Pilots never dip the nose; they’d fly off the globe.
Quick reality-check: An airliner covering 800 km/h needs to pitch down only ~0.1° per minute to follow the curve—far subtler than a passenger (or even the pilot) feels. The inertial reference and altitude-hold systems handle this automatically.
Why is this claim made?
The claim is based on the expectation that pilots would need to make obvious, visible corrections to follow Earth’s curve. Flat-Earth proponents misunderstand how small and automatic these adjustments are.
Why the claim doesn’t work
Modern autopilot and altitude-hold systems make tiny, continuous corrections to maintain altitude. The pitch adjustment needed to follow Earth’s curve is so slight it is imperceptible to passengers and crew.
Evidence against the claim
- Aircraft navigation systems account for Earth’s curvature automatically.
- Pilots and passengers do not feel any “dipping” sensation.
- Flight data and engineering calculations confirm the required pitch adjustments.
Summary
The claim ignores the sophistication of modern aviation technology. The curvature of Earth is accounted for automatically, with no perceptible “dip.”
Links to additional resources