AI Isn’t Ready To Land A Plane

AI Isn’t Ready To Land A Plane

When Curiosity Meets Critical Infrastructure

A recent Airbus A320 simulator experiment—where a YouTuber asked ChatGPT to guide him after “both pilots went missing”—has captured global attention. It’s entertaining, creative, and undeniably bold.

But beneath the spectacle lies a far more serious lesson for every SMB, healthcare provider, law firm, and school relying on AI tools today:

AI can assist, but it cannot replace human training, judgment, or operational controls.

The Simulator Experiment

Using a professional-grade HeronFly Airbus A320 simulator in Spain, the YouTuber gave ChatGPT full responsibility for getting the plane safely on the ground.

The AI responded with a detailed 50-minute step-by-step breakdown—identifying cockpit controls, autopilot modes, ILS frequencies, flap configurations, and descent profiles.

It even coached the user into a workable approach and soft touchdown.

But then something happened that matters far more than the “successful” landing…

AI Handles the Script—Not the Chaos

While ChatGPT helped with:

• Cockpit orientation

• Autopilot adjustments

• Runway alignment

• Manual flare and touchdown guidance

It completely failed at the unscripted part: stopping the aircraft.

The plane barreled off the runway and plowed through simulated Spanish villas because the AI never instructed the pilot to brake or apply reverse thrust.

This is the exact gap security professionals warn about:

AI performs impressively when conditions match its training, but it collapses under real-world variation.

The Real Lesson for SMBs and IT Leaders

Your organization may already rely on AI copilots for:

• Drafting emails

• Writing policies

• Identifying security risks

• Managing workflows

• Automating support tasks

These tools are incredibly powerful—but they are not autonomous. They do not replace training, oversight, compliance, or human judgment.

Just as the simulator exposed AI’s blind spot during a crisis moment, businesses face similar risks:

• Misconfigurations AI never flags

• Social engineering attacks AI can be manipulated by

• Unexpected outages AI cannot improvise through

• Security decisions AI is not authorized to make

AI is a phenomenal assistant.

But relying on it as the pilot-in-command of your cybersecurity is a recipe for disaster.

Why This Matters for Healthcare, Law Firms, and Schools

These sectors handle:

• Protected health information

• Legal evidence

• Student data

• Financial records

An AI mistake doesn’t just mean a rough landing—it means regulatory exposure, breach reporting, civil liability, and operational shutdowns.

AI copilots are valuable tools.

But cybersecurity requires trained professionals, layered defenses, and disciplined processes—not improvisation from a chatbot.

The Provocative Takeaway

The viral A320 experiment is fun to watch.

But it quietly proves something essential:

AI can help you fly.

It cannot save you in an emergency.

Your business still needs a real cybersecurity pilot.

70% of all cyber attacks target small businesses, I can help protect yours.

#️⃣ #cybersecurity #MSP #managedIT #dataprotection #technology