Airplanes are one of the safest and fastest means of transportation when it comes to traveling. So it is understandable that every day millions of people choose them for their trips around the world. Surely many of them know how to pack or what to wear when flying by plane, and even know some rules of etiquette to follow when traveling on them.
However, airplanes hide some secrets that even the most experienced travelers don’t know and that only pilots and crew members can reveal. So, below, we’ll bring you some interesting facts about them that will leave you thinking the next time you find yourself waiting for takeoff.
11 curiosities you probably didn’t know about airplanes.
1. Airplane oxygen masks are functional for a short time.
All airplanes are equipped with oxygen masks that deploy when there is a sudden loss of pressure. That’s something all of us who have flown in airplanes are familiar with from flight attendants and their safety instructions. But there is something the flight attendants don’t tell us and that is, that these masks only hold oxygen for about 15 minutes.
This may seem like a limited amount of oxygen to many, but to everyone’s relief it should be more than enough. Since, when a pressure drop occurs in the aircraft cabin, the pilot will immediately put on his mask and respond by taking the aircraft below 10,000 feet or 3,000 meters. This is a safe altitude where passengers will be able to breathe easy without the need for additional oxygen.
But this rapid descent will generally take less than 15 minutes, which means we will have enough oxygen to protect ourselves. However, in case of emergency it is important to put on masks quickly, as there is a risk of fainting if the cabin pressure drops unexpectedly. According to estimates, 30 seconds would be enough to lose consciousness.
2. Airplanes are designed to withstand lightning.
Being in the air through the clouds and due to the static generated, it is not unusual for an airplane to be struck by lightning. In fact, it is estimated that once a year or once every 1,000 flight hours an aircraft is struck by lightning. However, no lightning has struck an aircraft since 1963, thanks to careful engineering design that makes lightning less dangerous.
When lightning strikes an aircraft the electric current will be evenly distributed throughout the aluminum interior acting as a conductor. This allows the electrical charge from the lightning to pass through the aircraft and out of the aircraft without causing damage, while the grounding of the interior electrical systems will prevent overloads that could interfere with their functionality.
3. What is the dirtiest place on an airplane?
While you might think that the dirtiest place on an airplane is the bathroom, you may be surprised to learn that it is not. According to recent studies, the tray table on the back of the seat in front of you, where you probably eat your food, is. According to the results of these studies, this is where eight times more bacteria per square inch are found compared to the flush button on the toilet.
If you want to take care of the germs present there, you may want to make sure to bring some sanitary napkins with you on your next trip.
4. On the plane, the pilot is the ultimate authority.
Once the airplane doors close, the captain is the one in control and the ultimate authority. In fact, this may be more serious than you might think. In addition to being the one who has the power to make any decision about the plane and the route, he can also deny entry to a passenger if he seems drunk or intoxicated, and even make a will and officiate a marriage.
He could also arrest a passenger if he or she poses a safety hazard. But since he has to concentrate on flying the plane, he cannot personally carry out the arrest. So it would be the cabin crew, at the request of the captain, who would have to do it, in fact, they have handcuffs on board for that purpose.
However, none of the crew members can legally make arrests, but the captain can call the police to meet the aircraft at its destination. Of course, in case he believes there is a threat to the crew or the safety of the aircraft.
5. Some airplanes have secret rooms and a bathroom for the flight crew.
On long-haul flights lasting more than 12 hours, it is normal for flight attendants to need time to rest properly and not get too tired. This is why some airplanes have installed secret rooms and in some cases even a bathroom that can only be accessed by the crew. These are sleeping quarters located above the main cabin and accessed via a hidden staircase. The bedroom has between 5 and 10 beds and while they are there, they can also enjoy the onboard entertainment.
6. Most pilots and co-pilots are not allowed to eat the same meal.
Although this is not a strict rule on certain airlines, many airlines require their pilots not to eat the same food during the flight. Pilots are even asked to eat at different times, although there is some flexibility with what they can eat.
This is a measure to avoid a possible food poisoning that could make both pilots sick. Thus, if a meal is contaminated and the pilot becomes ill, the other pilot can still operate the plane on the return flight.
7. Why does airplane food taste so bad?
It’s no secret that airplane food has a bad reputation. However, the food itself is not to blame and neither is the airline, the real culprit is the airplane. As it turns out, due to the difference in air pressure and low humidity in an airplane cabin, the taste of food and beverages is altered.
This causes our taste buds to not perceive sweet and salty flavors correctly. In fact, sweet foods will taste less sweet, while those with salty flavors will taste more salty.
8. What are the safest seats in an airplane?
There are many variables at play, so it may be impossible to know where we should sit to survive an accident. According to data collected on plane crashes, the chances of surviving a crash are 40% higher if you sit in the back of the plane.
9. Dimming the aircraft lights has a purpose beyond sleep.
Many of us might think that dimming the aircraft’s interior lights has to do with the need to create a relaxing environment so we can get some sleep, reduce light pollution or simply save energy.
However, dimming the lights is more than just a matter of safety, especially if it is a night landing. Doing so is intended to allow our eyes to adapt to the darkness so that we can survive in the event of a sudden evacuation. Of course, in the unlikely event that the plane’s landing goes wrong.
10. If someone dies on your flight, their body could stay in the cabin with you.
Since there is no one on the flight crew who can certify a death, if someone dies they will only be declared dead on landing. Although we can assume that there is a standard procedure in these cases, what happens to your companion’s body varies by airline and type of aircraft.
This is because certain aircraft have a special place to store bodies, but many aircraft do not. So, in these cases the body of the deceased passenger is simply moved to a back row where it will be covered, except for his or her head. There it will remain until medical professionals can attend to the deceased.
11. On airplanes, the bathroom door is not really locked when we are inside.
Although this is a private space, the lavatory doors can be unlocked from the outside. Thanks to a key that will only be used by the flight attendants in emergencies and with which access to the restrooms can also be restricted during takeoff and landing.
ALFA