Using the virtual cockpit feature of some flight simulator software, and cranking up your viewpoint a bit from the default settings, you can get a much more authentic experience already but it's still limited by the tiny viewport offered by even a larger widescreen computer monitor (let alone a 17" 4:3 display which is what many of them are programmed for as it's the smallest common denominator). ![]() This of course requires quite a bit of hardware to accomplish :( To get a decent approximation of what you actually see from an airliner cockpit you'd need at least 6 screens in 2 rows of 3 screens each. If the plane is below you, and you're flying over residential areas with lot of houses, it can be hard to spot.Īs stated in the comments, the view you get in a PC based flight simulator is not representative of the real thing. Spotting other planes in a real cockpit is a bit tricky. If you're flying a single-engine propeller plane, your view will be slightly obstructed by the spinning propeller. This is a natural property of the material used. You will also see the small cracks in the windshield, especially when sunlight is directly shinning at it. The cockpit glass is just like the windshield in your car if you can see something directly, you will see it in the cockpit. Even when you are on final, you can see the little cars with people moving around the ramp and terminal. I know this sounds obvious, but I have to put it as number two. The best part is, this building moves! It's truly amazing. Sitting in the cockpit of a 747 feels rather like standing on top of a 3-story building. ![]() When you are landing, you can take a quick glance to either side of the runway and judge whether it is time to flare. For example, you can tell a certain building is 1000 feet away. Telling distances and relative positions is much easier. I'll illustrate some aspects which I think even the best flight simulation today cannot compensate: Peripheral vision Of course, the pilots can see things which is normally not visible though the windows through cameras mounted on the outside, like on top of vertical tail in A380. Image from Airplane Design- Layout Design of Cockpit, Fuselage, Wing and Empennage by Jan Roskam The actual visibility of the pilots will vary according to the seat position For example, the following figure shows the variation in pilot visibility in Boeing 727 when seat position is adjusted. Image from A 330 Flight deck and system's briefing ![]() For example, the A330's visibility (from Flight deck and system's briefing) is given here. Usually, the aircrafts offer better visibility compared to the guidelines. For the starboard side, all left/right dimensions are reversed. The figure shows a pilot compartment view for optimum collision avoidance ![]() Pilot compartment view from FAA AC 25.773-1 Pilot Compartment View design considerations The FAA advisory Circular 25.773-1 Pilot Compartment View design considerations gives certain guidelines for ensuring pilot visibility. According to Federal Aviation Regulations Part 225, Section 773- Pilot Compartment View, during non-precipitation conditions,Įach pilot compartment must be arranged to give the pilots a sufficiently extensive, clear, and undistorted view, to enable them to safely perform any maneuvers within the operating limitations of the airplane, including taxiing takeoff, approach, and landing In general, the pilots are required to have good visibility to execute any maneuvers during normal operation of the aircraft.
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