Can a private pilot land an airliner?

Landing a small one engine Cessna and a two engine Boeing 737 are two different things. They each require separate training, and separate skillets. The general premise is the same, though. While the weight of the Boeing may be different, and the wingspan larger, it’s an interesting question of whether it’s possible for a private pilot with no commercial experience to land it. Imagine the Captain of a plane experiencing a medical emergency, and the only person left with experience is a passenger in the back who happens to fly a private plane.

The Aviators is a show on PBS exploring different facets of aviation – from commercial, to private, to military and more. In this short clip, they answer the question of whether a private pilot can in fact land a large airliner.

Take a look at this interesting clip, and see what happens for yourself…