Originally Posted by
Centaurus
Just ask yourself honestly if the situation occurred where the captain becomes incapacitated in the cruise at 37,000 ft would the 250 hour first officer be able to safely fly that aircraft solo IMC all the way from cruise to the landing while making all the radio calls to ATC etc. Especially as his company limits him to a max crosswind component of 15 knots.
The uncomfortable truth is the airlines count on the statistical probability that this combination of circumstances will never happen in our lifetime. Next question please.
If they wouldn't, they would still have the safety pilot on the jumpseat, it's as simple as that.
With 2 autopilots, 2 FMCs, maximum assistance from ATC (mayday call), autoland available, it should be no biggie.
Will they make a mistake or two? Sure. Will the profile not be idle all the way with spool up just prior to landing gate? Not even close to that. But I have no doubts they would land the aircraft safely.