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Airlines do not provide flight training for pilots. All pilots are required to hold a commercial pilot's license before being employed by an airline. Typically, they are 21 years old or older, often possess a higher education degree (usually advanced), maintain excellent health, have perfect 20/20 vision, and have logged more than 3,000 flight hours.

Pilots are experts in their field. Their goal is to deliver the smoothest flight experience for passengers, minimizing turbulence to ensure a successful flight, which indicates they are performing their job effectively.

Commercial pilots are typically low-risk individuals. Prior to hiring, pilots undergo extensive psychological testing to ensure they are methodical, cautious, and avoid risky behaviors. They are friendly but often considered unexciting.

Many pilots go their entire careers without encountering an engine malfunction.

Aircraft are capable of reaching their destination even if one engine fails. A twin-engine plane can continue flying with only one functioning engine. Three-engine planes can operate with two, and four-engine aircraft can still fly with three engines.

If all engines fail at cruising altitude (around 35,000 feet), an aircraft can glide for up to 30 minutes before needing to land. The aircraft can glide up to 120 miles, with full control maintained, as if the engines were still operational.

No bird can bring down a jet engine. During testing, engineers deliberately insert whole chickens into jet engines to confirm that the engines will keep functioning properly, even after such an obstacle.

Airplanes are constructed with top-tier safety standards. While spacecraft used by NASA astronauts may utilize equipment from the lowest-cost suppliers, commercial aircraft are built with parts from the most reliable and safety-focused suppliers.

New planes are introduced every 4 to 5 years. Due to strict maintenance protocols, an average U.S. commercial airplane undergoes a thorough overhaul, including repairs and updates, every 4 to 5 years.

Redundancy is key. Every component of a commercial aircraft has primary, secondary, backup, and emergency systems in place (four layers of safety) to ensure passenger protection.

Most aircraft can safely land in zero-visibility conditions (such as heavy fog) because:

1. Many runways are equipped with electronic glide slopes.
2. Pilots are specifically trained for such conditions.
3. Aircraft are fitted with equipment for low-visibility landings.

Modern de-icing methods make ice a non-issue. This includes:

1. A warm-water and glycol de-icing fluid introduced in 1993.
2. An anti-icing coating applied post-deicing to prevent further ice buildup.
3. A reduced time between de-icing and takeoff to maintain safety.

Modern electronics and computing systems enable zero-visibility landings. These technologies allow planes to land safely even in dense fog or other low-visibility conditions.

Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) is standard in every commercial aircraft. If a plane is approaching the ground too quickly, a female voice will issue a warning, saying “Pull up, pull up” to alert the pilot.

To back up air traffic control, every commercial aircraft is equipped with a Traffic Collision and Avoidance System (TCAS). This system helps detect and avoid other nearby aircraft to ensure safe flight.