft. In one survey, it was found …
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Use of Automation (Auto Landing) on an Instrument Landing System Most pilots make use of automation if they feel they are incapable of landing the planes manually in bad weather. Charles Raisor from Quora posed this very common and interesting question. Horrible Weather Conditions So, what were my horrible weather conditions? Well, amongst others, poor …
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Photo: Adam Lee Life Raft Training – Flight crew safely on board What happens if a plane loses all its power? Even though I have hung up my pilot’s uniform, it’s refreshing to reminisce over Vipul Lal’s question during this Covid-19 lockdown. Via Quora, he further added, “I know that a commercial liner can …
What does it really take to fly a plane? Is it a gift only bestowed upon a chosen few or is it a skill that can be achieved by anyone? Image Travel 3Sixty Since time immemorial, humans have been intrigued with flying, and nothing idealises this better than the famous Greek myth about Icarus, who …
Flying to high altitude airports offers an opportunity to take in stunning sights but the experience also requires some special training for flight crew operating to these lofty airports. Image Travel 3Sixty AirAsia X is currently training aircrew for charter flights (commencing in December) to Xining Airport, an airfield in China situated at 7,165ft (2,184m) …
Shining the spotlight on the second in command in the cockpit – the co-pilot. The role of the co-pilot is often misunderstood by the flying public. Also known as the first officer, the co-pilot is the junior of the two pilots in the cockpit in terms of rank, and wears two or three stripes on …
Hi Captain Lim, As what we have seen and heard from the news, the survival rate when a plane crashes is mostly 0%. Is there no technology now that can be done to improve the situation? Are personal parachute impractical to increase the survival rate at all? If let’s say the turbine will suck people …
Pilot’s Perspective: A Pilot’s Life What does it take to be a pilot? Captain Lim Khoy Hing explains the requirements and shares about life in the skies. Words: Captain Lim Khoy Hing “Wow, you’re a pilot? That’s fascinating!” I get this remark quite often. The life of an airline pilot conjures up images of travels …
Hi Captain Lim, Why a cockpit is called a cockpit in the airplane? Susan. Hi Susan, I have answered this question in my book, Life in the Skies. I reproduce it below for those who have not read my book yet: “Ever since I can remember, the area in front where the pilot sits to control …
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Dear Capt Lim; I have limited flying experience (two introductory flight lessons in a Cessna and several commercial flights, including some Transatlantic trips), so please excuse my ignorance. I was wondering; since the earth is spherical and the curvature is approximately 6 foot “drop” for every three miles i.e. a 6 foot person will disappear …
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Hello Captain Lim I am writing from Singapore. I noticed sometimes the plane takes off in one direction and sometimes in the opposite direction at the Changi Airport. Why is that so?? SK Chee Hi Chee, For safety and performance reasons, airplanes should take off into wind. When wind direction changes, the ATC (air traffic …
Hi Capt Lim, I want to know what happens if I get a panic attack on board an airplane? John. Hi John, Well, to answer your short and precise question, I would like to elaborate a little more for the benefit of others. The American Medical Association states that, amongst the common medical problems that …
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How fast is a commercial airliner? Captain Lim Khoy Hing explains this and other issues related to airspeed. Image source: Travel 3Sixty First successful flight by the Wright Brothers took 12 seconds. Just little over a century ago, the first successful flight was launched by the Wright brothers, and it took all of 12 …
Is a gentle landing always desirable? Captain Lim Khoy Hing explains how pilots handle this important phase of flight. Source Travel 3Sixty Upon landing, the pilot slows down the plane by applying reverse thrust My first attempt to land a plane happened years ago and involved a Chipmunk – a tailwheel plane, also known …
Even planes need some Tender Loving Care. Captain Lim Khoy Hing explains the strict care required to keep aircraft airworthy. Image Source: Travel 3Sixty Engineers working on a jet engine during routine aircraft maintenance. I remember a British TV station once broadcasting footage showing how AirAsia X’s Airbus A340 executed an efficient turnaround and …
Captain Lim Khoy Hing talks about the stringent tests imposed on the modern aircraft before it is declared fit to fly With rapid technological advancements, commercial jet planes are continuously being improved to fly safer and better. Today, the hardware testing on a plane is incredibly stringent, especially on the engines and wings. Heart of …
Captain Lim Khoy Hing delves into the simple (and complex) truths about piloting different types of aircraft. Pilots in the cockpit of a Boeing aircraft – Image Travel 3Sixty Can an Airbus pilot also fly a Boeing plane (or vice versa)? The simple answer is, “No”; at least not without appropriate training on the different …
In recent years, flying has evolved with unprecedented safety standards. Captain Lim Khoy Hing explains how. Image: Travel 3Sixty According to a recent news article (2017 Safest Year on Record for Commercial Passenger Air Travel: Groups, Reuters), 2017 was the best year on record for safe commercial aviation. Though today, technological advances in aviation …
How high should a plane fly? Captain Lim Khoy Hing explains optimum cruising altitudes. Image: Travel 3Sixty All planes generally have a preferred cruising altitude, and frequent flyers will notice this when their captain makes an inflight announcement, or when this information is displayed on the video screens. The cruising level is normally chosen for …