There is not much information on how the aircraft works, which can cause its fall and other nuances related to this topic, that's why the passengers have a lot of questions. Some of them decided to respond frankly to airline employees.
The aircraft is recognized as one of the safest vehicles, but many people, even those that often fly, have fear. It is in most cases unreasonable and connected with a misunderstanding of the work of the aircraft. To correct this defect, pilots and airline employees answered the most popular questions that passengers ask.
1. Can an autopilot land an airplane?
Modern aircraft have a control system that is capable of driving the aircraft along the exposed route from a height of 300 m to a full landing on the runway. The landing can take place on autopilot, but the pilot must monitor its operation and set the necessary configuration for landing. Immediately before landing, the direction of the aircraft is engaged in course-glide path system, that is, corrects the movement of the radio beacon. Interestingly, this system will work even if the aircraft is completely de-energized.
2. Do pilots sleep during the flight?
Fear of many people: pilots fall asleep at the helm, and the plane falls. But in fact it is more of a wild fantasy than a fact. In most cases, after the course is exposed, the autopilot operating the aircraft is activated. In addition, dispatchers are constantly in contact with pilots, demanding feedback from them, so even if the pilot falls asleep, this will not last long. On long-haul flights, two crews or three pilots can work, which makes it possible to change each other.
3. How do pilots prepare for the flight?
A couple of hours before the flight, the pilots pass the medical examination and are going to a briefing in a special room. There they learn about the weather and discuss the nuances of the upcoming flight. An hour before the flight, the aircraft is inspected and preparations for departure begin. After the briefing with the stewards on board, passengers are boarded.
4. Why can the pilot be seen flying in the cabin?
Often pilots have to fly to their place of work (flight departure points), so they can be found in the cabin of the aircraft. At the same time, if they wear a uniform, they are strictly forbidden to sleep and watch movies in the headphones. This is explained by the fact that for such training pilots can cause people to have many questions and a sense of panic. In most cases, in order not to provoke any unpleasant situations, the pilots fly on the spare seats that are located in the cockpit of the pilots, or in the first class.
5. If a child was born on an airplane, what kind of citizenship does he get?
Rarely, but still there were situations when a woman gave birth directly on board the aircraft during the flight. The decision on what citizenship the child will receive is accepted by the airline taking into account the current legislation. There are three main options: the birth certificate can be issued by the country where the airline of the aircraft is registered, over which the aircraft flew or the one where the landing was made. In most cases, the first option is selected. An interesting fact: some airlines give the children a bonus - they fly their whole life for free anywhere in the world.
6. How often do crashes occur?
In fact, the number of accidents associated with aircraft is not as great as it seems. In the sky, problems are extremely rare, and, according to statistics, most incidents occur in the first three minutes after take-off and eight minutes before landing. In addition, even in the event of a plane crash, about 95.7% survive. If there is fear, then it should be taken into account that the safest places are considered to be in the tail, and it is also recommended to buy seats within five rows to reserve exits. An interesting fact: the largest air crash occurred on the ground, when in 1977 two aircraft collided on the runway. This accident killed 583 people.
7. Are there "airways" for airplanes?
In fact, special routes have been developed, which are distributed in height, as in one direction planes fly with an even height, and in the opposite direction - with an odd one.
8. Why do not pilots wear a big beard and mustache?
Such a decision is not personal, but is considered a rule, since a beard, a mustache and other facial decorations, for example, piercings, can cause the oxygen mask not to fit snugly in the face of an emergency. Such a situation jeopardizes the lives of passengers, so pilots are allowed only a slight unshaven, nothing more.
9. Why are they forced to open window shutters before landing and take-off?
It has already been mentioned that most emergencies occur during landing and take-off, and the curtains need to be opened in order that people in the event of an emergency are well-oriented, so their eyes should get used to sunlight. In addition, passengers and flight attendants should see what happens overboard.
10. What is safer "hard" landing on the ground or on water?
The films often show that during the emergency landing pilots prefer to direct the aircraft into the water, while creating a deceptive view of people. In fact, the choice of "land or water" depends on the model of the aircraft, but in most cases it is easier to land the aircraft on the ground without serious losses than on water. This is explained by the fact that, it turns out, the liquid is more "rigid" because of its density and consistency. In addition, after landing, the aircraft will quickly be under water and people may not have time to get out. Studies show that the chances of surviving land on land are higher than that of water.
