Airbus A380 captain explains how to fly the plane, and now people say they're ready to take the controls

An Airbus A380 captain gave us a little behind-the-scenes look at how to fly the plane – and now people think they’re ready to take the controls themselves.

The pilot walked through the entire process in a way that made the world’s largest passenger jet seem far less intimidating, and it’s clear how much he loves it, because he described it as his ‘favorite’.

The video made the systems appear shockingly straightforward when an expert breaks it down.

But could you actually be ready to step into the cockpit?

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Step-by-step: how to fly an Airbus A380

The behind-the-scenes video of a pilot showed us how to work and fly an Airbus A380 airplane, and could give you way too much confidence.

The video started as the captain loaded the route and cruise altitude into the flight management computer, essentially programming a highly advanced GPS.

Starting the engine is surprisingly simple, too – after he switched on the fuel pumps and igniters, he flipped the four engine master controls to go on, and the aircraft’s computers handled the fuel and air for a smooth start.

Taxiing relies on outside visuals plus onboard airport maps and two cameras, one showing the taxiway ahead and one aimed at the nose gear to help with tight turns.

Before takeoff, the pilot calculated what the plane was going to do by using an app that factors in aircraft weight, runway conditions, and weather.

It gave them the correct settings, thrust levels, and takeoff speeds, and once it was in the air, the A380’s fly-by-wire side stick, which is more technologically advanced than the Boeing system, took over to keep the aircraft stable.

With autopilot engaged, the jet follows the route that the pilot programmed, while pilots can adjust altitude or speed with simple inputs.

Ready to take the controls

As the aircraft approached its destination, the captain slowed down, lowered the landing gear, and disconnected the autopilot to fly manually.

After touching down on the runway, the thrust reversers and the auto brake system controlled the planned exit from the runway.

The smooth flow of each step made the A380 look almost approachable and easy to control – even for someone who’s never been in a cockpit before.

That’s exactly why an overconfident viewer might think they could give it a try if they had an Airbus A380 lying about.

We absolutely shouldn’t try it at home, but our confidence is soaring anyway.

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