Airborne

The ‘Jet Men’ rely on the same fundamental laws of physics that underpin flight for even the biggest jet-liners. Unlike your average flight though, they start by leaping from a helicopter to build up enough speed and lift to keep them airborne. It’s a high-risk operation, and has taken years of training to achieve.

We take flight for granted, but on any journey a hidden army of people keep your plane safe. We explore just what it takes to keep the ‘city in the sky’ airborne and safe between take-off and landing. How has flying become safer than ever before?

We join senior Lufthansa pilot, Captain Joachim Schwarzenberg in the cockpit to learn the secrets of navigating a massive jet through the night sky. It all relies upon a hidden system of virtual ‘waypoints’ that let pilots follow a trail of breadcrumbs through the air.