11. How long it will be possible to use oxygen masks?
As a result of the explosion or because of other emergencies, the cabin may become depressurized. At a high altitude, a person will develop hypoxia, he will lose consciousness and may die. To prevent this, there is a personal oxygen mask above the seat of each passenger, and it is designed for 10-15 minutes. During this time, the pilot will have time to lower the plane to the altitude, where a person can normally breathe. By the way, the pilot has his own personal oxygen mask, and it is designed for a longer time, since the pilot's task is to land the aircraft without losing concentration. Before lifting an airplane into the air, it is mandatory to check the performance of the masks of the pilot.
12. Can an ordinary person land a plane?
The plot of many airplane films tells stories of how different people and even children plant planes without any serious consequences and tragedies, getting clues from dispatchers or from other sources. As for real situations, experiments have shown that it is quite possible on modern aircraft. Recently conducted studies on the simulator and stewardesses were able to cope with the task. Good chances for success are due to the presence in the aircraft of modern computer systems that can direct and land the aircraft, with the correct guidance on radio communication with the dispatcher.
13. Why can an airplane be sent to a second round?
According to the polls, passengers are very excited when instead of long-awaited landing the aircraft begins to gain altitude. The decision to send a plane to the second round is a regular situation, which can happen for various reasons, for example, if an object is found on the runway, a strong side wind is blowing, or the airport is closed for an emergency landing of the special flight.
14. What does the spiral painted on the turbine mean?
This figure performs an important function, since the turbine can work almost silently and need a visual signal. It was recorded many cases, as people approached it, and the air flow threw them away for a long distance, which caused serious injuries. To exclude such accidents began to put on the middle of the turbine signs, so you can understand them, the turbine is working or not.
15. How can I get into the cockpit when the door is locked from the inside?
For the safety of the flight, passengers can not open the door to the cockpit of the pilots, as it is blocked after everyone takes their place. There is always a risk of an emergency, for example, both pilots may lose consciousness. In this case, the flight attendant knows a special code that opens the door. For each flight, a combination is selected, and it is reported before the departure. After the introduction of the code, the door will open within a minute, but if the pilot sees through the video camera that the crew member does not want to go in, he completely blocks the door and there will not be an opportunity to open it from the outside.
16. How do pilots eat during the flight?
Passengers and pilots eat differently, and the latter offers several dishes to choose from. In most cases, it is chicken, fish and meat with different side dishes, and each pilot is always given different food. This is necessary in order to exclude poisoning by identical products. Take the food pilots in turn, and usually it happens right behind the wheel at special tables.
17. What happens if all engines stop working?
When the aircraft is gaining the required altitude, the pilots activate the mode in which the engines operate at zero thrust. This can be compared with the situation when the car descends from the hill and the lever is in neutral position. A complete failure of the engines happens extremely rarely, and in this respect the pilots have an instruction for their reset. Passengers do not need to worry at all, since the aircraft can even sit on the planning descent even without engines. This is the real proof: in 1982, a Boeing 747 aircraft fell into a cloud of dust that formed as a result of a volcanic eruption. As a result, all four engines refused, but the pilots were able to land the aircraft at the nearest airport, and none of the passengers were injured.
18. Is lightning, hail or collision with a bird dangerous?
Many will be surprised by the fact that passengers do not feel and do not notice that the lightning strikes the aircraft and the only thing that can happen is the power blackout of the system. In this case, pilots simply make it overload, and the flight continues in normal mode. Surprisingly, the danger is borne by birds that can get into the fan or turbine, provoking their destruction and even the combustion of the engine. In addition, a collision with a bird can not "survive" the windshield. By the way, airports use different methods to scare away birds, for example, noise generators and even helicopters. Dangerous for aircraft and hail, but meteorological problems are preliminarily determined, and they can be flown around.
19. Why do not passengers receive parachutes in case of a catastrophe?
Relying on a parachute during a plane crash is stupid, and this is because many people even in a relaxed state can not properly wear a parachute and safely land after a jump. In addition, to safely jump from an airplane, it must slowly fly at a height of not more than 5 km above the ground.