Could a commercial jet, such as a Boeing 737, land on an aircraft carrier?

Question

I was wondering in case of an emergency or something if this would be possible. I'm interested in other planes too, such as smaller private planes and larger planes like the 777.

Thanks a million!

Answer 1

No. Aircraft carrier runways are around 800 feet long. Commercial passenger jets need around a minimum of 5000 foot runways to land (almost twice that for a 747). In a true emergency situation, the jet would have to land in the ocean nearby a ship and hope for a quick rescue of any survivors.

Smaller Private planes are not equipped with a tailhook to catch the arresting wire which keeps them from going over the edge, but in the old days, Flight crew would run up to the plane and grab the wings to help stop the plane, so I guess they could do that for small propeller aircraft (if the propellers weren't on the wings!!)

Answer 2

No, they couldn't.

An aircraft lke the Boeing 737 or 777 has way too much weight and would not have near enough space to come to a complete stop. A runway that would take on such an aircraft would need to be thousands of feet in length in order to get it to a complete stop. A mere steel cable on a carrier deck would snap trying to stop such a heavy aircraft in such a short distance.

Also, it would be very difficult to judge where an arresting hook would connect with the cable on a carrier deck, because the pilot of such a large aircraft could not be able to see it from where he sits.

No, if it were that easy, it would have been done already, but it was an inventive thought!

Answer 3

Landing on an aircraft carrier if that what you call it, is basically a controlled crash even with a military jet designed for trap landings. But for amusement lets try this one.

You line up your 737 for an approach, while dodging the missiles and eventually the phalanx systems trying to shoot you down after all you definately aren't cleared for a landing. You hit the deck and immediately your landing gear collapse, and the bottom of the plane due to it's weight starts tearing up the relativly light weight flight deck as you skid down the deck. Next your wings gets ripped off by the superstructure spewing fuel everywhere which ignites, if by some miracle you don't explode and the navy is nice enough to rig the barricade you slam into the barricade which isn't designed for the force it is encountering. Eventually you skid right off the end of the flight deck with the barricade attached and crash into the sea. Hopefully the carrier will turn before running your plane down.

It's and ugly picture isn't it?

Answer 4

We would shoot down that sucker in today's environment, in case any idiots
are on line and thinking they could skyjack and get anywhere near a carrier.
Military naval forces which have aircraft carriers would as flag ships, promote
maritime rescue efforts from accompanying fleet vessels for aircraft ditching
at sea or provide fighter escort for those whose emergency situations
involved navigational limitations to find suitable landing sites within reach.
Other civil or unwanted military aircraft are politely given the same -- including
instructions to ditch at sea and not endanger a carrier. Helicopter's are no
exception -- there are MANY reasons for lack of authorization. Exceptions might be made in certain dire circumstances for [ I won't say].

Answer 5

It has been mocked up in computer simulations. It is barely possible to "pancake" the aircraft onto the deck from a stall if you are insanely good and the weather is perfect. However, the aircraft will never fly again and the Aircraft carrier will not be landing or launching aircraft for a very long time. I can't remember whether or not anybody survives the so-called-landing.

So your answer is yes in theory but no in reality.

Answer 6

No, they are too large of an aircraft--too wide. Smaller planes could probably be equipped to land, but the question would be if they had enough power to generate itself from the flight deck upon takeoff without sinking into the sea. I think it could probably succeed, but I wouldn't want to be among the passengers to find out.

Answer 7

NO NO NO hahaah that is funny.

Maybe commuter jets, but even small fighters need a hook and arresting device to land on a carrier, how would a large jet land there? The biggest plane I have seen land on a carrier is a C-130 and they have an arresting hook.

Answer 8

what about an Airbus A380

http://www.futura-sciences.com/communiquer/g/data/547/A380_decollage5.jpg

Answer 9

no, they have to have more run way..it was tried but the experiment was a failure..Navy lost a life doing this

Answer 10

larger planes can not land