Latest news with #co-pilot
Entrepreneur
28-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
How to Turn AI Into a Teammate, Not Just a Tool
By now, you're probably using AI to lighten your load in one way or another. But are you truly getting the most out of its abilities as an assistant? Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. A few months ago, I was stuck on an email. We were about to announce a delay in releasing a new Jotform product, and I needed to explain the "why" in a way that felt honest, optimistic and clear. Not too corporate. Not too casual. I rewrote the opening five times. Nothing was landing. Out of frustration more than strategy, I opened up my AI assistant and typed, "Can you help me write a company-wide email about a product delay that's transparent, reassuring and keeps the team motivated for what's next?" What came back was surprisingly decent. Not publish-ready, but good enough to get me moving again. Then I tried something else. "Rewrite this like you're a product manager talking to power users." Then again. "Now condense it into an email." Suddenly, I wasn't stuck anymore — I had options, tone shifts and plenty of ideas. I wasn't working alone. I had a co-pilot. AI has changed the way we work, but the truth is, most of us aren't actually using it to its full potential. Here's how to change that. Related: 7 Ways You Can Use AI to 10x Your Leadership Skills Shift your perception Large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT have been in the mainstream for a few years now, and even the most tech-averse among us have dabbled in their offerings. According to Harvard Business Review, the most popular use of GPTs is "personal and professional support," representing a significant shift from last year, when the reigning category was "technical assistance and troubleshooting." In 2024, users were relying on AI for tasks like generating ideas and looking up the answers to specific questions. Now, their relationship to AI has evolved, with users treating it less like a tool and more like a teammate. This evolution is key. The more we anthropomorphize AI — not in a sci-fi way, but in a practical, collaborative sense — the more effectively we can leverage it. At this point, I use AI to take a number of tasks off my plate, assigning it roles based on what I need done: If I want to gather stats or summarize articles, I tell it to assume the role of a research assistant. If I want a wireframe copy reviewed, I ask it to act like a UX designer. If I'm refining a pitch or strategy doc, I'll prompt it to behave like an investor or board member, so I can pressure-test my thinking before presenting it to the real audience. The more intentional you are about how you "cast" your AI assistant, the more value it can deliver — not just as a helper, but as a genuine extension of your thinking. Get your prompts on point AI isn't magic — it's responsive. Vague prompts beget vague answers. But with clear direction, including the tone, structure and style you want, you'll unlock much more powerful results. Say you want to create a blog post to announce a new feature or product. Instead of simply saying, "Write me a blog post," make it specific. "You're the CEO of a tech company who just launched [insert product and description]. Write a 300-500-word blog post that accurately captures the product's features, includes key details, and explains to users how it will improve their day-to-day workflows. The tone should be confident and enthusiastic, and adhere to the company's brand voice [examples below]. I've found it helpful to treat prompt engineering like managing a junior team member. Rather than scrapping the first draft, offer feedback: "Make this less technical," "Add a real-world example," or "Make the first paragraph more engaging." The more specific the prompt and the revisions, the better the outcome. Related: Why Smart Entrepreneurs Let AI Do the Heavy Business Lifting Integrate it into your workflow One of the biggest missed opportunities of casual AI dabblers is using it sporadically instead of systematically. With just a little bit of upfront time investment, AI has the capacity to streamline nearly every aspect of your daily workflow. These days, even those without any coding knowledge can easily build customized AI assistants designed to lighten the load of repetitive tasks. From Claude's "Project" to Gemini's "Gem," these platforms enable users to store data like detailed instructions and tone guidelines to keep from having to write the same prompt over and over. For example, I created a scheduling and email assistant that helps me triage my inbox and prepare meeting follow-ups. It's loaded with previous email templates, understands my preferred tone and can quickly draft context-aware replies or send a recap with action items after a meeting. Because it's trained on how I typically communicate and prioritize, it feels less like a chatbot and more like having a highly-responsive personal assistant. My advice? Start small. Choose one recurring task — something low-lift but time-consuming — and assign it to your AI assistant. Give it structure, test it out and offer feedback as you go. Before long, these automated assistants will start to feel like invisible team members working behind the scenes to keep you focused on what matters most.
