The view from a pilot’s cockpit at night is very different from what passengers see when they look out their windows. Mattias, a European pilot, recently shared a video that shows the night view from the flight deck, surprising his one million followers. The video has gained 17 million views, over two million likes, and received many comments from viewers expressing their shock. An aviation expert also shared his thoughts on the clip.
In the video, Mattias, who is an Airbus A320 pilot based in Vienna, appears dressed in a light blue uniform shirt, dark blue tie, and a headset. As he starts the clip, he turns the camera to show the outside, which is completely dark except for the illuminated flight controls in front of him. He mentioned in the caption that it is indeed very dark outside and that they can hardly see anything, but added that it doesn’t pose a problem. He explained that on clear nights, especially with a full moon, they can see quite a lot, but flying remains safe even in complete darkness because they operate under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). Mattias emphasized that pilots rely on their instruments for navigation, making visibility less crucial for flight safety.
Many viewers were surprised to learn that airplanes do not have headlights like cars. Comments flooded in, with some expressing confusion about why they thought planes were equipped with front lights. One commenter noted their preference for night flights since they could not see the ground, not realizing that pilots also couldn’t see it. Another joked about how pilots would respond to a potential mid-air collision.
Michael Porch, a senior manager of flying operations at Jetstar Airways, explained why pilots can navigate safely at night. He mentioned that, without the moon or when clouds are present, the visibility is quite limited, unlike when driving where street lights provide some illumination. Porch described how flying at high altitudes can offer beautiful views of stars and the moon on clear nights, but he acknowledged that there are also nights where there isn’t much to see. He pointed out that pilots rely on their windows when landing, especially if there is rain or cloud cover, as they may only see the runway lights when approaching for landing.
What do you think about flying at night without visibility?
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Source: Bored Panda, by Dinara Luz