How does a plane know when to land?

Instead, autopilot makes sure they don't always need to be “hands-on” with every area of the task. However, landing a plane requires taking into account a variety of different factors, such as crosswinds, the rate of descent, weather conditions, and more. As a result, a computer cannot manage the situation on its own.



A plane "knows" when to land through a combination of Flight Management System (FMS) calculations and pilot-monitored navigation aids. During the cruise phase, the FMS calculates a Top of Descent (TOD) point based on the aircraft's weight, speed, and current winds. When the plane reaches this digital milestone, the autopilot (under pilot command) begins a gradual descent. As the plane nears the airport, it uses the Instrument Landing System (ILS), which consists of two radio beams: the "Localizer" (for left/right alignment with the runway) and the "Glide Slope" (for the correct angle of descent, usually 3°). In 2026, many modern planes also use GLS (Global Navigation Satellite System Landing System), which uses high-precision GPS to guide the plane. For the final "touchdown," the aircraft's radio altimeter provides precise height-above-ground readings in feet. In "Autoland" mode, the computers use these readings to "flare" the nose up and retard the throttles at exactly the right moment (usually 20-50 feet above the runway) to ensure a safe, smooth landing, even in zero-visibility fog.

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Knowing the amount of altitude to descend and the vertical speed of the descent, the proper time to begin the descent can be determined. Most modern airplanes do these calculations for the pilot and provide him/her with a top of descent point in the flight management computer.

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An Air Traffic Controller tells the pilots when and where they can land their planes at the airport.

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The most used is the Instrument Landing System or ILS. The ILS consists of two radio beams which project up from the area around the runway up into the approach path. These signals are then picked up in the aircraft by the ILS receiver which displays them on the screens in the flight deck.

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Golden Rule 1-Aviate. The PF must fly the aircraft (pitch attitude, thrust sideslip, heading) to stabilize the aircraft's pitch attitude, bank angle, vertical flight path and horizontal flight path. The PM must back up the PF (by monitoring and making call outs till aircraft stabilised). Golden Rule 2-Navigate.

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1 hour before to 1 hour after your ETA (at the listed destination), the ceiling will be at least 2,000' AGL, and the visibility will be at least 3 SM. It's called the 1-2-3 rule; this is the easiest way to remember this section.

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Whether flying at night or during the day, pilots need to see some kind of horizon. They use this to determine the airplane's attitude. At night pilots will turn their gaze from outside to inside and use the artificial horizon. The artificial horizon is normally a simply globe split into two hemispheres.

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Yes. Virtually every single airline pilot manually lands every single flight. There are generally only two reasons an airline pilot would let an airplane autoland. Weather below minimums where autoland is required.

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All large commercial jets can land automatically, but still with plenty of pilot involvement. So-called autoland systems are a part of aircraft autopilots. All large modern jets are equipped with such systems, which can automatically land the aircraft, albeit under careful supervision from the pilots themselves.

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While no passenger or non-experienced pilot has ever successfully landed a commercial plane, occasionally someone without experience manages to land a smaller plane.

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In large aircraft, thrust is used to control airspeed and pitch is used to control rate of descent. The airspeed is kept well above stall speed and at a constant rate of descent. A flare is performed just before landing, and the descent rate is significantly reduced, causing a light touch down.

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Landing a plane is generally considered to be more difficult than taking off. This is because the pilot has to slow the plane down to a safe landing speed while also keeping it aligned with the runway. If the pilot does not do this correctly, the plane could crash.

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Q: Why do planes speed up before landing? The airplanes do not increase speed before landing. But when landing gear and flaps are set to landing position, they create a lot of aerodynamic drag. Therefore, engine power is increased to maintain the approach speed.

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Pilots don't earn a flat annual salary like some professions. Instead, they're paid an hourly wage for each flight hour flown, along with per diem. Most airlines guarantee a minimum number of hours per month, so that pilots can count on at least a minimum amount of monthly income.

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The anemometer, the instrument for measuring speed in aeroplanes. Pilots have to promptly know the speed at which they are moving in the mass of air that surrounds the aeroplane and the anemometer is responsible for measuring it. The anemometer, as it is known today, was designed in 1926 by John Patterson.

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Many pilots disconnect the autopilot as high as 1000 feet above touchdown if the weather is good and the runway is in sight. This so they can keep their hand flying skills sharpened.

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On many aircraft types, pilots can open the side windows in the cockpit. The main reason for this is not for ventilation or vision; it is related to aircraft safety law.

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A lot of airports have restrictions on night flights because of noise issues. Also some smaller domestic airports close at night. There are a few that leave late at night in order to take advantage of the time difference in the arrival city. There aren't more because there isn't much demand for them.

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Flight times within the duty periods are restricted to a maximum of 8 hours for flight crews consisting of one pilot and 10 hours for flight crews consisting of two pilots. The 8-hour and 10-hour flight time limitations include any additional commercial flying performed by the flight crew during the period.

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As a result, Congress acted to strengthen training requirements for all passenger airline pilots, including, crucially, instituting what's known as the 1,500 hour rule: a regulation mandating that pilots earn a minimum of 1,500 real world flight hours before being allowed to work for an airline, with an adequate ...

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