CBS News
20-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Lufthansa plane flew 10 minutes without pilot during medical emergency in 2024, report finds
A Lufthansa plane flew for about 10 minutes without a pilot when the co-pilot became incapacitated while the captain was outside the cockpit during a flight last February, according to Spain's Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility. The flight on Feb. 17, 2024, from Frankfurt, Germany, to Seville, Spain — an Airbus A321 carrying 199 passengers and six crew members — was over the Iberian Peninsula when the captain left the flight deck to go to the bathroom. Shortly afterward, the 38-year-old co-pilot "suffered a sudden and severe incapacitation," a report from the Ministry of Transport said. The report ultimately concluded that the plane "flew for about 10 minutes in the cruise phase with the autopilot engaged but without additional supervision by either pilot." When the captain was finished in the bathroom, he could not get back into the cockpit, according to the report. The door to the cockpit can only be opened from the inside, so to get back in, the captain would have to enter a code that would then alert the person inside the cockpit to open the door for them. The captain entered the code several times but still couldn't get into the flight deck. When a crew member tried to contact the co-pilot from the intercom, there was no response. The captain then used the emergency code — which would have unlocked the door after a short delay — to try to get into the flight deck, but before the delay expired, the co-pilot opened the door from the inside to let him in. The captain noticed the co-pilot was "pale, sweating and moving strangely," according to the report, so he was given first aid by a crew member and a doctor who happened to be traveling on the flight as a passenger. That doctor diagnosed the co-pilot with a possible heart condition, the report said. The investigation into the incident concluded the co-pilot's incapacitation was "the symptom of a neurological condition that had not been detected either by the affected person himself or in the previous aeronautical medical examinations." The report found that the co-pilot lost consciousness so suddenly, he didn't have time to warn other crew members. While the co-pilot was incapacitated, he inadvertently hit several switches in the cockpit, including increasing pressure on one of the foot pedals, according to the report. This caused a 2-degree roll and a 5-degree heading change, both of which were fixed by the plane's autopilot, which remained on the whole time. About two minutes elapsed from the time the captain first tried to get back into the cockpit to when the door was finally opened, according to the report. The captain diverted the plane to the nearest airport, which was Adolfo Suárez Madrid Barajas Airport, where the flight landed safely about 20 minutes later. The co-pilot did not return to the cockpit for the rest of the flight. The co-pilot's condition would not have been found during medical screenings unless he was actively experiencing symptoms at the time or had previously experienced them, the report said. The co-pilot's medical certificate was suspended after the flight, with the report noting: "This illness is disqualifying for obtaining or maintaining medical fitness to fly." Lufthansa did not immediately respond to CBS News' request for comment. Jordan Freiman Jordan Freiman is a news editor for He covers breaking news, trending stories, sports and crime. Jordan has previously worked at Spin and Death and Taxes. contributed to this report.
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Pilot reveals surprising skill that makes a good captain - and it has nothing to do with flying
A veteran pilot has shared one surprising skill that makes a good captain - and it has nothing to do with flying. Steve Schreiber, 63, from New Orleans, U.S., has had 26 years of flying experience - including eleven as a captain - which saw him spend a total of 5,860 hours navigating the skies in 60 different aircraft. Also known by his pseudonym Captain Steve online, the former United States Navy officer often shares safety tips on all things flying to his TikTok channel, @captainsteeeve, where he boasts over 370K followers. In April, the seasoned pilot took to the video-sharing platform to reveal the lesser-known skill required of a captain: the ability to build a strong repour with one's co-pilot. In the clip, the pilot first shared he is not permitted to read whilst in the air unless it is in relation to the aircraft itself, or aviation as a whole. Though he stressed the importance of paying attention to ensuring a safe and successful flight, he insisted another crucial skill boils down to how the conversation unfolds between he and his co-pilot. From finding out where one another is from, to warming stories about their families, to uncovering their interests and hobbies, Schreiber highlighted how a natural exchange between co-pilots is key. He recalled his first interview with his current airline, explaining: 'When I first got interviewed at my airline, they just talked to me for about 20 minutes in the interview - they didn't ask me much in the way of technical questions.' Though the captain was left 'scratching his head' at first, it soon struck him that he had already been considered a 'good fit' by his hiring managers and he was being tested on his ability to hold a 'good' conversation for a significant length of time. He added: 'That's a big