An experienced pilot is taking to social media to alleviate the fears of anxious flyers by providing insightful explanations about what unfolds in the rare event of a plane's landing gear failure.
Known as @Flyman.Simon on TikTok, Simon is not just a long-haul pilot but also a Fear of Flying coach, dedicated to sharing tips and tricks of the aviation trade. In a recent video, he delved into the specific actions pilots would take if a plane's landing gear failed to deploy.
Beginning his video with a reassuring tone, Simon said:
“Well, first things first, they would stay calm.
“They’d put the power on, they cancel the approach, they fly away and they tell Air Traffic that there is an issue with the landing gear.
“They’d have to take up a hold - which is a racetrack in the sky - that buys us time to sit and fault find.”
Simon explained that pilots would follow a checklist to rectify the fault and emphasized that all aircraft are well-prepared for such scenarios with excess fuel for potential diversions to alternative airfields.
With over 100,000 followers, Simon shared that switching from the first to the second landing gear computer typically resolves the issue "999 times out of 1,000." In cases where both switches prove ineffective, pilots resort to an 'emergency gravity gear extension' to manually open the undercarriage beneath the plane.
In the rare circumstance where the doors fail to 'lock and latch,' Simon revealed an interesting fact—that all aircraft are certified to land 'without the gear down.' He assured viewers that while it might be a bit noisier than a normal landing, it is entirely safe.
Following Simon's informative video, fans expressed gratitude for his encouraging message, highlighting the importance of demystifying such scenarios for nervous flyers.
