Inside the Cockpit.. Does the Autopilot Work While the Captain Sleeps?

- There are many misconceptions in the aviation world that do not reflect the reality of what happens inside the cockpit. One of the most prominent is the belief that operating the autopilot means leaving the aircraft to handle the rest of the task on its own. (Watch the video above) Abdulaziz Al-Shaileh, a Kuwaiti pilot, explained in an interview with Ofoq News in Arabic that programming the autopilot system falls under the pilot's responsibilities, along with monitoring the flight, communicating with air traffic control, and ensuring the status of what is known as the "Flight Mode Annunciator."

Another misconception is the belief that a pilot must be a "genius" in mathematics. Al-Shaileh, who runs the account "abdulaziz_alshoail" on Instagram, stated: "The mathematics required in aviation is not complicated, but it requires discipline, focus, and mental presence, along with continuous review during study."

He added: "Modern aviation does not diminish the importance of the pilot; rather, it requires a high level of understanding and discipline."