part of the job. You'd be surprised how many people can't hold a conversation for very long. I appreciate my co-pilots when we get into a good discussion about anything - it makes the flight go by a lot quicker.' Over 190 viewers were left intrigued in the comments, with many asking follow-up questions about potential issues that could arise in the cockpit. One person asked: 'Do you ever fly with a copilot that you just can't get along with?' A second mused: 'How awkward is it when you're with a copilot that has radically different political opinions as you? Other than flight related talk, is it dead silent?' Meanwhile, former pilot recalled: 'We used to have some of the most hilarious conversations during our missions overseas.' A viewer added: 'Yeah I could see that getting kind of boring just listening to air traffic control.' Another admitted: 'That I did not know, and I would, for that reason alone, be a terrible airline pilot....' The seasoned pilot took to the video-sharing platform to reveal the lesser-known skill required of a captain: the ability to build a strong repour with one's co-pilot Over 190 viewers were left intrigued in the comments, with many asking follow-up questions about potential issues that could arise in the cockpit It comes as a pilot revealed her tips for nervous flyers and what to avoid doing before a flight if you are anxious. Shibani Kaur Gupta, from London, who currently works as a Line Training Captain for Wizz Air, has revealed what nervous flyers should and shouldn't do during a flight. The pilot, who got her private licence when she was just 17 years old, revealed she has spoken to a lot of passengers over the years and always shares her crucial advice to them. The 35-year-old claimed after previously speaking to nervous flyers it 'calmed them down', she revealed hearing that everything is going to be ok 'from the horse's mouth really makes a difference.'
The Independent
17-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
Plane flew for 10 minutes with no one at the controls after co-pilot fainted
A Lufthansa flight to Spain flew with no one at the wheel for 10 minutes after the co-pilot lost consciousness while alone in the cockpit, according to a report from German news agency dpa. The incident occurred on a flight from Frankfurt to Seville on February 17, 2024. While the 43-year-old captain was using the restroom, the 38-year-old co-pilot of the Airbus A321 fainted. That left the aircraft, which carried 199 passengers and six crew members, without anyone at the controls for approximately 10 minutes, dpa said. The news agency cited a report from the Spanish accident investigation authority CIAIAC as the source of the information. The pilot said his co-pilot seemed 'able and alert' when he left the cockpit with about 30 minutes remaining in the flight. Lufthansa confirmed its awareness of both the incident and the subsequent investigations, stating that its internal flight safety department had also conducted a separate inquiry. However, the airline declined to disclose the findings of its investigation. Although the unconscious co-pilot apparently operated the controls unintentionally, the aircraft was able to continue flying in a stable manner thanks to the active autopilot. During this time period, the voice recorder recorded strange noises in the cockpit that were consistent with an acute health emergency, dpa reported. The captain initially tried entering the cockpit the regular door opening code, which triggers a buzzer in the cockpit so that the co-pilot can open the door. He did so five times without being able to enter the cockpit. A stewardess also tried to contact the co-pilot using the onboard telephone, dpa reported. Finally, the captain typed in an emergency code that would have allowed him to open the door on his own. However, shortly before the door would have opened automatically, the co-pilot opened it from the inside despite being ill, dpa reported. The pilot then decided to make an unplanned landing in Madrid, where his colleague was taken to a hospital.
South China Morning Post
17-05-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Lufthansa plane flown by autopilot after pilot faints in cockpit
A Lufthansa flight was flown by autopilot when the co-pilot, alone in the cockpit as the pilot had stepped away to use the bathroom, fainted, Spanish investigators said in a report about an incident last year that was released on Saturday. The Airbus A321 flew without a pilot in charge for 10 minutes, the Spanish accident investigation authority CIAIAC said of the flight on February 17, 2024 from Frankfurt to Seville. Lufthansa confirmed it was aware of the report and said its flight safety department had conducted an extensive internal investigation into the incident. But the company did not disclose the results of its investigation, stating: 'We ask for your understanding that we will not comment beyond the investigation report.' Although the unconscious co-pilot apparently unintentionally operated the controls, the aircraft continued to fly stably thanks to the active autopilot. The voice recorder captured strange noises in the cockpit during this time which were consistent with an acute medical emergency, the report said. A Lufthansa plane is seen at sunset at the airport in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, in April. Photo: AFP Some 10 minutes later, the captain managed to open the cockpit security door using an emergency code. He had completed training for such an eventuality a month beforehand.
