Too Many Men Think They Could Land a Boeing
In early January 2017, the New Yorker published a cartoon on the internet destined to mark an era: in the sketch, drawn by Will McPhail, an airplane passenger stands up and addresses those around him: "These smug pilots have lost touch with regular passngers like us. Who thinks I should fly the plane?" And around him, several raise their hands as a sign of guaranteed trust.
It was, obviously, a commentary on the then-incipient Trumpism and the successes of international populism, but current events seem to have brought the cartoon to reality: a YouGov poll dating back to the beginning of the year recorded that a third of American adults say that they could easily land a Boeing or an Airbus if asked to do so, and with the remote help of a control tower. The percentage increased up to 50 percent—could it be a coincidence?—considering only the male sample.
Well, sad to say, but: no, the experts don't agree with this reading. Sure, modern airliners are equipped with autopilot systems that make flying a trifle, but takeoffs and landings are still controlled directly by the pilots, who must calculate descent and climb rates, trajectories, speed, and configuration of the flaps.
In short: it is much more likely that half of American men think a little too highly of themselves.
From:Â Esquire IT
