Airline Secrets
Shhh…! It is amazing what we don’t know about air travel. I thought I’d spill the beans. There is no air in airplane tires. It is impossible to remove all of the moisture from air so they use nitrogen. Water expands when frozen, and the temperature at cruise is 40 to 50 degrees below zero.
Landing, the tires go from 0 to 150 mph in a fraction of a second creating a lot of heat. Air is a good insulator, but nitrogen is better. Nitrogen does not promote rubber decay.
Some airlines do not own the tires on their airplanes. The tire casings are rented, recapped, reused in a continuous cycle.
The fuel for jets is called “Jet A,” and they burn massive amounts of it. There is nothing exotic about it. It is a very low grade of kerosene, and you wouldn’t want to burn it in an old kerosene lamp.
Airlines call airplanes “equipment.” The most dangerous thing on the airplane might be your carry-on bag. If that airplane moves violently, bags go everywhere and people evacuating the aircraft stumble on them. In an evacuation, a rare event, leave your stuff and get off.
It is nearly insulting to have someone show you how to fasten your seat belt, but Flight Attendants demonstrate use of the seat belt because it is required by law.
Flight Attendants welcome everyone aboard, and there is something underlying that. By greeting you, they are trying to determine if you are intoxicated, speak English and other things about you. If you don’t speak English, they prepare to offer you additional attention.
You cannot drink your own alcohol on an airplane, and it has nothing to do with the liquor sales. It helps the cabin crew monitor how much a passenger consumes, and it is a Federal Law.
Do seat cushions really float? The FAA specifies that a cushion provides 14 pounds of flotation in 80 degree fresh water for a minimum of 8 hours.
Why do you have to pull on the dropdown mask to start oxygen flowing?
You are actually pulling a switch attached to the mask by a string. Oxygen is produced by a gizmo that looks like a thermos bottle called an “oxygen generator.”
There are steps on aisle seats. You might have to use your imagination to find it but its safety purpose is to allow passengers to intuitively climb on top or bypass a blocked aisle by bags or stumbling passengers. Arm rests on aisle seats are safety devices and should remain down.
Safety demonstrations include broad gestures. Some people have language issues but are able to follow visual instructions. The broad gestures make sure they “get it.”
Dress for the trip, not the destination: Airliners are cold; blankets are a thing of the past. Carry your own. Wear shoes. Keep your seat belt buckled at all times. Use an overhead bin across the aisle from your seat, not above you.
Let’s go somewhere.
joenphillips@yahoo.com
