Boeing wheel, vs airbis joystick?

Question

i just found out that boeings have wheels, and airbuses, instead, have joysticks. does this mean, if you're trained to drive an airbus, you can only drive and airbus, and if ur trained 2 ride a boeing, u can only drive a boeing???

Answer 1

It's not just training to fly either a Boeing or an Airbus.  Any jet requires what's called a "type rating" which is specific training and testing on that type of airplane.  This means there is different training for a Boeing 717, 727, 737, 747, [oddity here] 757 and 767 are the same type rating, and 777.  Same with the Airbus series, although within an aircraft family, they are the same type rating (i.e. Airbus 318, 319, 320, and 321 all have a common type rating).

With that said, once someone is type rated in a Boeing 737, it doesn't mean that they could never fly an A320, but it will require additional training.  And it's extremely unlikely that anybody would fly both of those types of airplanes at the same time, i.e. fly a 737 one day and an A320 the next.  Generally, airline pilots are only assigned to one type at a time.

Answer 2

Yes. If you are an airline pilot, you will only fly what the airline checks you out in. Once you go through the process, you will only fly the type of aircraft you are rated for. You normally don't have a choice. They will put you where they need you and it's also based on seniority.

Answer 3

You are correct.  A pilot must train heavily in simulators before he ever pilots any airliner type.  A pilot not trained to use that side joystick control stick on the Airbus would have to go back to school and train on the type before he would ever be allowed to pilot an aircraft.  Boeing has not followed Airbus with the adoption of this joystick controller.  They claim pilot are more comfortable with the traditional type yoke and stick.

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Answer 4

Most pilots prefer the traditional control column with wheel over the joystick.  It gives much more of a feel of being in control.

Most of the other answers are somewhat correct, but the impression should be made clearly that the type of control handle you have in your hand is the least part of how the control of the airplane feels.

It is correct that a pilot must be type rated in each type, and that the airlines will place their pilots in whatever aircraft they need them in.

Having said all that, please understand that changing from a traditional control wheel to a joystick is not difficult, and most pilots will get the hang of it in a few minutes.  Same goes for transitioning back to a control column.

It's really no big deal.  The parts that require a lot of learning are the calculations and the procedures.

Answer 5

Its called a sidestick...its about 10,000 times more sensitive than the average gaming joystick. No if you're type rated on an Airbus, you can transition to a Boeing. It'll only require training usually about two weeks.