I recently finished up reviewing my flight journey from Washinton-Dulles to Doha, Qatar, to Male, Maldives. (You can find my review for the first flight here, and the second flight here.) These were my first trip reports, and I really enjoyed writing them! I can’t wait to write many more. One of my favorite experiences was getting to fly in the Airbus A350-900 for the first time. One neat feature of this plane that was active on my flight was the use of the tail camera.
I really enjoyed it! Whether it was watching the plane take off (I can’t wait to fly it on a daytime flight), during the flight, or taxiing around the airport, it was fantastic!
However, one time during the flight I do not recommend using it is during landing. I’ll explain the reason why below.
Where are the Outside Cameras on the Plane Located?
On this Airbus A350-900, there are three cameras on the plane.
The first camera is the classic tail camera. This camera is located close to the tallest point on the entire plane, giving you a fantastic view of the top of the plane during your flight.
The second camera is located under the plane, right by the nose wheel. This camera gives you the ability to look straight down at what is underneath you. I find this view most interesting when flying over cities and mountain ranges, as you can see a lot of details this way.
The final camera is located in the middle in between the back wheels (I believe). Like the first camera, this points forward and allows you to see the view of the front wheel and what is on the ground in front of the plane.
Why You Shouldn’t Use the Tail Camera On the Plane While Landing
While I enjoyed watching these cameras, I do not recommend watching the tail camera while actually landing.
Why? Think about to recent flights. Do you ever feel slight variations as the pilot straightens out the plane as they approach the runway?
Think about watching that on your screen. As you are getting closer and closer to the runway, it made me a bit scared. I knew that the pilot would land it safely…it just made me nervous!
Conclusion
The plane cameras are a fantastic addition for any aviation geek to use while flying. However, I do not recommend using it when landing.
Have you ever used the tail camera while landing? What did you think of it?