Did these pilots really consult Google Maps before takeoff?
If anything, these pilots were just reviewing their route before taking off... Right?
When heading out on a trip, knowing your route can make all the difference – cutting down on time, avoiding traffic, and helping you plan better.
But what about pilots? How do they decide on the best route through the skies?
While road trips rely on maps and GPS, flight planning is far more complex.
Pilots and air traffic controllers follow specific protocols to chart the safest and most efficient routes, balancing distance, weather, and traffic in the sky.
The shortest path between two points is called the Great Circle route, but flights often veer off this line.
According to AirnaRadar, this is usually due to air traffic congestion, requiring planes to be rerouted through less crowded air corridors.
Weather conditions and the proximity of diversion airports also play a key role in planning a flight’s path.
It’s safe to say that pilots don’t just hop into the cockpit and wing it. Flight planning takes skill, training, and careful coordination.
That’s why some passengers were understandably puzzled when they spotted pilots consulting Google Maps before takeoff.
While it may have looked like they were casually planning the route on a smartphone, it’s rarely that simple.
In reality, what passengers saw may have been a quick check of airport layouts or taxi routes – not actual flight planning.
But in a high-trust environment like aviation, it’s easy for things to be misinterpreted, especially when nerves are involved.
The video was lighthearted, and there was no real doubt cast on the pilot’s abilities – just a playful moment caught on camera.
What do you think?
Watch the video below from Instagram.
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Image courtesy of Instagram