While driving a car, people can see the nearby passing vehicles, traffic signs, and other people busy with various activities, but flying a plane is a lot different. It is an experience beyond imagination and not easy to describe in words.
So, if you ever meet any pilot, don’t forget to ask this question. What do pilots see when flying? We hope you will get many interesting answers just like we got. Are you curious to know? We are sure, yes!
Because waiting to meet a pilot to know about this is not an easy task. Until then, read this article and get to know what they see.
The pilots see many natural sights such as hurricanes, huge mountain ranges, sky, stars, and rectangular ice-burgs; many even claim that they see unidentified flying objects(UFOs) and drones.
We have a lot more for you so give a deep insight into this article and unfold the interesting information.
Let’s begin! 
What Do Pilots See When Flying?
Being a pilot is fun and hectic simultaneously; it is not an easy job, and everyone knows this. It is not like driving a car, truck, or bus because pilots fly higher in the skies and experience different incidents that can be even super scary many times.
Umm, what do pilots see when flying? Are these birds, any supernatural stuff, or just buildings and skies? What is it?
Everyone is eager to know what they see in reality, especially those who have never been on a plane ever. Even many curious personalities ask: can pilots be color blind; if yes, how do pilots see at night? And what about aviators: can pilots wear glasses too?
Hold on! No more confusion as I am going to answer all these intriguing queries! Pilots see historical landmarks, huge mountain ranges, pink lakes, large icebergs, hurricanes, volcanos, rivers that look like a twisting line, highways, and other aircraft passing nearby on the radar (ATC tells the planes to maintain a safe distance), and bridges that are located at high places. Moreover, they also witness bright shiny suns, moons, and stars during night flights, clouds and Lightning during thunderstorms, and many more wonders of nature.
Some pilots even say that they see unidentified flying objects or UFOs flying at too high a height and high altitude balloons. But mind it that color-blind pilots do not fly the plane at night as it can be risky but every pilot can wear glasses in the daytime—umm not only to look cool but for safe driving—to protect their eyes from brightening sunlight.
Things That Pilots Witness During Flights:
What do pilots see when flying? This an interesting question, though, and we are sure after reading the things mentioned below you also wish to be a pilot.
So, let’s start unfolding the things pilots witnessed.
UFO (Unidentified Flying Objects):
Years ago, when many pilots claimed that they witnessed unidentified flying objects, a long debate started about what these objects were. Many US researchers worked on these objects to resolve the mystery, but all in vain.
As a result, they said that it is nothing but the results of a camera mistake, daily military testing, or maybe another planet such as mars or venus.
Pilots Fly Over the Hurricanes:
You know flying in bad weather is prohibited, and many flights get canceled due to severe thunderstorms and snowstorms. But many pilots experience hurricanes during commercial flights, but no worries, they fly over them; hence it is not a big deal for them.
Rectangular Icebergs:
NASA pilots said that they witnessed icebergs when flying and that it looked like someone cut them into a rectangular shape because icebergs have straight edges. They may feel it due to height, maybe.
Pink Lakes:
We all know lakes are of three colors, blue, brown, and green but have you ever heard of pink lakes? We are pleased to tell you that while flying over Spain, British Columbia, Western Australia, and Canada, many pilots see beautiful pink lakes. They are pink because of the high salinity and algae, which makes carotenoids, ultimately turning the color of water pink.
Pilots also See Lightning:
As planes fly more than 35000 feet high, and at this height, commonly, they are hit by Lightning when the weather turns bad. The aircraft’s body is manufactured of aluminum, and the plane’s design ensures that the current will remain outside.
Most private aircraft are not made of such materials as commercial aircraft. So, pilots flying these planes must be very careful when hit by a thunderstorm.
High Mountain Ranges:
Our planet Earth is so beautiful as it is filled with numerous wonders of nature, including mountains, rivers, attractive landscapes, lakes, and man-made buildings and monuments.
So during flights, pilots can witness these things clearly during low flights, but on high flights, they can see some of the world’s highest mountain ranges, such as the Himalayas, in which the world’s highest peak Mount Everest also exists. But to experience these mountain ranges, they need to fly to Asia, as this continent has a lot of high mountains.
Moon and Stars In Night Flights:
Many pilots dislike night flights as they are a little riskier, and when the pilot sees from the window, there is nothing but dark. But they can experience the moon and stars closely, which is a breathtaking experience for sure, and not possible for people who have never flown on a plane.
Rivers And Highways:
Everyone knows that the world’s longest river is River Nile, but many other rivers can also be seen from planes. Keep in mind that they will look like twisted ropes or lines. Especially when flying through the world’s beautiful regions, pilots can see many natural and man-made huge buildings and monuments through their eyes.
How To Do Landing At Night?
With technological advancement, night flights are the same as day flights. The takeoff and landing are no more nightmares for pilots at night. So how do pilots land at night? The runaways are illuminated with white and red lights, which we call the edge lights of the runway.
Besides this, for pilot ease, the taxiways are illuminated with blue lights. The runway’s white and red lights alert pilots about the altitude. If pilots see the runaways in white lights, it means they are at height; if they see the red ones, it means they are very low.
Pilots understand the position of the aircraft in the sky through these lights. Runaway lights are mostly installed on certain angles, showing pilots the angles and directions on which the plane should land. Remember, lights are not the only way to land safely at night; pilots also use onboard instruments for navigation.
You know dark is dark, and no one can see anything without light. Though technology is getting more advanced day by day, night flights are still known as the toughest ones, and most unfortunate plane crashes occur at night.
So pilots do not every time need to depend on visual sights; they can also use the IFR (Visual Flight Rules) and VFR (Instrument Flight Rules). IFR is more renowned due to the smoothness of the navigational tools and improved autopilot systems. Just like cars have headlights, planes also have lights, but they are used mostly for takeoff and landings.
Our Summary:
So, What Do Pilots See When Flying? We hope after reading this article completely, you got all the answers. If you find the pilot’s experiences interesting, apply for this job.
