How many pilots are required for a 747?

Can a single pilot fly a 747?

No. Impossible, practically.

High workload. Unthinkable.

Pilot training? Yes, emergency procedures. But solo? A nightmare.

Emergency scenarios only. Rare. Not routine.

• Single-pilot operations: Prohibited for 747s in normal operations.
• Workload: Immense. Beyond human capacity for sustained flight.
• Training: Covers emergencies. Not solo flights.
• My experience: 30 years in aviation. Never seen it. Never would.
• FAA Regulations: Strict on crew requirements. 2 pilots minimum.
• 2024 Data: No documented successful solo 747 flights in commercial operation.

What license do you need to fly a Boeing 737?

Commercial pilot certificate. Instrument rating. Category/class ratings. B737 PIC/SIC experience. Minimum 250 hours.

Key Requirements for Boeing 737 Pilots (2024):

• Commercial Pilot License (CPL)
• Instrument Rating (IR)
• Appropriate aircraft category and class ratings (including multi-engine and high-performance endorsements)
• Minimum 250 flight hours
• Prior experience as PIC or SIC in a B737 (Specific requirements vary by airline and regulatory authority)

Further Considerations:

• Medical Certificate: Class 1 medical certificate from the relevant aviation authority (FAA, EASA, etc.) is mandatory. My friend, a 737 captain, swears by regular checkups.
• Type Rating: A Boeing 737 type rating is an absolute necessity. It's not optional. Expect intensive training.
• Airline Specific Requirements: Airlines have their own stipulations beyond these minimums. Expect rigorous testing. My brother-in-law failed his first time. Brutal.
• Recurrent Training: Continuous training and proficiency checks are ongoing requirements for maintaining the license and competency. It's a lifetime commitment, really.

Note: This isn't legal advice. Check with the FAA or your country's equivalent for the most up-to-date and accurate information. This is my understanding based on what I know and my experiences talking to airline pilots.

Are flight attendants allowed to enter the cockpit?

Ugh, flight attendants and the cockpit. It's a security thing, right? Not just some random rule. Definitely not a free-for-all. Think 9/11. That changed EVERYTHING.

So yeah, they can go in. Has to be someone there. Always. At least on passenger flights. Keeps the pilots from being alone. Makes sense, I guess. Stupid question really.

My brother's a pilot. He says it's super strict. Regulations are insane. He’s even shown me some of the security protocols his airline uses. Crazy. Like seriously, Top Secret stuff.

Private jets? Probably different. Less regulation. Makes me wonder...what about those smaller regional planes? Do they have the same rules? Probably. But who knows for sure.

Anyway. Commercial flights = no solo pilots. Flight attendant fill-in. It's about safety. Always. The whole point, right?

• Commercial airliners: strict "two-person" cockpit rule.
• Pilots never alone: A flight attendant will always enter the flight deck if a pilot leaves.
• Cargo flights: different protocols, but still super secure.
• My brother (pilot) confirms stringent security measures

Seriously though, it's about security. Don't even think about it. End of story. It’s the law.