How do airline pilots know the route they need to follow on a flight?
In: Engineering
Simply put, it’s already been planned before they even board the plane. Someone has filed a flight plan so that it’s in the air traffic control system’s network, it’s been approved, and they’re ready to go. Prior to the actual flight, it’s programmed into the plane’s computer and the autopilot can execute it.
Though, Air Traffic Control is free to give the plane other instructions, or the pilots can request deviation if there’s a good reason.
In terms of the actual flight, mostly it’s GPS based these days, but alternatives exist. Planes know where they are, and even if GPS fails they have a very good estimate using other techs.
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