(In the US) for airplanes with a maximum gross weight over 12,500 lbs, you require a "type rating" on your license to fly the plane. The type rating is for a specific make and model (type) of airplane. So if you have an Airline Transport pilot certificate with a 777 type rating, you cannot legally fly a 757 (unless you have a 757 type rating)
This distinction shows up not just in the law. I have many hours flying a Cessna 172, but when I recently bought a 182, some insurance quotes required as much as 10 hours of instruction, even though I could legally fly the 182 without any at all.
(Disclaimer: I haven't actually flown large airplanes or driven tractor trailers - someone more experienced is welcome correct what comes below)
Tractor trucks are all pretty similar. Hydraulic power steering, air breaks, unsynchronized transmissions, one engine, 18 wheels. They have similar stopping distance, similar handling around turns, and nearly identical controls.
Large planes on the other hand can have very different handling characteristics and controls. Different approach speeds, different after-takeoff checklists, different emergency procedures. Different navigation and autopilot systems. Fly-by-wire systems even change the basic relationship between control inputs and their effect on the plane.
There might be a special case for the 737 & 777. What I have read is that Boeing designed the cockpit of the 777 to match that of the 737, and so the type rating is mostly transferable between the two.
Bigger aircraft (any commercial flights aircraft basically) have a different training and type rating from each other.
This means even flying a 777 is different from flying a 737 (and even between 737 versions there are some differences to merit a retraining of crew)
So, no, even if you fly the 767 or the A330 you can't fly the 777 without going on training again (they're all aircraft though, so most of the principles apply)
Well as a commercial pilot all the other replies are right, but I guess you mean also if a 747 pilot could seat at a 380 cockpit and make a manual flight. Obviously is not the best idea as there are a lot of differences on the autoflight and all the rest of systems and instruments. It´s not only learning them by the book, is also getting used, and knowing where to look for a speed or for a heading, it takes some weeks to get used.
But in short to fly like a Cessna (a visual simple flight around the airport or a manual landing), a competent pilot (not like the ones described at the article) is able to do it reasonably well no matter what kind of airplane. Of course this is not legal or recommended (Some times it is done in simulators if there is some time left in a friend´s session)
Absolutely not. There are similarities, but also major differences.
For example, Boeing vs Airbus do many things differently.
And within a specific mfgr, there are differences in cockpit layout. Even within the same model but different releases, eg: 747-400,500,600,700 all have slightly differences.
I have a commercial drivers license, I've driven semi tractors, large straight trucks, and a wide variety of passenger vehicles.
Is it safe to presume that flying one type of widebody airliner is the same as flying any other kind of widebody airliner?
I can drive a Pete, Freightliner or International and they all largely drive in the same broad generalities.
Just as I can drive any full size car, and they all drive the same.
Would two similar classes or aircraft be the same?