Private pilots are different from airline pilots as they have only received their basic flying license and often have less experience than a licensed airline pilot. They also differ in what airplane types they operate. Airplane pilots operate jets that are equipped with advanced and technical equipment, which are not used during private pilot training.
So can a private pilot land an airliner? With the correct training, private pilots can operate airliners, just like airline pilots do. However, there are many differences between airliners and the small planes typically operated by private pilots. The most significant differences are to be found in the engines, cockpit instruments, and flight characteristics.
A great example of this comes from Hollywood actor and aviation enthusiast John Travolta. John has been a private pilot his whole life who owns and flies all of his planes, including his personal Boeing 707 airliner. As you can see in the picture below, each jet John has been approved to fly is listed under Type Ratings.
So, with this said, what are the differences between airliners and the planes that usually are operated by private pilots?
Let’s find out!
Table of Contents
Differences Between How Airliners and Small piston airplanes operate
Most airliners are designed to fly long distances at high altitudes with a large payload of fuel, passengers, and cargo. Small piston aircraft have a limited amount of passenger and cargo space while also being restricted to lower altitudes due to engine capabilities.
However, the biggest differences between the two airplane types are the engines, cockpit instruments, and flight characteristics.
Engines
Piston airplanes operate with smaller engines that are identifiable by the multiple propeller blades near the engine, while airliners are equipped with larger High Bypass Turbofan Engines. High Bypass Jet Engines allow airliners to fly at altitudes in excess of 40,000 ft at speeds in excess of 500 knots (575 mph) over the ground. Most piston aircraft are designed to be operated below 25,000 feet at a speed slower than 250 knots (288 mph).
Here is an example of some of the max altitudes piston airplanes and airliners can fly at:
Cockpit Instruments
Cockpit instruments and technology also have major differences between airliners and small piston aircraft. Most piston aircraft are not equipped with a Heads Up Display (HUD), auto throttles, thrust reversers, steering tillers, Flightpath Management Computers (FMCs) or pressurization systems. These systems are routinely used each flight for airliners while piston aircraft are primarily flown by hand with simplified systems and instruments to reduce cost for individual owners.
To see the difference yourself, have a look at the two pictures below. The first shows the flight deck of a Boeing 787 Airliner…
…while the second shows the cockpit panel for a small piston airplane, like those flown by most private pilots.
The large gap between operating speed, altitude and onboard equipment is why private pilots need additional training to be able to safely operate airliners. Without training, some private pilots may become overloaded and struggle to operate airliners due to the different flying environment.
Flight Characteristics
Flying a large airliner is a completely different experience than flying a small, piston-powered airplane. Just to name one difference, the stall speed of a small Cessna 172 is around 50 knots, while the same number for a Boeing 737 is around 100-130 knots, depending on the weight of the airplane.
Pilot Ratings and Endorsements That Might Make It Easier to Fly an Airliner
A private pilot might find it easier to fly an airplane if he has the right ratings and endorsements. For instance, having an instrument rating and a multi-engine rating means that the pilot has acquired skills that make the jump from a small plane up to an airliner smaller.
Instrument Rating
Some private pilots are able to fly in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) if they have received additional training towards an instrument rating (IR).
Without an IR rating, private pilots are only allowed to operate in visual metrological conditions(VMC). This means that some private pilots have not had training to fly into clouds or inclement weather.
Multi-Engine Rating
Private pilots can elect to initially train in small multi-engine piston aircraft instead of single-engine aircraft, but this is an unusual practice as the price to operate the multi-engine airplane is much higher than a single-engine.
Having a multi-engine rating quite logically will facilitate the transition to a multi-engine airliner.
Endorsements
On top of different ratings, private pilots have the opportunity to acquire further add on endorsements that expand the amount of aircraft they can legally fly.
For example, a high-performance endorsement allows a private pilot to operate an aircraft with an engine greater than 200 HorsePower, which wouldn’t be possible otherwise.
Another endorsement private pilots can obtain involves the aircraft’s landing configuration. On a tail wheel airplane, also known as a “tail dragger”, the wheel that is normally located underneath the nose of the airplane is repositioned to the back of the aircraft directly underneath the tail.
Airplanes with the tail wheel configuration have different flying, landing and taxi characteristics. Without this endorsement, private pilots are restricted to flying traditional landing gear type airplanes.
How much training is required to become an airline pilot
On top of a private pilot certificate and instrument rating, airline pilots must accrue 1,500 hours of flight experience before becoming eligible for an Air Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate. Of the 1,500 hours required for flight experience, there are specific requirements including a minimum amount of night time and long-distance cross-country (XC) flying experience as well as instrument and multi-engine experience.
After getting the required flight experience, airline pilots are then required to be trained on the specific aircraft they have been assigned to fly for the airline. This training includes ground school, where pilots learn the systems and components unique to that aircraft, followed by procedures training and finally simulator training before ever stepping foot into the flight deck and flying the airplane for the first time.
In comparison, most private pilots can get a license at only 60 hours of flight time. This includes time spent with a qualified instructor and time spent alone, commonly known as solo time. Additionally, private pilots are usually restricted to operating single engine piston airplanes, while airline pilots operate aircraft with a minimum of two or more engines.
Real incidents where private pilots have had to land an airliner
The most well-known story comes from private pilot Doug White who was originally a passenger with his family on a Beechcraft King Air. A King Air is nowhere near the size of an airliner but does operate very differently from the aircraft that private pilots train on. Doug was accustomed to flying in a single-engine Cessna 172, which can hold up to 4 occupants and is powered by a normal reciprocating engine.
The King Air that Doug took command of was a multi engine airplane powered by two turbo prop type engines. This airplane was a lot heavier, faster and more complex compared to a Cessna 172. King Airs are also equipped with retractable landing gear and require a higher workload from each pilot to operate.
Thankfully, with the help of an Air Traffic Controller (ATC) who was also a rated pilot, Doug was able to safely land the larger airplane as the controller gave him the correct instructions over the radio. This lifeline helped him to remain calm and focused, allowing him a successful landing.
Summary
The operating differences between a small piston aircraft and an airliner are large enough that pilots must receive extensive training on each specific airliner to achieve an aircraft type rating. Along with the proper training and extensive additional flying experience, private pilots can learn all the skills and knowledge that airline pilots have gained in order to safely operate an airliner.
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