Is it easy to fly a modern jet airliner?

Question

is it easier to fly newer planes like 777's than it is to fly older planes like 707's and the older 747's. Also does the lack of switches and gauges in modern planes give the pilot a lack of controll over the aircraft's systems

Answer 1

Easy is a relative term. A very high degree of professionalism is required, alongwith with a thorough knowledge of the procedures and the capability to command a modern jet.

Systems are highly automated, hence lack of switches and gauges make no difference to the pilots.

Answer 2

even though the plane might have a lack of buttons might just mean that the plane controls more of what it does and makes your piloting a lot easier. the more advance or newer planes i would say are the easier ones to fly.

Answer 3

Leave your suicidal tendencies at home. =p

Answer 4

If you are a pilot you can fly a modern jet airliner. The more the aircraft costs the easier it is to fly. Understanding the systems and tests and procedures and being a true commander of the aircraft is what they look for when you are taking an FAA type rating checkride. There is actually very little Flying.

Answer 5

It's helpful to think of the piloting process as having two dimensions:  flying the airplane and *operating* the airplane.

There is little difference between the flying characteristics and the demands on the pilot from older to newer airliners.  Some of the newer ones are actually trickier to handle (more power, more critical center of gravity...), but have improved stability electronics that compensate for the handling characteristics so that the airplane feels "easier to handle" to the pilot.

As previously answered, the newer "computerized" airplanes actually contain more, rather than fewer controls and indicators, but these are in virtual form, rather than as separate discrete components.  The pilot has greater, rather than less, control over aircraft systems.

Answer 6

I believe it is easier but still very hard to fly

Answer 7

It is very easy if go get a little bit of practice with the controls and you know what all the buttons are.

Answer 8

Operation of the new systems is all "computer logic" - not the skill of the pilot.  You punch the flight into the flight management system computer, take off, turn on the auto pilot, open up the Wall Street Journal, and yap on the radio a bit.  Personally, I love the nostalgia of the older airplanes... fun to fly, a bit challenging because you decide how to control the systems - keeps the pilot a bit more involved in the technicalities.  The newer and more automated the airplane, the more it takes the humans out of the picture.  You're there to monitor the computer and make sure it doesn't go crazy.