Flight Deck

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Airplane Handling

Captain Doug Morris answers your questions about aviation.

Doug Morris | Sunday, March 14th 2010 - 0 comments

Q: Does an airplane handle differently when it’s empty? 
Daniel Asuncion, Halifax

Usually, pilots only fly an empty aircraft to reposition it for another flight, to send it off for a fresh coat of paint or to pick up a new addition to the fleet. And, yes, an empty airplane handles differently. A light airplane taxis quicker, gets airborne sooner and climbs faster. It’s also more susceptible to surface winds, so getting a smooth landing takes a little more finesse as flight controls are more sensitive.